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<br />Soil Investigations for Data Collection in the Delta <br />Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration x <br />To minimize and avoid the potential impacts to Burrowing Owl that may occur within the <br />Study Area, the following general measures will be implemented: <br />a. In areas with the potential for Burrowing Owl to occur, prior to soil investigation field <br />activities, a qualified biologist will conduct a pre-activity survey. The surveys will <br />establish the presence or absence of Burrowing Owl and/or suitable habitat features <br />and evaluate use by owls in accordance with CDFW survey guidelines (CDFW <br />1993). For each Impact Area, the biologist will survey the proposed disturbance <br />footprint and a 500-foot radius from the perimeter of the proposed footprint to identify <br />any suitable burrows and owls. Adjacent parcels under different land ownership will <br />not be surveyed. Surveys should take place near sunrise or sunset in accordance <br />with CDFW guidelines. Suitable burrows or Burrowing Owls will be identified and <br />mapped. Surveys will take place no more than 30 days prior to soil investigation field <br />activities. During the breeding season (February 1– August 31), surveys will <br />document whether Burrowing Owls are nesting in or directly adjacent to any Impact <br />Area. During the nonbreeding season (September 1–January 31), surveys will <br />document whether Burrowing Owls are using habitat in or directly adjacent to any <br />disturbance area. Survey results will be valid only for the season (breeding or <br />nonbreeding) during which the survey is conducted. <br /> <br />b. If Burrowing Owls are found during the breeding season (February 1 – August 31), <br />all nest sites that could be disturbed by project activities will be avoided during the <br />remainder of the breeding season or while the nest is occupied by adults or young. <br />Avoidance will include establishment of a non-disturbance buffer zone (described <br />below in parts c and d). <br /> <br />c. Soil investigation activities may occur during the breeding season only if a qualified <br />biologist monitors the nest and determines that the birds have not begun egg-laying <br />and incubation or that the juveniles from the occupied burrows have fledged. During <br />the nonbreeding season (September 1 – January 31) the owls and the burrows they <br />are using should be avoided, if possible. Avoidance will include the establishment of <br />a buffer zone (described below). <br /> <br />d. During the breeding season, buffer zones of at least 250 feet in which no soil <br />investigation activities can occur will be established around each occupied burrow <br />(nest site). Buffer zones of 160 feet will be established around each burrow being <br />used during the nonbreeding season. The buffers will be delineated by highly visible, <br />temporary fencing or flagging. <br /> <br />MM BIO-11: Swainson’s Hawk <br />To minimize and avoid the potential impacts to Swainson’s Hawk that may occur within <br />the project area, the following general measures will be implemented: <br /> <br />a. If soil investigations field activities will occur during the nesting season (March 15– <br />September 15), a pre-activity survey will be conducted by a qualified biologist within <br />0.25 mile of Impact Areas following the Recommended Timing and Methodology for