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State of California -The Resources Ag n OLD SCHWARZENIEQGovernqr <br /> DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME <br /> htto:1/www.dfq.ca.gov <br /> Sacramento valley - Central Sierra Reyion Letter F <br /> is <br /> 1701 Nimbus Road, Suite A <br /> Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 <br /> (916) 358-2900 <br /> RELIEVED <br /> JUL 0 7 2006 <br /> July 5, 2006 Community DavelopmerltDapt, <br /> Mr, Chandler Martin <br /> San Joaquin County Community Development Department <br /> 1810 E. Hazelton Avenue <br /> Stockton, CA 95205 <br /> Dear Mr. Martin: <br /> The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has reviewed the draft Environmental <br /> Impact Report (DEIR) for the RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry project (SCH#2002122122). <br /> The project consists of a plan to excavate 1.7 to 4.0 million tons of sand and gravel per <br /> year on a 688-acre site. The project site is located in southwestern San Joaquin <br /> County, and straddles the San Joaquin lStanislaus County line just east of the Delta- <br /> Mendota Canal. <br /> Wildlife habitat resources consist primarily of agricultural lands located near large <br /> expanses of rolling grasslands west of Highway 1-5. Significant natural resources of the <br /> project include habitat for several sensitive species of wildlife. The DFG is concerned F-1 <br /> that this DEIR fails to provide adequate mitigation for the projects impacts to sensitive <br /> species. <br /> San Joaquin Kit Fox <br /> The DEIR's treatment of the San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis muticia) is <br /> inadequate. Mitigation Measure 4.9.2a concludes that,"Conditions on the project site <br /> currently provide habitat for the San Joaquin kit fog('. Although the DEIR identifies the <br /> project site as habitat for the kit fox, it proposes to mitigate the projects impacts by <br /> conducting a study at some point in the future to determine if F:it fox are present. The F-2 <br /> remainder of the mitigation proposal consists of some avoidance and minimization <br /> measures, with no means for mitigating the potential loss of 866 acres of habitat. <br /> In order to off-set the projects impact on the San Joaquin kit fox we recommend <br /> that the DEIR be revised to contain a mitigation proposal that addresses the whole of <br /> the permitted action (all of the mine phases). Postponing the development of a kit fox <br /> mitigation proposal until some time in the future, or at some future phase, does not <br /> ensure that impacts will be reduced below a level of significance. In addition to the take <br /> avoidance and minimization measures contained in 4.9.2a (111) & (IV), we recommend <br /> Conserving Ca(fornia's 'WiCd(fe since 1870 <br />