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Biological Resources Site Assessment Report Hana Japan Steak House Project Site, Pleasanton, California APN: 941-1710-101 Page 8 6.2 Western Burrowing Owl Due to the presence of ground squirrel burrows onsite creating potential habitat for Western Burrowing Owl, a survey should be conducted onsite and within a zone of influence around the project site prior to the start of construction. Burrowing owl surveys should be conducted according to the methodologies prescribed by the CDFW in their 2012 Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation3. The Staff Report states that take avoidance (pre-construction) surveys should be conducted 14 days prior or less to initiating ground disturbance. As burrowing owls may recolonize a site after only a few days, time lapses between project activities trigger subsequent take avoidance surveys including but not limited to a final survey conducted within 24 hours prior to ground disturbance to ensure absence. If no owls are found during these surveys, no further regard for the burrowing owl would be necessary. If burrowing owls are detected on the site, it will be necessary to contact CDFW and determine if an incidental take permit (ITP) (i.e., Section 2081 permit) is required since the burrowing owl is proposed for listing under CESA at this time. The following restricted activity dates and setback distances are recommended per the CDFW’s Staff Report (2012) or as otherwise coordinated with CDFW: • From April 1 through October 15, low disturbance and medium disturbance activities should have a 200 meter buffer while high disturbance activities should have a 500 meter buffer from occupied nests. • Between September 1st and February 1st, if Western Burrowing Owl are residing within the project footprint or within 200 meters of the project footprint they may be passively evicted by a qualified Western Burrowing Owl biologist using Department guidelines. If owls are not within the development footprint or within 200 meters of the development footprint, from October 16 through March 31, low disturbance activities should have a 50 meter buffer, medium disturbance activities should have a 100 meter buffer, and high disturbance activities should have a 500 meter buffer from occupied nests. • No earth-moving activities or other disturbance should occur within the afore-mentioned buffer zones of occupied burrows. These buffer zones should be fenced as well. If burrowing owls were found in the project area, a qualified biologist would also need to delineate the extent of burrowing owl habitat on the site. • Buffers may be modified by a qualified Western Burrowing Owl biologist that is knowledgeable enough to establish buffer sizes that are commensurate with the acclimation of burrowing owls to disturbance. These buffers if modified over that prescribed above, should be coordinated with the Department. Implementation of the above mitigation measures would reduce impacts to Western Burrowing Owl to a level considered less than significant. 3 California Department of Fish and Game. 2012. Staff report on burrowing owl mitigation. March 7, 2012. 15 pages plus appendices.