Biological Resources

B-1a Provide Restoration/Compensation for Impacts to Native Vegetation Communities (chamise chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and riparian, if affected). SCE shall have a qualified restoration biologist prepare a Habitat Restoration and Revegetation Plan for the project. Plans for restoration, enhancement/re-vegetation and/or creation should be prepared by persons with expertise in southern California ecosystems and native plant re-vegetation techniques. The plan should include at minimum: (a) the location of the mitigation site; (b) the plant species to be used; (c) a schematic depicting the mitigation area; (d) time of year that the planting will occur; (e) a description of the irrigation methodology; (f) measures to control exotic vegetation on site; (g) success criteria; (h) a detailed monitoring program; and, (i) contingency measures should the success criteria not be met. The plan shall be designed to meet the success criteria identified in the Forest Plan which requires restoration goals to be achieved within three years of implementation.

SCE shall utilize a CPUC/Forest Service approved seed mix to revegetate areas disturbed by construction activities. This mix should consist of native, locally-occurring species collected from local seed sources. Restoration shall include the revegetation of stripped or exposed work and/or mitigation areas with vegetation native to the area. No commercially purchased seeds will be accepted unless the collection source is the Del Sur Ridge and must be certified to be free of noxious weeds. Revegetation shall include ground cover, grass, shrub, and tree species in order to match disturbed areas to surrounding conditions and to restore or improve wildlife habitat quality to pre-project or higher levels. The plan also shall include a monitoring element spanning a minimum of five years post-planting. SCE shall restore temporarily disturbed areas, including existing 66-kV tower locations that are to be removed by the Project, to pre-construction conditions following construction.

Permanent impacts outside of the NFS lands shall be mitigated at a ratio to be determined by the CPUC. Within ANF upland vegetation and ephemeral washes with permanent impacts will be mitigated at a ratio of 3:1. Temporary impacts will be replaced at a ratio of 1:1. If the temporary impacts are greater then 3 years then add 0.5 for each year over three years. Permanent impact to mulefat scrub, willow scrub, willow riparian woodland, cottonwood riparian woodland, alder woodland and sycamore woodland will be replaced at a ratio of 5:1. Temporary impacts to the scrub communities will replaced at a 1:1 ratio. Temporary impacts to woodland communities will be replaced at a 2:1 ratio. Where onsite restoration is planned for mitigation of temporary impacts to sensitive vegetation communities, SCE shall identify a Habitat Restoration Specialist to be approved by the CPUC/Forest Service to determine the most appropriate method of restoration.

The creation or restoration of habitat shall be monitored for five years after mitigation site construction to assess progress and identify potential problems with the restoration site. Remedial activities (e.g. additional planting, removal of non-native invasive species, or erosion control) shall be taken during the five-year period if necessary to ensure the success of the restoration effort. If the mitigation fails to meet the established performance criteria after the five-year maintenance and monitoring period, monitoring shall extend beyond the five-year period until the criteria are met or unless otherwise noted by the CPUC/Forest Service. If a catastrophic event occurs, such as a fire, there will be a one time replacement. If a second catastrophic event occurs, no replanting is required.

B-1b No Activities will occur in Riparian Conservation Areas. The final project design will include protective measures where no activities will occur on NFS lands in Riparian Conservation Areas in compliance with the Forest Plan. Examples of activities that will NOT be allowed include ground disturbance, adding potable water to these areas while implementing erosion control measures, and removing water from the waterways.

B-2 Restoration of Coast Live Oak Trees. Construction within the driplines of oak trees, and incidental trimming or damage to trees along the proposed route shall not occur until the trees are evaluated by a qualified arborist, who shall identify appropriate measures to minimize tree loss including the placement of fence around the dripline, padding the truck, and the placement of matting under the existing dripline during construction activities. If construction, trimming, or incidental trimming leads to damage or the removal of any coast live oak, California black walnut and western sycamore they shall be replaced in kind at a 10:1 ratio. Valley oaks shall be replaced in kind at a 15:1 ratio. Elderberry, cottonwood, and willows shall be replaced at a 5:1 ratio.

