11A Public Hearings - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Introduction Environmental Consistency Checklist Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 11 surveys shall be conducted not less than 7 days before the start of work to verify the absence of active nests. If an active nest of a special-status bird species is located during preconstruction surveys, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and/or California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) (as appropriate) shall be notified regarding the status of the nest. For nests of all species protected under Fish and Game Code, construction activities shall be restricted as necessary to avoid disturbance of the nest until it is abandoned, or the agencies deem disturbance potential to be minimal. Restrictions may include establishment of exclusion zones (no ingress of personnel or equipment at a minimum radius of 100 feet around an active raptor nest and an appropriate radius around an active migratory bird nest depending on the species) or alteration of the construction schedule. A qualified Biologist shall delineate the buffer using nest buffer signs, environmentally sensitive area fencing, pin flags, and/or flagging tape. The buffer zone shall be maintained around the active nest site(s) until the young have fledged and are foraging independently. Furthermore, the project would include pre-construction surveys for roosting bats as recommended in Appendix BIO. While unlikely, the vacant structures on-site could provide roosting habitat for special-status bat species. Potential direct and indirect impacts could occur to roosting bats during project construction due to the removal of potential roosting habitat. These activities could potentially subject bats to risk of death or injury, and they are likely to avoid using the area until such construction activities have dissipated or ceased. Relocation, in turn, could cause hunger or stress among individual bats by displacing them into adjacent territories belonging to other individuals. Implementation of the following avoidance and minimization measures would minimize impacts to roosting bats. A qualified biologist would conduct a survey for special-status bats during the appropriate time of day to maximize detectability to determine whether bat species are roosting near the work area no less than 7 days and no more than 14 days prior to beginning ground disturbance and/or construction. Survey methodology may include visual surveys of bats (e.g., observation of bats during foraging period), inspection for suitable habitat, bat sign (e.g., guano), or use of ultrasonic detectors (e.g., Anabat). Visual surveys would include trees within 100 feet of project construction activities. Not more than 2 weeks prior to building demolition, the project applicant will retain a qualified biologist to survey buildings proposed for demolition for the presence of roosting bats or evidence of bats. If no roosting bats or evidence of bats are found in the structure, demolition may proceed. If the biologist determines or presumes bats are present (if there are site access issues or structural safety concerns), the biologist shall exclude the bats from suitable spaces by installing one-way exclusion devices. After the bats vacate the space, the biologist shall close off the space to prevent recolonization. Building demolition shall only commence after the biologist verifies 7 to 10 days later that the exclusion methods have successfully prevented bats from returning. To avoid impacts on nonvolant (i.e., nonflying) bats, the biologist shall only conduct bat exclusion and eviction from May 1 through October 1. Exclusion efforts shall be restricted during periods of sensitive activity (e.g., during hibernation or while females in maternity colonies are nursing young).