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0 Mitigation 4.2-6 Conduct preconstruction surveys for burrowing owls and avoid adverse impacts on burrowing owls, if present. The project proponent will hire a qualified biologist to conduct burrowing owl surveys within 60 days before ground disturbance activities start to determine if burrowing owls are present. To determine if burrowing owls are present, the project proponent will: examine all potential burrows at the project site and within a 500 -foot buffer in suitable habitat to determine if owls are present. If no owls are present, the biologist will: destroy or collapse unoccupied burrows within the construction area and flag unoccupied burrows within the 500 -foot buffer for monitoring and • monitor the project site and continue destroying burrows in the construction area until grading begins to ensure that new burrows constructed by ground squirrels are not occupied by owls and used as dens. If owls are located at the project site or within a 500 -foot buffer, the project proponent will: • establish an appropriate buffer zone around any active burrow (the buffer width would be determined in consultation with DFG); • if a known burrowing owl nest is found in the construction impact area, delay construction until the young have left the nest; monitor active burrows to ensure that no owls are killed during grading: and • relocate burrowing owls, if no other options are available. The project proponent would prepare a relocation plan in coordination with DFG and USFWS and would be required to obtain permits from both DFG and USFWS to capture and remove owls. Impact 4.2-7 Loss of Habitat for California Horned Larks Implementation of the project would result in the loss of approximately 40 acres of California horned lark foraging and nesting habitat. This impact is considered less than significant because the horned lark is considered common in the project area and foraging and nesting habitat is abundant in the project vicinity. Mitigation 4.2-7 No mitigation is required or recommended: Impact 4.2-8 Loss of Foraging Habitat for Loggerhead Shrikes, Northern Harriers, Black -Shouldered Kites, Ferruginous Hawks, and Tricolored Blackbirds Implementation of the project would result in the loss of foraging habitat for these species. Loss of foraging habitat for these species is considered less than significant because the amount of habitat lost is small and the habitat is abundant regionally. ER -93-1 -45- (9-27-93)