On the ANF any oak or native tree which must be removed or killed as a result of construction or other project-related activities shall be replaced in kind. The replacement ratios (using rooted plants in liners or direct planting of acorns) for plants which are to be removed shall be as follows: plants less than 5 inches DBH shall be replaced at 3:1; plants from 5 to 12 inches shall be replaced at 5:1; trees from 12 to 24 inches shall be replaced at 10:1; trees from 24 to 36 inches shall be replaced at 15:1; all oaks greater than 36 inches shall be replanted at a ratio of 20:1. The replacement ratio for damaged trees shall be 2:1 for plants with DBH less than 12 inches and a 5:1 ratio for plants with DBH greater than 12 inches. Trees shall be at least 5 years old and capable of surviving without further maintenance. Compliance shall be evaluated 5 years after tree removal. Trees shall be planted at locations acceptable to the landowner or managing agency. All planting locations, procedures, and results shall be evaluated by a qualified arborist.

On non-NFS lands all protection and replacement measures shall be consistent with applicable local jurisdiction requirements, such as the Los Angeles County Oak Tree Ordinance. Tree removal shall not be permitted until replacement trees have been planted or transplanting sites are approved.

B-4 Implement Weed Control Measures. SCE shall adhere to the USDA Forest Service management guidelines for reducing the potential for the introduction of invasive, non-native plant species in the ANF by implementation of the following standards:

· SCE SHALL WASH ALL EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES: Vehicles and all equipment must be washed BEFORE AND AFTER entering all project sites. This includes wheels, undercarriages, bumpers and all parts of the vehicle. In addition, all tools such as chain saws, hand clippers, pruners, etc must also be washed BEFORE AND AFTER entering all project sites. For example, vehicles traveling into contaminated areas are the main dispersal mechanism for yellow star-thistle. All washing must take place where rinse water is collected and disposed of in either a sanitary sewer or a landfill.

· Erosion control measures utilized on the project shall be certified weed free.

· SCE SHALL KEEP WRITTEN LOGS: When vehicles and equipment are washed, a daily log must be kept stating:

· Location	· Staff present
· Date and time	· Equipment washed
· Methods Used	· Signature of responsible crew member

· These written logs will be turned in to the Forest project manager and Forest Botanist on a weekly basis.

· SCE will monitor areas that have been temporarily or permanently impacted by this project and will remove any noxious weeds that may invade into those locations.

B-6 Conduct Pre-construction Surveys and Monitoring for Breeding Birds. SCE shall conduct pre-construction surveys for nesting birds if construction and removal activities are scheduled to occur during the breeding season for raptors and other migratory birds. Surveys shall be conducted in areas within 500 feet of tower sites, laydown/staging areas, substation sites, and access road/spur road locations. SCE shall be responsible for designating a qualified biologist who can conduct pre-construction surveys and monitoring for breeding birds. If breeding birds with active nests are found, a biological monitor shall establish a 300-foot buffer around the nest and no activities will be allowed within the buffer until the young have fledged from the nest or the nest fails. The 300-foot buffer may be adjusted to reflect existing conditions including ambient noise and disturbance with the approval of the CPUC and USFS. The biological monitor shall conduct regular monitoring of the nest to determine success/failure and to ensure that project activities are not conducted within the buffer until the nesting cycle is complete or the nest fails. The biological monitor shall be responsible for documenting the results of the surveys and the ongoing monitoring and will provide a copy of the monitoring reports for impact areas on NFS lands to the Forest Biologist.

B-7 Conduct Surveys for Listed Plant Species. Conduct Surveys for Listed and Sensitive Plant Species. SCE shall conduct focused surveys prior to construction during the appropriate floristic period appropriate for each sensitive plant species in all suitable habitats located within the Project ROW and within 100 feet of all surface disturbing activities.

· Surveys for Braunton's milk-vetch and thread-leaved brodiaea shall be conducted in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grassland habitat between March and June.

· Surveys for San Fernando Valley spineflower shall be conducted in coastal sage scrub habitat between April and July.

