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4.2 – Biological Resources Draft Environmental Impact Report February 2021 14800 W. Schulte Road Logistics Center 4.2-9 Direct impacts refer to the permanent loss of on -site habitat and the plant and wildlife species that it contains. For this analysis, all biological resources within t he Project site are assumed to be subject to direct permanent impacts. Indirect impacts refer to off-site and on-site “edge effects” that are short-term (i.e., not permanent) and result from Project construction, or long-term (i.e., permanent) due to the design of the Project and the effects it may have to adjacent resources. Examples of edge effects include dust, noise, general human presence that may temporarily disrupt species and habitat vitality, and construction-related soil erosion and runoff. Cumulative impacts refer to two or more individual effects that, when considered together, are considerable or that compound or increase other environmental effects. Individual effects may be changes resulting from a single project or several separate projects. The cumulative impact from several projects is the change in the environment that results from the incremental impact of the project when added to other closely related past, present, and reasonably foreseeable probable future projects. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant projects taking place over time. 4.2.4 Impacts Analysis Threshold A: Would the Project have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Less-than-Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated. The following section evaluates the Project’s effects on plant and wildlife species identified as candidate, sensitive, or special-status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by CDFW or USFWS. Special-Status Plant Species The Project site is not likely to support any special-status plants due to the lack of suitable habitat within or adjacent to the Project site, the extensively disturbed condition of the site and lack of natural vegetation communities, and because the site is outside of the known elevation range of certain species for which potential to occur was evaluated. Additionally, no special-status plants were detected on site or in the surrounding area during the October 2020 field survey conducted by Dudek biologists. Thus, no impact to special-status plant species is anticipated to occur as a result of the Project. Special-Status Wildlife Species Burrowing owl has a low potential to occur on the Project site. Disturbed, open habitat with sparse, low vegetation occurs on the site and would be suitable for burrowing owl foraging, but no suitable burrows were identified on site and a lack of small mammal activity was noted. If burrowing owls were to occur, construction activities such as grading and operation of heavy equipment could result in the abandonment or failure of active burrows either through direct destruction of burrows or through indirect effects from noise and vibration associated with construction equipment. This is a potentially significant impact. With implementation of MM-BIO-1, which involves measures to discourage ground squirrel presence, pre-construction surveys if burrowing owls are known to occupy the site prior to Project construction, and measures for impact avoidance if burrowing owls are detected, potential direct impacts to burrowing owl would be avoided and/or minimized.