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<br />Biological Resources Site Assessment Report <br />Hana Japan Steak House Project Site, Pleasanton, California <br />APN: 941-1710-101 <br /> <br />Page 9 <br />6.3 Crotch’s Bumble Bee <br />Since there are small mammal burrows onsite and floral resources, preconstruction surveys for <br />bumble bees should be conducted. The project proponent is responsible for ensuring that project <br />activities do not result in take of Crotch’s bumble bee. <br /> <br />CDFW recommends three surveys during Crotch’s bumble bee’s flight period (April through <br />October for worker bees), with each survey ideally scheduled 2-4 weeks apart4, to determine <br />presence/absence (details below). For all work proposed that may include ground disturbance or <br />vegetation removal within the geographic range of Crotch’s bumble bee, Crotch’s bumble bee <br />avoidance measures detailed below should be implemented to ensure that no Crotch’s bumble <br />bee are taken during project implementation. All Crotch’s bumble bee measures may be revised <br />as more information on the species becomes available. <br /> <br />No more than 14 days prior to the commencement of construction activities during the colony <br />active period (April – August), which is the period with the highest detection probability, the <br />qualified biologist will survey for Crotch’s bumble bee. The survey will occur at least two hours <br />after sunrise (when temperatures are > 60°F and < 90°F with no rain) or two hours before sunset. <br />The survey area will include the project boundaries and a surrounding 100-foot buffer area. The <br />survey duration will be appropriate to the size of the project site and buffer area based on the <br />metric of a minimum of one person-hour of searching per three acres of suitable habitat; this will <br />be an approximately 0.5 hour survey for an average-sized project site. <br /> <br />The biologist leading the survey must be designated as a qualified biologist for bumble bees. <br />Surveyors may not capture or handle bumble bees unless authorized specifically for Crotch’s <br />bumble bee by CDFW. Bumble bees may only be netted, chilled, and photographed for <br />identification purposes if the biologist is authorized by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) <br />in accordance with Fish and Game Code 2081(a). This authorization does not include take <br />caused by project-related activities. If the lead biologist does not have an MOU, identification <br />techniques will be limited to photographs of bumblebees in flight or resting on floral resources. <br /> <br />If any sign(s) of a bumble bee nest is observed, and if it cannot be established the species present <br />is not Crotch’s bumble bee, then construction will not commence until CDFW provides further <br />guidance, which may include an additional survey by a bumble bee expert, waiting until the <br />colony active season ends, obtaining take authorization, or other actions. <br /> <br />If at any time during preconstruction surveys a Crotch’s bumble bee is found, a qualified <br />biologist/monitor will be onsite during all construction activities and that individual shall be <br />approved by CDFW for bumble bee monitoring. During construction monitoring, the biologist <br />shall scan for bumble bees using floral resources. If bumble bees are observed after construction <br />commences, construction will be halted if bumble bees are in harm’s way. For example, if an <br />undetected nest is present in the construction area, it is assumed that bumble bees will become <br />visible if the nest is disturbed, and construction will be immediately halted. <br /> <br />If construction is halted because bumble bees are in harm’s way, construction may only <br />recommence after it has been established that the bees present are not Crotch’s bumble bees. If <br /> <br />4 CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2023. Survey considerations for California Endangered <br />Species Act (CESA) candidate bumble bee species. June 6, 2023.