Laserfiche WebLink
uc <br /> DUCKS Ull STE V REGIONAL FIC E <br /> UNLIMITED 9823 Old Winer•Place. Suire 16 <br /> Sacramenro. California 95827 " <br /> INC. (916) 363-8257 <br /> March 9, 1992 <br /> Joseph G. DiCristina <br /> r� Vice President <br /> Robertson Homes <br /> 6653 Embarcadero Drive <br /> Stockton, CA 95219 <br /> Dear Mr. DiCristina: <br /> Thank you for forwarding sections of the Environmental <br /> Impact Report (EIR) for the Buckeye Ranch Project. I had an <br /> opportunity to review the biological section, comparing findings <br /> to those in the Buckeye Ranch Management Plan. Below are my <br /> comments. <br /> First and foremost the biological section, as prepared, does <br /> not fairly depict the project. EIR's are documents that present <br /> facts, pertaining to State CEQA or Federal NEPA regulations, <br /> relative to the project in question. EIR's should allow a <br /> reader, not familiar with a particular project, to develop an C25 <br /> informed, and unbiased opinion as to the impacts of the project. <br /> An EIR should present alternatives ranging from the null to the <br /> most severe impacts. The biological section did not conform to <br /> these conventions. It was totally biased and ignored reports <br /> prepared by qualified biologists, including the Buckeye Ranch <br /> Management Plan. The EIR completely ignores the applicants <br /> willingness to develop, to the best of their ability, the <br /> property so that it benefits them as well as wildlife. <br /> Many conjectural and/or incorrect statements about the <br /> biological needs of '6wainson's hawk were made. These include: <br /> 1) Figure 4 .7-2 states that active Swainson's Hawk nests <br /> are located on the property. In the text (p 4 . 7-15) C26 <br /> the EIR states that there are "possible" nest sites. <br /> The figure is misleading. <br /> 2) Inferring Swainson's Hawks are skidish of man because <br /> of illegal hunting in South America has no bearing on <br /> this project. The EIR tries to build a case of C27 <br /> harassment based on mere presence of man. Swainson's <br /> Hawks do nest in close proximity to humans in Yolo and <br /> San Joaquin counties (pers obs) . <br /> 3) Swainson's Hawk foraging habitat will be lost if the <br /> lakes are reflooded. This statement is misleading. C28 <br /> Conversion of the Lodi Lakes to permanent and seasonal <br /> marshes will not severely impact Swainson's hunting in <br /> the area due to the birds large <br /> III-63 <br />