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` Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IVY-32 Forward Inc.Landfill 2014 Expansion Project HCP mitigation fees associated with the loss of foraging habitat for this area. Most of the southeast landfill relocation area currently is used as a composting facility and provides little wildlife habitat value. In this area, the ground is covered with rows/piles of r. composed and there is no vegetation. This area would be replaced with a capped landfill, which in the long-term would likely provide improved wildlife habitat value. The proposed sedimentation and lechate ponds would be constructed in the vicinity of an existing lechate ` pond and/or within disturbed habitats;therefore these project components would not substantially alter the current habitat value. Also, the landfill implements a rodent control program, which further detracts from the habitat quality of the site by limiting prey for raptors. The proposed relocation of the South Branch of the South Fork of Little John's Creek would result in a net increase in riparian and wetland vegetation. No trees are located on the project site, and therefore none would be removed as part of the project. Swainson's hawk(a state-listed species) and other special-status bird species forage over grassland habitat and may use the existing landfill habitats for foraging. However, the value of the property for foraging raptors is limited by the ongoing rodent control program. ` Additionally, the habitats to be disturbed by the project(i.e., disked areas devoid of vegetation and an active compost facility) provide limited value for foraging raptors. These areas would be replaced with a capped landfill providing similar or improved wildlife habitat value in the long-term. In the short-term, there would be a loss of habitat potentially used by Swainson's hawks as foraging habitat and the County considers any loss of potential Swainson's hawk habitat to contribute to a significant county-wide impact. While the property owner has already paid the HCP mitigation fees associated with the loss of foraging habitat for the proposed ` northeast landfill development area, the HCP mitigation fees have not been paid for the 6.2 acres to be developed in the southern portion of the property. Therefore, the loss of wildlife habitat(including raptor foraging habitat) is considered a cumulatively significant impact. ` Mitigation Measure F.B. The project shall comply with the SJMSCP mitigation requirements for the conversion of row and field crop lands (SJCOG 2000). Under the SJMSCP (2000),each acre of Swainson's hawk habitat(i.e.,Agricultural Habitat Lands) converted to non-open space uses would be mitigated by the establishment of 1 acre of Row and Field Crop/Riparian Preserve (a 1:1 mitigation ratio). This measure would apply to the 6.2 acres of land to be developed in the southern portion of the property. This would reduce this impact to a less than significant level. Impact F.9. Increase in Existing levels of Night Lighting. Night lighting is not expected to ` increase, as all project components would be within the boundaries of the existing active landfill facility area.This is a less than significant impact and no mitigation is required. •• Impact F.10. Use of Rodenticides in the Capped Areas of Landfill Could Result in Adverse Impacts to Wildlife. As part of permits issued to landfills, rodent control is important to maintaining the integrity of the landfill cap and liner to prevent leaching or seepage. Rodent " control is conducted through the application of rodenticides that is regulated through the Department of Agriculture. Application of rodenticides could adversely affect predator species, such as raptors and carnivores that feed on rodents on the site. When poisoned rodents are depredated, they can deliver significant doses to the predator. Raptors that eat small mammals in urban and agricultural areas are at risk of secondary poisoning from anticoagulant rodenticides,which can cause internal hemorrhaging and mortality. Some anticoagulants take several days to work(e.g.,brodifacoum) even with lethal doses, allowing rodents to forage and .. be exposed to raptor predation before dying. As a participant in the SJMSCP, Forward proposes to incorporate SJMSCP guidelines developed to minimize potential effects of