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t _ r 1.Approach and Scope of Work consultation with County staff),because it will affect how the mitigation measures are both developed and implemented.Participation can be expensive, but the coverage for mitigation is automatic and pre-approved by the resource agencies.On the other hand,the MSHCP,even if the project does not seek formal coverage,provides guidance as to which measures will be sufficient to reduce impacts to less than significant.We should note that ESA played a fundamental role in the early years of the MSHCP,acting as SJCCOG's Biological Information Manager. Projects approved through the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) and NEPA processes should show that new land uses are in compliance with state and federal endangered species acts(CESA and FESA). CEQA directs each lead agency to consult-with the CDFG on any project the agency initiates that is not statutory or categorically exempt from CEQA. CEQA Guidelines(Section 15065a)declare that impacts to rare,threatened or endangered plants or animals are significant. The Native Plant Protection Act also affords limited protection to special status plant species. A formal consultation process must be initiated with the CDFG for projects which may or will have an adverse effect on state listed species(i.e., listed under CESA). As with USFWS policy, "species of special concern" (as designated by the state)are not subject to the same consultation requirements as listed endangered,rare, or threatened species.CESA does encourage informal consultation for species of special concern that may become officially listed prior to completion of the CEQA process. Tasks ESA will conduct a biological study of the project site,including a botanical and wildlife habitat assessment,an analysis of potential direct,indirect and cumulative impacts,and the development/refinement of a mitigation/enhancement strategy for the project. Botanical and Wildlife Environmental Analysis Tasks • Verify existing biological studies relating to the project area. Determine the applicability of the biological analysis in other planning and site- specific documents written for the region. • Consult with the California Natural Diversity Data Base(CNDDB), as well as California Native Plant Society(CNPS)publications. Obtain additional information on special status species, communities of concern, and permit requirements through consultation with biologists at the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Office and the California Department of Fish and Game. -18 San Joaquin County—EIR for the Union Pacific Modernization Project