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Biological Resources, MONK &ASSOCIATES Impacts and Mitigations Tracy Facility Expansion Site.. 13503.5. Approximately 137 acres of the project site(non-native annual grassland habitat) Westin habitat for the burrowin owl. Potential impacts to the burrowing owl G provide suitableg wing owl. the project include death of owls,their eggs and/or young, and temporary.loss (i.e., one to six years) of nesting habitat. While M&A have conducted a winter burrowing owl survey and owl on the project site nesting surve s for burrowing owl have not identified one burrowing o p ) � � y � been conducted. In the absence of nesting surveys confirming or negating presence of nesting burrowing owls on the project site,it must be concluded that impacts to burrowing owls from the proposed project are potentially significant. However,mitigation could be implemented that would reduce this impact to a level considered less than significant. 14.12 Mitigation Measure 5'-Burrowing Owl Implementation of the following mitigation should offset:impacts to the burrowing owl to a level considered less than significant. Since presence of a burrowing owl in the winter months does not conclude presence of nesting owls,project site surveys for nesting burrowing owls should be conducted prior to initiation of an Re hose of the ro'ect. Surveys should be conducted as recommended in the Sta ff port on Burrowing Owl Mitigation CDFG 1995) and as otherwise prescribed in the Burrowing Owl B g g ( � Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines (BOC•1993). Survey methods,include: • If work in mining Area 1 is to be initiated in the s Lin of the year 2000,burrowing owl surveys should be conducted prior to the nestingseason between December 1 and January 31,to identify burrowing owl activities. If burrowing owl activity areas are found, eviction methods should be implemented to discourage nesting in the immediate impact area caveat: read further to find out more about eviction). Repeat surveys should also be conducted not more than 30 days prior to initial ground disturbance to inspect for re-occupation and the need for additional protection measures. 6 • If initiation of work in Area 1 would not take place until the summer of 2000, spring nesting surveys should be conducted. These surveys can be conducted anytime between April 15 through July 15. If burrowing owls are identified during the surveys, the extent of burrowing owl habitat on the site shouldbe delineated by a qualified ornithologist. • If nesting activity is identified,then no construction should be allowed within a 250-foot radius of the occupied nesting burrow until it can be demonstrated that the young are foraging independently and capable of independent survival. The 250-foot radius around the nest burrow should be protected by placing barrier fencing around the 250-foot area. Additionally, the'mitigation measure prescribed below will need to be implemented to offset the impact that will occur ito this species' habitat. The survey methods described above and the mitigation measures described below should be followed prior to commencing with work on subsequent phases of the excavation project(i.e., Areas 2 - 6). If burrowing owls are identified within grassland habitats during either winter surveys (December through January) or spring nesting surveys (April through July), the 32