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LFR Levine-Fricke • Short-eared Owl. The short-eared owl(Asio flammeus; SEO) is a federal Species of Concern and a California Species of Concern, and protected under the MBTA. SEO are a winter migrant in California and year-round residents in central to northeastern California(Sibley 2000). SEO prefer open areas with few trees and elevated sites for perches. SEO require dense vegetation for roosting and nesting such as annual or perennial grasslands, deserts, dunes, meadows, irrigated lands, and saline and fresh emergent wetlands(CDFG 2003). SEO nests on dry ground. ■ SEO are mostly crepuscular. It is highly unlikely that project activities will impact SEO because project activities are expected to take place during daylight hours, in the mid-summer and early fall. A winter survey will be required only if there is a cessation of field work for more than 30 days during the remediation activities. Protection Measures Document review indicates that the project site is within range of the SEO. Based on observations, it appears that the site could provide suitable habitat for the SEO. The following measures to avoid impact to SEO will be incorporated into the project because there is a moderate to high potential for SEO to occur in the project site vicinity in the winter and a low potential for SEO to occur in the project site vicinity in the summer: ■ 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 area already compacted and do not contain vegetation that would potentially attract ground nesting birds. ■ Existing grassy areas 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 visually examine off road areas to ascertain the best route to burn areas. Once a route is determined, vehicles will remain on route and/or within excavated areas. ■ Occupied nests will be demarcated by a qualified biologist and avoided completely. ■ An additional winter survey will be required only if there is a cessation of field work for more than 30 days during the remediation activities. Formatted:Bullets and Numbering Cultural Resources An initial field reconnaissance did not reveal any known historical resources located directly on the project site. Old vehicles and dilapidated structures surviving the tire fire are from the second half of the 20'Century, and do not appear to be affiliated with any person or event of historic significance. The Central California Information Center (CCIC)within the California Historic Resources Information System(CHRIS)has been Final_RAP_Tracy_9.18.03(final).doc Page 33