Laserfiche WebLink
4 Environmental Analysis <br /> 4.4 Biological Resources <br /> Project impacts to BUOW after the implementation of recommended mitigation measures would <br /> be less than significant. The cumulative projects may result in impacts to this species, primarily <br /> associated with the loss of potential nesting and foraging habitat. However, the Central Valley <br /> offers substantial amounts of suitable nesting and foraging habitat for this species, and the area <br /> affected by the identified cumulative projects does not represent a significant portion of remaining <br /> suitable nesting and foraging habitat within the Central Valley. Therefore, the incremental impacts <br /> of the Project, in combination with the incremental impacts of other past, present, and reasonably <br /> foreseeable future projects, is not expected to cause a significant cumulative effect on BUOW. <br /> Project impacts to Swainson's hawk, white-tailed kite, and other raptors after implementation of <br /> recommended mitigation measures would be less than significant. Mitigation measures would <br /> protect raptor and other bird nests from disturbance during construction, and loss of foraging <br /> habitat is less than significant. The Project, in combination with all identified cumulative projects, <br /> would not substantially affect habitat for Swainson's hawk, white-tailed kite, and other raptors <br /> relative to the total available habitat in the Central Valley. In addition, any new Project overhead <br /> powerlines or associated structures would be designed in accordance with the current APLIC <br /> design standards (APLIC 2012), including use of avian-safe line designs and installation of <br /> devices to make powerlines visible to birds to reduce the potential for bird injury and mortality <br /> from collisions and electrocution, and it is anticipated that the cumulative Projects would also <br /> follow similar guidance in areas of potential habitat. Therefore, the Project would not result in a <br /> cumulatively considerable impact to Swainson's hawk, white-tailed kite, or other raptors. <br /> Project impacts to special-status migratory birds would be less than significant with mitigation. <br /> This proposed Project in combination with the identified cumulative projects would not <br /> substantially affect habitat for migratory birds relative to the total available habitat in the Central <br /> Valley. In addition, this proposed Project includes the commitment to adhere to current APLIC <br /> design standards (APLIC 2012) as described above, which would reduce the potential for bird <br /> injury and mortality from collisions and electrocution. Therefore, the incremental effects of the <br /> Project on overall bird fatality from collision or electrocution risk in the Central Valley would not <br /> be cumulatively considerable. <br /> Project impacts to SJKF and American badger would be less than significant with mitigation. The <br /> cumulative projects may result in impacts to these species, primarily associated with the loss of <br /> potential habitat. However, the Central Valley offers substantial amounts of suitable habitat for <br /> these species, and the area affected by the identified cumulative projects does not represent a <br /> significant portion of remaining suitable habitat within the Central Valley. In addition, this proposed <br /> Project would design construction and security lighting to avoid potential impacts (e.g., shielded, <br /> directed downward) to nocturnal species. Therefore, the incremental impacts of the Project, in <br /> combination with the incremental impacts of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable <br /> future projects, is not expected to cause a significant cumulative effect on SJKF or American <br /> badger. <br /> Project impacts to movement of wildlife and established native wildlife corridors would be less <br /> than significant and no native wildlife nursery sites are known to occur on the area to be developed <br /> or Project site. The proposed Project, in combination with the identified cumulative projects, would <br /> not impede the overall ability of wildlife to move through the region, and the total area that would <br /> be developed represents a small fraction of land in the Central Valley that could be used for <br /> wildlife movement. Therefore, the incremental impacts of the Project, in combination with the <br /> Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.4-52 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 <br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023 <br />