· Surveys for Kusche's sandwort, Palmer's mariposa lily, alkali mariposa lily, San Gabriel bedstraw, rock monardella, short-joint beavertail, and Rock Creek broomrape shall be conducted in chaparral habitat in June (see Impact B-15).

· Surveys shall be conducted in chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitat between May and June for slender mariposa lily, Plummer's mariposa lily, San Gabriel Mountains dudleya, and between January and April for rayless ragwort (see Impact B-15).

· Surveys for many-stemmed dudleya shall be conducted in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grassland habitat between March and July (see Impact B-15).

· Surveys for Hall's monardella shall be conducted in chaparral and grassland habitat between June and August (see Impact B-15).

· Surveys for round-leaved filaree shall be conducted in grassland habitat between March and May (see Impact B-15).

Populations of sensitive plants shall be flagged and mapped prior to construction. If sensitive plants are located during the focused surveys, then modification of the placement of towers, access roads, laydown areas, and other ground disturbing activities would be implemented in order to avoid the plants. If sensitive plants cannot be avoided, SCE shall be responsible for the translocation of plants and/or collection of seeds from existing populations that would be impacted and the planting/seeding of these plants in adjacent suitable portions of the ROW that would not be affected by proposed Project construction or maintenance activities. These transplanted or seeded plants will be monitored for 5 years. In the City of Lancaster, impacts to alkali mariposa lilies may be mitigated through off-site compensation. Impacts to federally or State listed plant species would not be allowed except through the context of a biological opinion.

B-8a Conduct Focused Surveys for Arroyo Toad. SCE shall contract with a qualified local biologist to conduct focused surveys for arroyo toad in San Francisquito Creek. If detected in or adjacent to the proposed ROW no work will be authorized within 500 feet of occupied habitat until SCE provides concurrence from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to the CPUC. If present SCE shall develop and implement a monitoring plan that includes the following measures in consultation with the USFWS and CDFG.

· SCE shall retain a qualified biologist with demonstrated expertise with arroyo toads to monitor all construction activities in arroyo toad potential habitat and assist SCE in the implementation of the monitoring program. This person will be approved by the USFWS prior to the onset of ground-disturbing activities. This biologist will be referred to as the authorized biologist hereafter. The authorized biologist will be present during all activities immediately adjacent to or within habitat that supports populations of arroyo toad.

· Prior to the onset of construction activities, SCE shall provide all personnel who will be present on work areas within or adjacent to the project area the following information:

a. A detailed description of the arroyo toad including color photographs;

b. The protection the arroyo toad receives under the Endangered Species Act and possible legal action or that may be incurred for violation of the Act;

c. The protective measures being implemented to conserve the arroyo toad and other species during construction activities associated with the proposed project; and

d. A point of contact if arroyo toads are observed.

· All trash that may attract predators of the arroyo toad will be removed from work sites or completely secured at the end of each work day.

· Prior to the onset of any construction activities, SCE shall meet on-site with staff from the USFWS and the authorized biologist. SCE shall provide information on the general location of construction activities within habitat of the arroyo toad and the actions taken to reduce impacts to this species. Because arroyo toads may occur in various locations during different seasons of the year, SCE, USFWS, and authorized biologists will, at this preliminary meeting, determine the seasons when specific construction activities would have the least adverse effect on arroyo toads. The goal of this effort is to reduce the level of mortality of arroyo toads during construction. The parties realize that complete elimination of all mortality is likely not possible because some arroyo toads may occur anywhere within suitable habitat during any given season; the detection of every individual over large areas is impossible because of the small size, fossorial habits, and cryptic coloration of the arroyo toad.

· Where construction can occur in habitat where arroyo toads are widely distributed, work areas will be fenced in a manner that prevents equipment and vehicles from straying from the designated work area into adjacent habitat. The authorized biologist will assist in determining the boundaries of the area to be fenced in consultation with the USFWS/CDFG/CPUC. All workers will be advised that equipment and vehicles must remain within the fenced work areas.

· The authorized biologist will direct the installation of the fence and conduct a minimum of three nocturnal surveys to move any arroyo toads from within the fenced area to suitable habitat outside of the fence. If arroyo toads are observed on the final survey or during subsequent checks, the authorized biologist will conduct additional nocturnal surveys if he or she determines that they are necessary in concurrence with e USFWS/CDFG/CPUC.

