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4.2 – Biological Resources Draft Environmental Impact Report February 2021 14800 W. Schulte Road Logistics Center 4.2-12 and would mitigate any impacts to SJMSCP Covered Species through permitting with CDFW under CESA and/or with USFWS through FESA. Impacts would be less-than-significant. Threshold G: Would the Project result in cumulatively considerable impacts to biological resources? Less-than-Significant Impact with Mitigation Incorporated. Because of the relatively small scale of the Project and the existing level of human disturbance within the Project site, no considerable cumulative impacts related to habitat conversion or increased building utilization are anticipated. The Project site is located in an area that has been developed for industrial and agricultural purposes, and has nearby residential development. Therefore, implementation of the Project would not result in a significant reduction of available habitat, migration corridors, or other essential elements required by special-status species in the region. Due to the lack of biological value provided by the Project site, the Project’s contribution to any cumulative effects on biological resources would be considered negligible. Through mitigation (MM-BIO-1, MM-BIO-2, and MM-BIO-3) and compliance with regulatory requirements, Project construction would not create significant risks that could combine with other impacts to create a significant and cumulatively considerable impact on biological resources. For these reasons, the Project would not result in cumulatively considerable impacts related to biological resources. 4.2.5 Mitigation Measures MM-BIO-1 Avoid and Minimize Impacts to Burrowing Owl. Measures identified in the Incidental Take Minimization Measures (ITMM) document (SJCOG 2020) shall be implemented to ensure that Project-related impacts to burrowing owl are avoided or minimized. In the event that the SJMSCP is not used to mitigate species impacts, the following measures, similar to those included in the ITMM document, shall be implemented. The following measures to discourage ground squirrel presence, which would limit habitat suitability for burrowing owls, shall be implemented: • New vegetation shall be planted or existing vegetation shall be retained entirely covering the site at a height of approximately 36 inches above the ground. Vegetation shall be retained until construction begins. Vegetation shall discourage ground squirrel and burrowing owl use of the site. Alternatively, the Project applicant may disc or plow the entire Project site to destroy any ground squirrel burrows. Before burrows are destroyed, ground squirrels shall be removed through one of the following approved methods to prevent reoccupation of the Project site: anticoagulants, zinc phosphide, fumigants, or traps. Detailed descriptions of these methods are included in San Joaquin Multi-Species Habitat Conservation and Open Space Plan, Appendix A, Protecting Endangered Species, Interim Measures for Use of Pesticides in San Joaquin County, dated March 2000. • If burrowing owls are known to occupy the site prior to Project construction, pre-construction surveys for burrowing owls shall be conducted no less than 14 days, and again within 24 hours, prior to commencement of ground disturbance. Any burrowing owl pre-construction surveys shall be conducted following the protocol within the Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (CDFW 2012).