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Biological Resources, MONK &ASSOCIATES Impacts and Mitigations Tracy Facility Expansion Site 11. SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES ISSUES Below we discuss special-status plants and animals that are known from the region of the project site(San Joaquin County). The special.-status species presented in this report were compiled from CDFG's Natural Diversity Database(CNDDB)RareFind 2 application, CLAPS' 1998 electronic update of the Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California, other environmental documents prepared for projects in the area,and M&A biologists' knowledge of special-status species issues in San Joaquin County. Not all of the special-status species resented below have potential to occur on the project site;however, since these species were P listed in either the C.NDDB,the CNPS Inventory,or other local environmental documents,the. possibility of their presence on the project site is discussed below. All special-status plants and animals considered in this analysis, their legal status, and habitat affinities, are also presented in Tables 4 and 5,respectively. 11.1 Special-Status Plants CDFG's CNDDB (RareFind 2 application)has records for three special-status plant species within 10 miles of the project site. CNPS' electronic Inventory lists the same three special-status plant species for the Tracy, California USGS quadrangle. After reviewing environmental documents for other proposed developments in the County,M&A have added a forth species that is found in San Joaquin valley grassland habitats. These four species are listed in Table 4. This - table also lists these species' special-status designations,habitat affinities,blooming period, and the likelihood of their occurrence on the project site. The project site has a long history of disturbance associated with past gravel miring,road construction for various historical projects, and other earth moving activity that has left the soils compacted and/or otherwise disturbed. Therefore,M&A.believe that the likelihood of these species,occurring on the project site is low;however;we realize that they cannot be dismissed without first conducting appropriately timed surveys. Large-flowered fiddleneck(Amsinckia grandiora)is a State and Federal endangered species. It is also on CLAPS List 1B. This fiddleneck species is found in grassland habitats where it blooms between April and May. Large-flowered fiddleneck is only known from a few occurrences, including Lawrence Livermore Lab's Site 300 which is approximately 4.0 miles west of the project site on Corral Hollow Road. Since grassland habitat is present on the project site,this species presence cannot be dismissed without conducting spring surveys. Big tarplant(Blepharizonia plurnosa ssp.plumosa)is on CNPS List 1B. It has no State or Federal status. Big tarplant is found in valley grassland habitats in dry soils where it flowers from July to October. In October 1996, approximately 500 big tarplants were identified in non- native annual grassland on the northwest slope of Black Butte,just south of Corral Hollow Road, approximately 2.5 miles west of the project site. Due to the proximity of this sighting to the project site, and the presence of potentially suitable habitat,its presence on the project site cannot be ruled out without conducting appropriately timed surveys. 14