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Biological Resources Evaluation Report Griffith Energy Project 2. Have a USFWS and CDFW-approved biologist conduct surveys using the 2003 Interim Guidance to determine if CTS are present(USFWS 2003). If CTS are present, the project would proceed with avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures. If no CTS are present, then no mitigation is necessary, but avoidance and minimization measures may still be required by the agencies since suitable upland habitat is present. Therefore, it is recommended to assume presence of CTS and mitigate rather than conducting protocol surveys. No CTS were found during the general biological survey; however, CTS would be overwintering in small mammal burrows at the time of the survey. The Project site contains suitable habitat for CTS and is within the CTS distributional range. If presence is not assumed,to determine the presence/absence of this species on the Project site, a protocol survey would be required (USFWS 2003). A CTS site assessment would be submitted to the USFWS. Upon reviewing the results from the site assessment, USFWS is likely to determine that the Project site contains upland habitat only. At sites that only contain upland habitat and at least one potential breeding pool within 1.24 miles, a one-year drift fence study would be required in the fall and winter, between two consecutive seasons of aquatic larval surveys, to support a negative finding. 6.1.3 Burrowing Owl The SJMSCP does not specifically require BUOW protocol surveys. As allowed under the SJMSCP, this species may be addressed by implementing pre-construction surveys and avoidance buffers (i.e., 75 meters)during construction if nesting owls are found(San Joaquin County 2000).The EACCS recommends that the CDFW protocol survey is implemented (CDFW 2012). The following summarizes the recommendations and timing for protocol-level BUOW surveys: • BUOW protocol surveys require that 100 percent of a project site and 150-meter buffer be thoroughly surveyed by walking transects spaced no more than 20 meters apart to look for potential suitable burrows. • After the burrow transect survey is completed,four breeding season surveys and census of BUOW must be conducted prior to beginning work activities. Nesting season surveys must be conducted between February 15 and July 15, with the first survey occurring between February 15 and April 15 and the last survey occurring between June 15 and July 15.These surveys occur from two hours before sunset to one hour after or from one hour before to two hours after sunrise. • One winter survey must be conducted between December 1 and January 31 if BUOW are not found during the nesting season survey. After the surveys are completed, a report documenting the methods and results must be submitted to the CDFW. After it is determined which of the two plans applies to the Project, that plan should be followed for BUOW as described above. 6.1.4 Additional Requirements Pre-construction surveys are recommended prior to ground disturbance or vegetation clearance to avoid impacts to special-status species that have potential to occur on the Project site. Pre-construction surveys would occur 7 to 30 days prior to construction activities (e.g. equipment staging, potholing) depending on species. Pre-construction surveys would be needed for CRLF, Swainson's hawk, nesting birds (including raptors), SJKF, and American badger. Pre-construction surveys for SJKF are recommended to include the use of motion-activated cameras, which would be setup and monitored 14 to 30 days prior to construction activities. The recommended density of camera placement is equal to about two camera stations in an average SJKF home range,or about 1 camera station per 2.9 square kilometers(Westall and Cypher 2017). Tetra Tech, Inc 6-2 July 2023