· Fencing to exclude arroyo toads will be at least 24 inches in height.

· The type of fencing must be approved by the authorized biologist and the USFWS/CDFG/CPUC.

· Construction activities that may occur immediately adjacent to breeding pools or other areas where large numbers of arroyo toads may congregate will be conducted during times of the year (fall/winter) when individuals have dispersed from these areas. The authorized biologist will assist SCE in scheduling its work activities accordingly.

· If arroyo toads are found within an area that has been fenced to exclude arroyo toads, activities will cease until the authorized biologist moves the arroyo toads.

· If arroyo toads are found in a construction area where fencing was deemed unnecessary, work will cease until the authorized biologist moves the arroyo toads. The authorized biologist in consultation with USFWS/CDFG/CPUC will then determine whether additional surveys or fencing are needed. Work may resume while this determination is being made, if deemed appropriate by the authorized biologist and USFWS.

· Any arroyo toads found during clearance surveys or otherwise removed from work areas will be placed in nearby suitable, undisturbed habitat. The authorized biologist will determine the best location for their release, based on the condition of the vegetation, soil, and other habitat features and the proximity to human activities. Clearance surveys shall occur on a daily basis in the work area.

· The authorized biologist will have the authority to stop all activities until appropriate corrective measures have been completed.

· Staging areas for all construction activities will be located on previously disturbed upland areas designated for this purpose. All staging areas will be fenced within potential toad habitat.

· To ensure that diseases are not conveyed between work sites by the authorized biologist or his or her assistants, the fieldwork code of practice developed by the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force will be followed at all times.

· Drift fence/pitfall trap surveys will be implemented in toad sensitive areas prior to construction in an effort to reduce potential mortality to this species. Prior to any construction activities in the project area, silt fence shall be installed completely around the proposed work area and a qualified biologist should conduct a preconstruction/ clearance survey of the work area for arroyo toads. Any toads found in the work area should be relocated to suitable habitat. The silt fence shall be maintained for the duration of the work activity.

· SCE shall restrict work to daylight hours, except during an emergency, in order to avoid nighttime activities when arroyo toads may be present on the access road. Traffic speed should be maintained at 15 mph or less in the work area.

B-8b Implement Seasonal Restrictions for Road Maintenance, Culvert Replacement, and Grading of New Access and Spur Roads That Occur Within Drainages. SCE shall conduct road maintenance activities and new construction activities that occur within drainages when no water flow is present. Seasonal restrictions will reduce the potential for increased sedimentation of potential arroyo toad breeding pools or other listed riparian dependent species that could occur downstream of the ROW. Vehicles and equipment shall not utilize the Bouquet Creek crossing (Forest Road 6N19) if flowing water covers any portion of the bridge.

B-9 Conduct Focused Surveys for California Red-legged Frog. SCE shall contract with a qualified biologist to conduct focused surveys for California Red-legged frog in all areas that may support this species. If detected in or adjacent to the proposed ROW no work will be authorized within 500 feet of occupied habitat until SCE provides concurrence from the USFWS to the CPUC. If present SCE shall develop and implement a monitoring plan that includes the following measures in consultation with the USFWS and CDFG.

· SCE shall retain a qualified biologist with demonstrated expertise with red-legged frogs to monitor all construction activities and assist SCE in the implementation of the monitoring program. This person will be approved by the USFWS prior to the onset of ground-disturbing activities. This biologist will be referred to as the authorized biologist hereafter. The authorized biologist will be present during all activities immediately adjacent to or within habitat that supports populations of red-legged frog.

· Prior to the onset of construction activities, SCE shall provide all personnel who will be present on work areas within or adjacent to the project area the following information:

a. A detailed description of the red-legged frog including color photographs;

b. The protection the red-legged frog receives under the Endangered Species Act and possible legal action or that may be incurred for violation of the Act;

c. The protective measures being implemented to conserve the red-legged frogs and other species during construction activities associated with the proposed project; and

d. A point of contact if red-legged frogs are observed.

