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Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Page IV.A-17
<br /> Forward Inc.Landfill 2018 Expansion Project
<br /> The controller was notified of this incident. Measures taken to deter future gull landing and
<br /> ' feeding included requiring the controller to monitor areas that may be screened with the
<br /> support of landfill staff in constructing additional access roads. During surveys of gulls at the
<br /> Forward Landfill from fall of 2010 to spring of 2013, other species of birds have been recorded.
<br /> (Davis,2014). There are four species of raptors that generally occur in the area:Turkey Vulture,
<br /> Red-tailed Hawk,Swainsori s Hawk, and American Kestrel. Each of these species occupies
<br /> large home ranges of which the landfill is only a small,non-essential part. The species do not
<br /> ' feed at the landfill and would still occur in the same areas even if the landfill were not present
<br /> (Davis 2014). The landfill sometimes attracts small numbers of European Starlings and Brown-
<br /> headed Cowbirds. These birds may attempt to feed at the waste disposal area,but the numbers
<br /> ' remain low because they are deterred by the falcons used in the gull control program. The
<br /> closed,vegetated parts of the landfill attract the same species in the same numbers as the
<br /> surrounding agricultural areas, and the airport property itself. (Davis,2014). No gulls were
<br /> ' observed during surveys by an independent biologist on April 30,2013;April 30,2014;June 19,
<br /> 2015;or June 7,2017(Yakich,2013;Yakich,2014;Valcarel,2015;Teichman,2017).During the
<br /> winters of 2015-2016 and 2016-2017,no gulls were observed feeding at the landfill by the
<br /> falconer(Davis,2016 and Davis 2017). The absence of gulls since 2013 was attributed to the gull
<br /> control program,employed by the landfill.
<br /> ' The bird survey results through 2017, summarized above,have shown that, through
<br /> monitoring,evaluations, and implementation of the gull program,the landfill has continued to
<br /> not create a bird hazard to aircraft at the Stockton Airport.
<br /> ' Impacts and Mitigation Measures
<br /> ' Standards of Significance
<br /> The proposed project would have a significant impact with regard to land use, planning, and
<br /> agricultural lands if it would:
<br /> • Physically divide an established community,
<br /> ' • Conflict with applicable land use plans,policies, or regulation of an agency with
<br /> jurisdiction over the project(including,but not limited to, the General Plan, specific
<br /> plans, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding
<br /> ' or mitigating an environmental effect,
<br /> • Conflict with an applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community
<br /> conservation plan, or
<br /> • Convert farmland to non-agricultural use.
<br /> ' This section updates the impacts and mitigations considered in the 2013 EIR, to account for
<br /> P P g
<br /> changes in the proposed project. To facilitate review of the section and comparison of analyses
<br /> ' between the 2013 EIR and this document,the heading for each impact or mitigation measure
<br /> reflects whether that impact is the same, revised, or replaced. For example,the heading for
<br /> ' s Source:California Code of Regulations,Title 14,Division 6,Chapter 3,Sections 15000-15387 and
<br /> Appendices A-K, "Guidelines for the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act",
<br /> Appendix G,Environmental Checklist Form.
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