California High-Speed Train Project: Fresno to Bakersfield Major Amendment No. 1 (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2015-024-04

California High-Speed Train Project: Fresno to Bakersfield Major Amendment No. 1 (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2015-024-04

Project approved by CDFW consists of the ITP and Major Amendment No. 1, which addresses construction and operation of the Merced to Fresno segment of the HST, as approved by the lead agency, affecting or generally related to fish and wildlife resource subject to the regulatory authority of CDFW, including natural resources subject to the CESA. The ITP authorizes incidental take of the threatened CA tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense), San Joaquin antelope squirrel (Ammospermophlus nelsoni), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), and San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpus macrotis mutica) and the endangered Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), (collectively, the Covered Species), species designated as threatened and endangered under CESA. Major Amendment No. 1 makes nine changes to the ITP. 1) Increase the size of the entire Project Construction Footprint by 102.58 acres; 2) revise the Project Description by adding eight new road improvement locations; 3) add demolition activities to eight properties; 4) add a geotechnical test embankment and associated burrow site activities; 5) increase the Covered Species impacts for Tipton kangaroo rat and San Joaquin antelope squirrel as a result of an increase in Construction Footprint and correction fo an acreage calculation error in the original ITP; 6) modify the Conditions of Approval to include the addition of a "Small Mammal Trapper" Biological Monitor designation; 7) modify the Conditions of Approval to clarify habitat tracking, reporting, when preconstruction surveys must occur, and where species specific Conditions of Approval should be implemented; 8) require the permanent protection of additional habitat mitigation lands (HM lands) and accompanying management costs to compensate for Covered Species impacts associated with both an increase in Construction Footprint and correction of an acreage calculation error in the original ITP; and 9) Increase the Performance Security amount required in order to proceed with Covered Activities.

Fresno, Madera

Fresno, Madera