SU0014502 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report Gill Medical Center Project Mammals The Study Area is comprised entirely of agricultural or disturbed habitats. There is no suitable habitat for special-status mammals. 4.6.1.6 Sensitive Natural Communities No sensitive natural communities were found onsite during the field assessment. 4.6.1.7 Wildlife Movement/Corridors The Study Area is comprised of agricultural lands and does not support significant wildlife habitat. It is located in an agricultural setting surrounded by roads. The irrigation canal located along the northern boundary may support localized wildlife movement. However, there are no signification habitat features (e.g., wetlands) within or adjacent to the Study Area.The Survey Area does not support known nursery sites or mule deer fawning areas (CDFW 2020). No nursery sites were identified during the field assessment. 4.6.1.8 Critical Habitat There is no designated Critical Habitat within the Project site. 4.6.1.9 Oak Trees Native oak trees (e.g.Valley and blue oak [Quercus douglasii]) are present along the northern and western boundaries and centrally located in the southern portion of the Survey Area (see Figure 4.6-1). 4.6.2 Regulatory Setting 4.6.2.1 Federal Regulations Endangered Species Act The federal ESA protects plants and animals that are listed as endangered or threatened by USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Section 9 of the federal ESA prohibits, without authorization, the taking of listed wildlife, where take is defined as "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, collect, or attempt to engage in such conduct" (50 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 17.3). For plants, this statute governs removing, possessing, maliciously damaging, or destroying any listed plant under federal jurisdiction and removing, cutting, digging up, damaging, or destroying any listed plant in any other area in knowing violation of state law (16 U.S. Code [USC] 1538). Under Section 7 of the federal ESA, federal agencies are required to consult with USFWS and/or NMFS if their actions, including permit approvals and funding, could adversely affect a listed (or proposed) species (including plants) or its critical habitat.Through consultation and the issuance of a biological opinion (BO), USFWS and NMFS may issue an incidental take statement allowing take of the species that is incidental to an otherwise authorized activity provided the activity will not jeopardize the continued existence of the Biological Resources 4.6-24 October 2021