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BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Sunrise Powerlink Project

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BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Sunrise Powerlink Project BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT for the Sunrise Powerlink Project October 2008 Prepared for: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 6010 Hidden Valley Road Carlsbad, CA 92009 Federal Action Agencies: United States Bureau of Land Management El Centro United States Forest Service Cleveland National Forest United States Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Applicant: San Diego Gas and Electric Company San Diego, California Prepared by: San Diego Gas and Electric Company Ebbin Moser + Skaggs LLP ICF Jones & Stokes KP Environmental John Messina TRC Companies, Inc. Wildlife International Table of Contents 1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Overview of the Final Environmentally Superior Southern Route ..................... 1 1.2.1 Desert South Link ....................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 CNF South Link .......................................................................................... 2 1.2.3 Inland Valley South Link ............................................................................ 3 1.2.4 System Upgrades ........................................................................................ 4 1.3 Project Design Features ...................................................................................... 5 1.3.1 Staging Areas .............................................................................................. 5 1.3.2 Access and Spur Roads ............................................................................... 6 1.3.3 Pads (i.e., Structure Sites) ........................................................................... 6 1.3.4 Tower Structures ......................................................................................... 8 1.3.5 Stringing Conductors, Shield Wire, and Fiber Optic Ground Wire ............ 8 1.3.6 Pull Sites ..................................................................................................... 9 1.3.7 Underground Transmission Lines and Trenching ....................................... 9 1.3.8 Duct Bank Installation .............................................................................. 10 1.3.9 Vault Installation ....................................................................................... 11 1.3.10 Substations ................................................................................................ 11 1.3.11 Transition Structure Construction ............................................................. 12 1.3.12 Special Construction Methods (Horizontal Boring and Directional Drilling) ................................................................................................................... 12 1.3.13 Blasting ..................................................................................................... 13 1.3.14 Helicopter Construction ............................................................................ 13 1.3.15 Labor and Equipment ................................................................................ 15 1.3.16 Site Cleanup .............................................................................................. 15 1.4 Operation and Maintenance .............................................................................. 16 1.4.1 Routine System Inspection, Maintenance and Repair .............................. 16 1.4.2 Transmission Line Maintenance ............................................................... 16 1.4.3 Substation Maintenance ............................................................................ 18 1.4.4 Emergency Response ................................................................................ 18 1.4.5 Fire Protection and Security...................................................................... 18 1.5 Conservation Measures ..................................................................................... 19 1.5.1 Perform Protocol Surveys ......................................................................... 19 1.5.2 Train Project Personnel ............................................................................. 19 1.5.3 Restrict the Construction of Access and Spur Roads ................................ 20 1.5.4 Restrict Construction and Survey Activities Based on Final Design Engineering Drawings .............................................................................................. 21 1.5.5 Build Access Roads at Right Angles to Streambeds and Washes ............ 21 1.5.6 Prohibit Littering ....................................................................................... 22 1.5.7 Delineate Listed and Proposed Species Plant Populations ....................... 22 1.5.8 Survey Areas for Brush Clearing .............................................................. 22 1.5.9 Protect Wildlife ......................................................................................... 23 1.5.10 Prohibit Feeding of Wildlife ..................................................................... 23 1.5.11 Prohibit Pets in the Project Area ............................................................... 23 ‐i- 1.5.12 Prohibit Collection of Plants or Wildlife .................................................. 23 1.5.13 Cover All Steep-walled Trenches or Excavations Used During Construction to Prevent the Entrapment of Wildlife ................................................ 23 1.5.14 Emergency Repairs ................................................................................... 24 1.5.15 Avoid Sensitive Features .......................................................................... 24 1.5.16 Protect and Restore Vegetation ................................................................. 24 1.5.17 Salvage Listed or Proposed Species for Replanting or Transplanting ...... 25 1.5.18 Reduce Construction Night Lighting on Habitats Supporting Listed or Proposed Species ...................................................................................................... 25 1.5.19 Conduct Biological Monitoring ................................................................ 25 1.5.20 Provide Restoration/Compensation for Affected Habitat Communities Supporting Listed or Proposed Species .................................................................... 26 1.5.21 Prepare and Implement a Weed Control Plan ........................................... 28 1.5.22 Conduct Arroyo Toad Surveys, and Implement Appropriate Avoidance/Minimization/Compensation Strategies ................................................. 30 1.5.23 Conduct Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Surveys, and Implement Appropriate Avoidance/Minimization/Compensation Strategies ............................. 31 1.5.24 Minimize Impacts to Desert Bighorn Sheep and Provide Compensation for Loss of Critical Habitat ............................................................................................. 33 1.5.25 Prepare and Implement a Raven Control Plan .......................................... 33 1.5.26 Conduct Coastal California Gnatcatcher Surveys, and Implement Appropriate Avoidance/Minimization/Compensation Strategies ............................. 34 1.5.27 Conduct Least Bell’s Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Surveys, and Implement Appropriate Avoidance/Minimization/Compensation Strategies ... 35 1.5.28 Prepare Habitat Management Plans for all Mitigation Habitat ................. 36 1.5.29 Check Under Vehicles for Wildlife .......................................................... 37 1.5.30 Implement Erosion Control Practices ....................................................... 37 1.5.31 Restore Surfaces for Erosion Control and Revegetation .......................... 37 1.5.32 Suppress Dust At All Work or Staging Areas and On Public Roads........ 38 1.5.33 Develop and Implement Construction Best Management Practices ......... 38 1.5.34 Comply with NPDES Regulations ............................................................ 39 1.5.35 Implement Appropriate Avoidance/Minimization/Compensation Strategies for San Diego Thornmint .......................................................................................... 39 1.5.36 Conduct Stephens’ kangaroo rat surveys, and implement appropriate avoidance/minimization/ compensation strategies ................................................... 40 1.6 Interrelated and Interdependent Actions ........................................................... 41 1.7 Required Federal Agency Authorizations ......................................................... 41 1.8 Consultation History ......................................................................................... 42 2.0 ACTION AREA.................................................................................................... 42 3.0 LISTED AND PROPOSED SPECIES POTENTIALLY OCCURRING IN THE ACTION AREA................................................................................................................ 43 3.1 Listed and Proposed Plant and Wildlife Species Not Likely Adversely Affected ........................................................................................................................... 43 3.1.1 Del Mar Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. Crassifolia) ........... 43 3.1.2 Willowy Monardella (Monardella viminea) ............................................ 44 ‐ii- 3.1.3 California Red-legged
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