· All trash that may attract predators of the red-legged frogs will be removed from work sites or completely secured at the end of each work day.

· Prior to the onset of any construction activities, SCE shall meet on-site with staff from the USFWS and the authorized biologist. SCE shall provide information on the general location of construction activities within habitat of the red-legged frogs and the actions taken to reduce impacts to this species. Because red-legged frogs may occur in various locations during different seasons of the year, SCE, USFWS, and authorized biologists will, at this preliminary meeting, determine the seasons when specific construction activities would have the least adverse effect on red-legged frogs. For example construction during the time of year when red-legged frogs are dormant October through January (although frogs may remain active year round) would reduce impacts to this species. The goal of this effort is to reduce the level of mortality of red-legged frogs during construction.

· Where construction can occur in habitat where red-legged frogs are widely distributed, work areas will be fenced in a manner that prevents equipment and vehicles from straying from the designated work area into adjacent habitat. The authorized biologist will assist in determining the boundaries of the area to be fenced in consultation with the USFWS/CDFG/CPUC. All workers will be advised that equipment and vehicles must remain within the fenced work areas.

· The authorized biologist will direct the installation of the fence and conduct a minimum of three nocturnal surveys to move any red-legged frogs from within the fenced area to suitable habitat outside of the fence. If red-legged frogs are observed on the final survey or during subsequent checks, the authorized biologist will conduct additional nocturnal surveys if he or she determines that they are necessary in concurrence with the USFWS/CDFG/CPUC.

· Fencing to exclude red-legged frogs will be at least 24 inches in height.

· The type of fencing must be approved by the authorized biologist and the USFWS/CDFG/CPUC.

· Construction activities that may occur immediately adjacent to breeding pools or other areas where large numbers of red-legged frogs may congregate will be conducted during times of the year (winter) when individuals have dispersed from these areas or the species is dormant. The authorized biologist will assist SCE in scheduling its work activities accordingly.

· If red-legged frogs are found within an area that has been fenced to exclude red-legged frogs, activities will cease until the authorized biologist moves the red-legged frogs.

· If red-legged frogs are found in a construction area where fencing was deemed unnecessary, work will cease until the authorized biologist moves the red-legged frogs. The authorized biologist in consultation with USFWS/CDFG/CPUC will then determine whether additional surveys or fencing are needed. Work may resume while this determination is being made, if deemed appropriate by the authorized biologist.

· Any red-legged frogs found during clearance surveys or otherwise removed from work areas will be placed in nearby suitable, undisturbed habitat. The authorized biologist will determine the best location for their release, based on the condition of the vegetation, soil, and other habitat features and the proximity to human activities. Clearance surveys shall occur on a daily basis in the work area.

· The authorized biologist will have the authority to stop all activities until appropriate corrective measures have been completed.

· Staging areas for all construction activities will be located on previously disturbed upland areas designated for this purpose. All staging areas will be fenced.

· To ensure that diseases are not conveyed between work sites by the authorized biologist or his or her assistants, the fieldwork code of practice developed by the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force will be followed at all times.

· SCE shall restrict work to daylight hours, except during an emergency, in order to avoid nighttime activities when red-legged frogs may be present on the access road. Traffic speed should be maintained at 20 mph or less in the work area.

B-12 Conduct Protocol Surveys for California Gnatcatchers. SCE shall conduct protocol level surveys for coastal California Gnatcatchers in all areas supporting suitable coastal sage scrub habitat that may be affected by the project. This will include a minimum 300-foot buffer. Presence/absence of this species shall be determined prior to construction activities. If present, SCE shall avoid construction in or adjacent to occupied habitat during the breeding season (March 15-July 31). If direct impacts to coastal California gnatcatcher occupied habitat cannot be avoided, project activities shall not occur in occupied habitat until impacts to this species have been addressed through either the Section 7 or Section 10(a)(1)(B) Process under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. SCE shall complete compliance with the Federal Endangered Species Act prior to Project construction. Mitigation measures developed through this process shall include restriction of construction activities within coastal sage scrub habitat during the gnatcatcher breeding season (March 15-July 31), restoration/creation/enhancement of on-site coastal sage scrub habitat, and/or the purchasing of land or mitigation bank credits at an appropriate ratio to offset impacts to gnatcatchers and their habitat.

