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Biological Resources, MONK&ASSOCIATES Impacts and Mitigations Tracy Facility Expansion Site 14.5 Impact Number 3 - California Horned Lizard t Implementation of the project as proposed could result in impacts to.the California horned lizard. a The California horned lizard is a Federal species of concern and a State species of special concern. Approximately 137 acres of potential homed lizard foraging, egg laying,burial, and sunning habitat(non-native annual grassland)would be impacted by the project as proposed. Potential impacts to this lizard from the project include death to individual lizards due to earth- moving activity and temporary loss (i.e., one to six years)of breeding, foraging, and retreat habitat. No surveys for California horned lizard have been conducted; therefore,it is not known whether or not this species is present on the project-site. Until surveys are conducted that confirm or negate this species' presence, it must be concluded that impacts to this species from the proposed project are potentially significant. However,mitigation-could be implemented that would offset this impact to a level considered less than significant. 14.6 Mitigation Measure 3 - California Horned Lizard t Implementation of the following mitigation should offset impacts to California horned lizard to a level considered less than significant. A survey for California homed lizard should be conducted in May or June 1999, during the lizard's peak activity months,to determine its presence or absence on the project site. The survey should be conducted on a day when weather conditions are conducive for homed lizard activity(i.e., warm and sunny). If the California homed lizard is not identified during the survey, it would be assumed that it is absent from the project site and mitigation would not be required. If,however, California horned lizards are identified during the survey, it would be necessary to also complete pre-construction surveys in each excavation area prior to initiating excavation in that particular area(e.g., Area 1). The pre-construction survey should be conducted 30 days prior to initiating work in that area so that all horned lizards may be captured and removed to nearby suitable habitats. This trapping and relocation effort would need to be coordinated with USFWS and CDFG and would only be completed by a qualified wildlife biologist. w In addition to removing California horned lizards from each excavation area,reclamation of the project site subsequent to cessation of mining would also serve as mitigation. Therefore,horned lizard trapping and removal and reclamation of the project site would.reduce the project's impacts to California horned lizard to a less than significant level. 29