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Responsible Mitigation Measures and Statements of Findings of Impacts Being Monitoring/ RespMonitoring/Reporting
<br /> Significant and Unavoidable Party for Providing i Timing
<br /> 9 Reporting Action Mitigation Responsibility
<br /> on-site owls could be implemented as an alternative,but only during the
<br /> nonbreeding season and only with CDFG approval.The approach to owl
<br /> relocation and burrow closure may vary depending on the number of
<br /> occupied burrows.Passive relocation shall be accomplished by installing
<br /> one-way doors on the entrances of burrows within 160 feet of the project
<br /> site.The one-way doors shall be left in place for 48 hours to ensure the
<br /> owls have left the burrow.The burrows shall then be excavated with a
<br /> qualified biologist present.Construction shall not proceed until the
<br /> project site is deemed free of owls.
<br /> b. Artificial nesting burrows shall be provided as a temporary measure
<br /> when natural burrows are lacking.To compensate for lost nest burrows,
<br /> artificial burrows shall be provided outside the 160-foot buffer zone
<br /> (CDFG,1995).The alternate burrows shall be monitored daily for 7 days
<br /> to confirm that the owls have moved in and acclimated to the new
<br /> burrow.
<br /> 5. Unoccupied burrows within the immediate construction area shall be
<br /> excavated using hand tools,and then filled to prevent reoccupation. If any
<br /> burrowing owls are discovered during the excavation,the excavation shall
<br /> cease and the owl shall be allowed to escape. Excavation can be completed
<br /> when the biological monitor confirms the burrow is empty.
<br /> 6. A minimum of 6.5 acres of foraging habitat per active burrow shall be
<br /> preserved,ideally in a long-term conservation easement(California
<br /> Burrowing Owl Consortium, 1993).Also"when destruction of occupied
<br /> burrows is unavoidable,burrows should be enhanced (enlarged or cleared
<br /> of debris)or created(by installing artificial burrows)at a ratio of 1;1 in
<br /> adjacent suitable habitat that is contiguous with the foraging habitat of the i
<br /> affected owls"(California Burrowing Owl Consortium, 1993).
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<br /> 7.As an alternative to the mitigation measures set forth In paragraphs 1
<br /> through 6,the applicant may participate in the SJMSCP to compensate for
<br /> the loss of foraging habit as set forth in Mitigation Measure BIO-1a and to
<br /> implement the Incidental Take Minimization Measures set forth in Section
<br /> 5.2.4.15 of the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and
<br /> Open Space Plan,dated November 14, 2000.
<br /> BIO-1c:Seasonal Work Limits and Pre-Construction Surveys.To the degree Verification by County. Union Pacific San Joaquin County No more than 15 days prior
<br /> feasible,construction activities shall be avoided during the bird nesting and bat ;Community Development to ground disturbing
<br /> brooding season(February 1 through August 31)or the sites shall be surveyed Department activities
<br /> by a qualified biologist to verify the absence of protected breeding birds and bats.
<br /> If construction activities(i.e.,ground clearing and grading,including removal of
<br /> trees or shrubs)are scheduled to occur during the breeding season(February 1
<br /> through August 31),the following measures shall be implemented to avoid -
<br /> potential adverse effects on nesting raptors,other special-status birds,and bats:
<br /> 1. A qualified wildlife biologist shall conduct pre-construction surveys for active
<br /> nests within 300 feet(for raptors)or 100 feet(for migratory birds)of ground-
<br /> disturbing.
<br /> round-
<br /> disturbin activities,where access is available. Measures specificallyI I
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