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5.7 Biological Resources
MM 7-7
R:\Projects\PAS\CEN\000306\Draft EIR\5.7 Bio_051117.docx
Biologist” hereinafter. During clearing and grubbing of construction areas, the
Authorized Biologist shall be present at all times. During mass grading,
construction sites shall be monitored on a daily basis, and the Authorized
Biologist will have the authority to stop all activities until appropriate
corrective measures have been completed. If condors are observed landing in
the Project area, the Applicant shall avoid further construction within 500 feet
of the sighting until the animals have left the area, or as otherwise authorized
by CDFW and USFWS. All condor sightings in the Project area will be reported
to CDFW and USFWS within 24 hours of the sighting.
To further protect California condors potentially foraging in the Project area
over the long term from negative interactions with humans and/or artificial
structures, the Project Applicant/Developer shall remove dead cattle that are
found or reported within 1,000 feet of the boundary of a residential or
commercial development. Dead cattle shall be relocated to a predetermined
location. The locations where carcasses shall be placed shall be a minimum of
1,000 feet from a development area boundary. Appropriate locations for
transfer of carcasses include open grasslands and oak/grassland areas where
condors can readily detect carcasses and easily land and take off without
encountering physical obstacles such as powerlines and other utility
structures. The proposed locations would be selected and approved by the
CDFW and USFWS. Pursuant to this measure, a telephone number for
reporting dead cattle shall be provided and actively maintained. Any cattle
carcasses transferred to the relocation areas shall be reported to the USFWS
Condor Group.
All surfaces on new antennae and phone/utility towers shall be designed and
operated with anti-perching devices in conformance with Avian Power Line
Interaction Committee standards to deter California condors and other
raptors from perching. During construction, the area shall be kept clean of
debris (e.g., cable, trash, and construction materials). The Project
Applicant/Developer shall collect all microtrash and litter (i.e., anything shiny,
such as broken glass), vehicle fluids, and food waste from the Project area on
a daily basis. Workers shall be trained on the issue of microtrash: what
constitutes microtrash, its potential effects on California condors, and how to
avoid the deposition of microtrash.
The Project shall incorporate avoidance and additional open space buffer
features for this tricolored blackbird nesting area. Permanent impacts will be
restricted to a distance of 400 feet from the nesting area excluding small
impact areas associated with infrastructure and utilities along SR-138
immediately south of Quail Lake. The nesting area will be delineated by a
qualified Ornithologist based on all available data (three years of site-specific
data shall be used). Temporary impacts (i.e., construction noise) within 400
feet shall be restricted to the non-breeding season. The breeding season for
this species shall be considered April 1 through July 1.
5.7-178 Centennial Project
Draft EIR