The Newhall Land and Farming Company, LV Lake Elizabeth and Land Veritas Corporation Safe Harbor Agreement (No. 2089-2018-002-05) and Amendment No. 2 to the Pet
Summary
SCH Number
2024060243
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5
(CDFW)
Document Title
The Newhall Land and Farming Company, LV Lake Elizabeth and Land Veritas Corporation Safe Harbor Agreement (No. 2089-2018-002-05) and Amendment No. 2 to the Pet
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/7/2024
Document Description
The project is limited to the introduction and subsequent maintenance of a San Fernando Valley Spineflower (Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina) population implemented by the Newhall Land and Farming Company (A California Limited Partnership) on the Elizabeth Lake portion of the Petersen Ranch Mitigation Bank.
To carry out this project, CDFW approved an amendment to the Petersen Ranch Mitigation Bank, Bank Enabling Instrument and executed Safe Harbor Agreement No. 2089-2018-002-05. The San Fernando Valley Spineflower introduction area identifies an approximately seven-acre area of grassland with sparse shrubs for enhancement and introduction activities.
Contact Information
Name
Heather Pert
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region
Job Title
Environmental Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Los Angeles
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
See below "Other Location Info."
Other Location Info
The project is located within the Lake Elizabeth Portion of the Petersen Ranch Mitigation Bank, in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, Latitude 34.39543N, Longitude - 118.24471; approximately 1.7 miles east of the community of Lake Huges, south of Elizabeth Lake Road.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Type – Class 4; CA Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15304 Class 7; CA Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15307
Reasons for Exemption
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has approved the amendment to the Petersen Ranch Mitigation Bank, Bank Enabling Instrument (BEI) and the executed Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) No. 2089-2018-002-05 (collectively, the Project) for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.). The Project will reintroduce San Fernando Valley Spineflower to a seven-acre site within Petersen Ranch Mitigation Bank. Reintroduction activities will include the preparation and seeding of the reintroduction area and an eight-year maintenance and monitoring period to determine whether a self-sustaining San Fernando Valley Spineflower population has been successfully established. If establishment occurs, continual long-term management of the habitat and population will be implemented. CDFW approved the Project relying on the Classes 4 and 7 Categorical Exemptions, respectively. (CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15304, 15307.) Each exemption as relevant to the Project is discussed below.
Class 4 Categorical Exemption
CDFW finds the Project to be exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15304, the exemption for “Minor Alterations to Land.” Class 4, as relevant here, consists of minor alterations in the condition of vegetation which do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. The Project falls within the class because the reintroduction of San Fernando Valley Spineflower will only require minor ground disturbance to introduce the species. The reintroduction area is limited to no more than seven acres. There are no trees that will be removed as part of the Project.
Class 7 Categorical Exemption
CDFW finds the Project to be exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15307, the exemption for “Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources.” Class 7, as relevant here, consists of actions as taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law to assure the restoration of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. The Project falls within the class because the activities as approved by CDFW will restore and enhance the existing habitat to reintroduce the San Fernando Valley Spineflower, which is listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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