UC, Merced Campus and Community North Project (Project) (Major Amendment No. 2 to California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit (ITP) No. 2081-2009-0

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Summary

SCH Number
2015041017
Lead Agency
University of California, Merced
Document Title
UC, Merced Campus and Community North Project (Project) (Major Amendment No. 2 to California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit (ITP) No. 2081-2009-0
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
11/6/2015
Present Land Use
Agricultural Exclusive
Document Description
As approved by UC and County of Merced, the project involves the construction and operation of a major research University campus in Merced County which will sustain up to 25,000 full time students and a contiguous associate community to support the needs of the university. The ITP and Minor Amendment No. 1 (collectively, the ITP as amended) will result in permanent impacts to 1,870 acres of California tiger salamander, Swainson's hawk, and San Joaquin kit fox habitat, portions of which are occupied by succulent owl's clover; Colusa grass, and San Joaquin orcutt grass. Major Amendment No. 2 revises the Project Description to include off-site wetland restoration work. The wetland restoration work will result in the conversion of 35.5 acres of CTS upland habitat to potential CTS breeding habitat, and result in temporary impacts to 80 acres of CTS upland habitat. The Project, as modified, is expected to result in incidental take of CTS, Swainson's hawk, and San Joaquin kit fox which are designated as threatened species under CESA; and succulent owl's clover, Colusa grass, and San Joaquin orcutt grass which are designated as endangered species under CESA. The ITP, as amended, as issued by CDFW, authorizes incidental take of these species that may occur as a result of the project. Major Amendment No. 2 documents the location and description of the wetland restoration work, including details of the increased impacts to the Covered Species and an analysis of the potential for take; adds measures to minimize take and fully mitigate the wetland restoration-related impacts to the covered species; removes a remnant reference to the originally-required small mammal burrow excavation activities which was overlooked during preparation of amendment no. 1; and allows the permittee to use alternative exclusion fence designs with CDFW written approval. In major amendment no. 2, the increased habitat disturbance is mitigated by an increase in the compensatory mitigation required of the permittee.

Contact Information

Name
Craig Bailey
Agency Name
CDFW Central Region
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Merced
Counties
Madera, Merced
Cross Streets
Santa Fe Avenue and Marguerite Road
Zip
93610
Total Acres
65.5
State Highways
No
Railways
Santa Fe
Airports
No
Schools
No
Waterways
Chowchilla River
Township
9S
Range
16E
Section
1
Base
MDB&M

Notice of Determination

Approving Agency
CDFW
Approving Agency Role
Responsible Agency
Approved On

Determinations

(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
N/A
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes

Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613.

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