B-13 Raptor safety protection will be required on tower/conductor (lines) of NFS lands. Install high-visibility or avoidance devices and appropriate raptor guards on poles and other structures potentially used as perching sites by California Condors. Guidance on raptor protection can be found in Suggested Practices for Raptor Protection on Power Lines (Electric Institute/Raptor Research Foundation) and 2005 Avian Protection Plan Guidelines (Electric Institute/USFWS).

B-14 Utilize Collision-reducing Techniques. Collision-reducing techniques, as outlined in "Mitigating Bird Collisions with Power Lines: The State of the Art in 1994," shall be implemented with the Project.

· Placement of towers and lines shall not be located significantly above existing transmission line towers and lines, topographic features, or tree lines to the maximum extent practicable.

· Overhead lines (i.e., conductors and ground wires) that occur significantly above the above-mentioned features and that are located in highly utilized avian flight paths (i.e. Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, Leona Valley, San Francisquito Canyon), will be marked utilizing aerial marker spheres, swinging plates, spiral vibration dampers, bird flight diverters, avifauna spirals, or other diversion device approved by the Forest Biologist (on NFS lands) as to be visible to birds and reduce avian collisions with lines.

· Where overhead transmission lines occur in California Condor habitat work with utility companies or authorization holders to install high-visibility or avoidance devices and raptor guards on poles and other structures potentially used as perching sites by California Condors.

B-16 Conduct Pre-construction Surveys for Sensitive Amphibians and Reptiles. SCE shall contract with a qualified local biologist to conduct pre-construction surveys for sensitive amphibians and reptiles. Habitat occupied by toads shall be flagged and avoided during construction. Adult toads shall be moved to suitable habitat if construction activities will impact the pool or depression. Sensitive reptiles shall be moved a minimum of 500 feet off the ROW to suitable habitat.

B-19 Passively Relocate Individual Burrowing Owls During the Non-Breeding Season. SCE shall conduct pre-construction surveys for the western burrowing owl. Surveys will be conducted prior to ground disturbance activities in areas that contain habitat for this species. Burrows located outside the project area shall be flagged for avoidance. Un-occupied burrows located in the right of way shall be covered to prevent owls from re-occupying the burrows prior to construction. If active owl burrows are discovered within 300 feet of a tower the owls would be relocated from the burrows using either active or passive techniques as recommended by the CDFG. Owl relocation, as well as discouragement of owls from returning to the site, will occur in the following manner:

· During the non-breeding season (September 1 through January 31), burrowing owls occupying the proposed plant site will be evicted by passive relocation. Passive relocation would include the installation of one-way doors on burrow entrance. Any active burrow would be replaced off-site in adjacent habitat with an artificial burrow. Burrows shall be inspected with a fiber optic camera to ensure animals do not remain in the den.

· If construction would occur during the breeding season (February 1 through August 31) and prior to the relocation of the owls a 300-foot protective buffer would be maintained around burrows occupied by owls until the young have fledged. Other actions could include passive relocation if it is determined that owls have not begun laying eggs or postponement of construction in the area until the young are fledged and no longer dependent upon the nest burrow.

· Once fledglings are capable of independent survival and adult non-breeding owls have successfully been relocated offsite, potential owl habitat (squirrel burrows) would be collapsed in order to keep the owls from returning.

B-25 Passively Relocate American Badgers During the Non-breeding Season. SCE shall survey and identify any badger dens located within the project area and shall be flagged for avoidance. Un-occupied dens located in the ROW shall be covered to prevent the animal from re-occupying the den prior to construction. Occupied dens in the ROW shall be hand-excavated if avoidance is not possible. Dens shall only be hand-excavated before or after the breeding season (February-May). Any relocation of badgers shall take place after consultation with the Forest Service and CDFG.

B-26 Avoid Burrow Areas. SCE's Biological Monitor shall flag areas with high concentrations of small rodent burrows and these areas will be avoided to the extent feasible.