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• When destruction of occupied burrows is unavoidable, existing unsuitable burrows should be enhanced (enlarged and cleared of debris)or new burrows created (by installing artificial burrows)at a ratio of 2:1 on the protected lands site. • If owls must be moved away from the disturbance area, passive relocation techniques should be used rather than trapping. Passive relocation is defined as encouraging owls to move from occupied burrows to alternate natural or artificial burrows that are beyond 50 meters from the impact zone and that are within or contiguous to a minimum of 6.5 acres of foraging habitat (California Burrowing Owl Consortium 1993). These techniques may be found in the CDFG's Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (1995)and in the Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines (Burrowing Owl Consortium 1993). At least one or two weeks must be given to accomplish this and allow the owls to acclimate to alternate burrows. Project activities are expected to result in increased habitat value and long-term beneficial impacts for the burrowing owl population. Project activities are expected to have a less than significant impact on burrowing owl due to the incorporated protection measures. Other special status species. Although federal and state protection measures and protocol level surveys focus on San Joaquin kit fox and western burrowing owl, LFR biologists will note the presence of other species of concern that do not have regulatory protection. Conservation measures are incorporated into the project to avoid and minimize potential impacts the project may have on any special status animal species. The following six species are considered federal or state special status species and have a moderate to high potential to occur in the project site: • San Joaquin Pocket Mouse.The San Joaquin pocket mouse (SJPM; Perognathus inornatus) is a federal Species of Concern. SJPM's habitat consists of open, sandy areas with grasses and forbs. SJPM are permanent residents and dig burrows for cover and storage of seeds,which constitute the majority of their diet. Little is known about their reproductive cycle; their reproduction probably occurs in spring and early summer(CDFG 2003). Conservation Measures Document review indicates that the project site is within range of the SJPM. The CNDDB reported occurrence at a neighboring"previously mined non-native grassland" in 2001. Based on observations, and the occurrence of SJPM in very similar habitat, it appears that the Site could provide suitable habitat for the SJPM. The following measures to avoid and minimize impact to SJPM will be incorporated into the project because there is a moderate to high potential for SJPM to occur in the project site vicinity: • Vehicles moving around the project site, including trucks and excavators, will remain to the fullest extent possible on existing access roads. Several roads exist at the Site which are already compacted and do not contain burrows. • Existing burrows that the SJPM may use for shelter will be avoided to the fullest extent possible. In the event that a vehicle must travel off road to excavate existing burn areas, a qualified biologist will examine off road areas to ascertain 19