header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is announcing an opportunity for public input on two draft documents that evaluate and would limit the environmental impacts to threatened and endangered species of planned residential development and ranch activities on Tejon Ranch in southern Kern County.

The documents – a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) and the Draft Tehachapi Uplands Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) – are available for public review and comment until May 3, 2012.

The SDEIS updates the analysis presented in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and MSHCP that the Service released in February 2009. The revised SDEIS addresses public comments we received on the 2009 Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and considers a 2010 analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on occurrence of California condors in and around lands proposed to be covered by the MSHCP.

The Service received an application from Tejon Ranch Company for an incidental take permit covering 27 listed and unlisted species, including the California condor, which may be taken or otherwise affected by on-going ranch activities and proposed low-density residential and commercial development activities on a portion of Tejon Ranch. Take is defined in the Federal Endangered Species Act (Act) as to harass, harm, pursue, wound, kill, hunt, capture, shoot, trap or collect a threatened or endangered species, or attempt to do any of these activities.  An incidental take permit authorizes take of a listed species that may occur incidental to otherwise lawful activities.

A new alternative, the Condor Critical Habitat Avoidance Alternative, has been added to the SDEIS to address several public comments suggesting that proposed development areas should be reconfigured to avoid federally designated critical habitat for the California condor.

The 2010 USGS analysis identified individual condor home ranges for the population of California condors occupying southern California, and clarified that condors currently use, and are likely to continue to use, suitable habitat throughout Tejon Ranch. The USGS analysis on the condor’s use of the ranch aided the Service in analyzing the potential effects of each of the alternatives in the SDEIS.

The No Action Alternative has been revised in the SDEIS. This alternative assumes that Tejon Ranch Company’s 2008 Ranchwide Agreement would remain in effect, that development of Tejon Mountain Village and other future commercial or residential development allowed within the lands proposed to be covered by the permit would not occur, and that existing ranch uses would continue at current levels into the future.

Tejon Ranch Company submitted the MSHCP to satisfy the requirements for an incidental take permit under the Act. The permit is requested to authorize the incidental take of species that could potentially result from plan-wide activities, including grazing, film production and other ongoing historic uses occurring throughout 141,886 acres, and from approximately 5,533 acres of mountain resort and other development adjacent to the Interstate 5 corridor and Lebec community, all lands proposed to be covered by the permit.  The permit would not cover take caused by hunting or mineral extraction.

The MSHCP, authored by Tejon Ranch Company with input from the Service, describes measures to be taken by Tejon Ranch to minimize and mitigate effects of its activities on 27 native plants, animals, including California condors.  Four animals are listed as threatened or endangered under the Act. Some of the other 23 animals and plants are listed by the California Department of Fish and Game under the California Endangered Species Act. Federally-listed and candidate species included in the proposed habitat conservation plan include the California condor, least Bell’s vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, valley elderberry longhorn beetle, and western yellow-billed cuckoo.

The Service’s proposed issuance of an incidental take permit triggers the need for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. To that end, the Service prepared the SDEIS, which evaluates the impacts of proposed issuance of the permit and implementation of the multiple-species habitat conservation plan, and also evaluates the impacts of a reasonable range of alternatives.

No California condors would be permitted to be killed under the permit proposed to be issued by the Service.  The MSHCP proposes a conservation strategy to minimize and mitigate to the maximum extent practicable any impacts that could occur to covered species resulting from the covered activities.

Should any of the unlisted covered wildlife species become listed under the Act during the proposed 50-year term of the permit, take authorization for those species would become effective upon listing.

In the MSHCP, and consistent with the 2008 Ranchwide Agreement among Tejon Ranch Company, the Sierra Club, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Endangered Habitats League, and Planning and Conservation League, part of the mitigation for Tejon Ranch’s activities would be the prohibition of development on 93,522 acres, including a 37,100-acre ridge-line area of the ranch used by condors and that is part of a Condor Study Area. Additionally, approximately 23,001 acres would be preserved as open space within the proposed Tejon Mountain Village.

The MSHCP would require that a biologist monitor ranch activities to reduce the potential for contact between people and condors. In addition, conditions and restrictions on residential development would be in place and enforced by Tejon Ranch to minimize impacts to condors. Other mitigation in the MSHCP includes a permanent ban on lead ammunition implemented by Tejon Ranch Company on Tejon Ranch’s 270,000-acre property in January 2008. The ingestion of lead has been the leading cause of mortality in condors.

The notice of availability for the two documents published in the Federal Register today and a copy is available for viewing at http://www.federalregister.gov. The SDEIS and associated documents, including the MSHCP, can be viewed and downloaded at the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office’s web site at: http://www.fws.gov/ventura, or can be obtained by writing to the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. A copy of each of the documents is also available for public review during normal business hours at the Kern County Library at 3732 Park Drive in Frazier Park, California.

Comments on the SDEIS and MSHCP can be sent via email to: fw8tumshcp@fws.govThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or mailed to Roger Root at the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at the above address.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
SCVNews.com