SR 119 Cherry Avenue Truck Climbing Lanes (Major Amendment No. 1, California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2014-082-04 (ITP))

SR 119 Cherry Avenue Truck Climbing Lanes (Major Amendment No. 1, California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2014-082-04 (ITP))

This proposed Project involves widening SR 119 to allow for the extension of the existing passing lanes in the eastbound direction from PM 10.04 to PM 11.6 and in the westbound direction from PM 12.8 to PM 13.3, as well as shoulder widening to the current safety standard of 8 feet. The Project will result in impacts to a total of 26.2 acres of San Joaquin antelope squirrel (ammospermophillis nelsoni), giant kangaroo rat (dipodomys ingens), and San Joaquin kit fox (vulpes macrotis mutica) habitat including temporary impacts to a maximum of 7.87 acres and permanent impacts to 18.33 acres of habitat. The project may result in incidental take of San Joaquin antelope squirrel and San Joaquin kit fox, both of which are designated as threatened species under the CESA and incidental take of giant kangaroo rat which id designated as endangered under CESA. The ITP Major Amendment referenced above as issued by CDFW authorizes 13 changes to the ITP, pertaining to the addition of a temporary impact area and associated mitigation requirements, allowing the Permittee to propose alternatives to hand excavation of burrows as a minimization measure, the addition of giant kangaroo rat as a covered species, and the clarification of language regarding the role of Biological Monitors.

Kern