adreassociates, inc ._

® ENGINEERS , GEOLOGISTS & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST S

August 4, 2005Project no. 0502-2211

Mr. Brian SujataThe Boeing CompanySanta Susana Field Laboratory6633 Canoga Avenue T1038Canoga Park, CA 91303

Report on Biological Surveys of Buildings 29 and 133 , and Area 4 Soil Borrow Pit

at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory

Understanding of the Project

Demolition and removal of Buildings 29 and 133, and collection of clean soil from theBorrow Pit for use as fill is proposed at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory . Areas at Buildings

29 and 133 are mostly disturbed but do support vegetation surrounding each site, which may be

temporarily impacted or removed . The facility footprint for Building 29 and its asphalt driveway

is approximately 0 .2 acres. Building 133's footprint measures approximately 0 .3 acres .

Vegetation (mainly annual grasses) overlying soil at the Area 4 Borrow Pit will require removal

prior to collection of soil . The entire borrow pit area measures approximately 4 .5 acres . Padre

conducted a biological survey to identify sensitive biological resources within and adjacent to all

three sites. Appendix A provides photographs of each site taken on July 13, 2005 .

Field Survey Area

The field survey was conducted on July 13, 2005 by Chris Dunn of Padre Associates .

The survey areas for each site measured approximately 0 .5 acres, 0.5 acres, and 5 .0 acres for

Building 29, Building 133 and the Soil Borrow Pit, respectively . Asphalt access roads are

located adjacent to both building sites, and the Borrow Pit is accessed by an unpaved road .

Findings for Building 29

Vegetation . The survey focused on the perimeter of the building pad and driveway,which has been disturbed by previous grading but has been recolonized by mainly annual

grasses and narrow-leaved milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) . Grassland areas were also

recently weedwacked for fire suppression . Native vegetation consists mainly of scattered laurel

sumac (Malosma laurina) shrubs and six (6) coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees located

along the edges of the site .

Special -Status Plants . No threatened or endangered plants were found within the

building and driveway footprint . However, one Santa Susana tarplant (Hemizonia minthornii)

was found on an adjacent sandstone outcrop located along the north side of the site . The rock

outcrop and subject plant will not be affected by project activities . No Braunton's milk-vetch

(Astragalus brauntonii) plants were observed at or near the site .

f01613 9C .

1861 Knoll Drive o Ventura , California 93003 ❑ 805-644 -2220 ❑ FAX 805 -644-2050

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Wildlife. Species observed included bushtit, spotted towhee, California towhee,

mourning dove, scrub jay, wrentit, crow, raven, woodrat (nest ; likely dusky-footed), black-tailed

deer (scat), coyote (scat), ground squirrel, and side-blotched lizard . No nesting/breeding bird

behavior was observed throughout the survey area . However, nesting habitat for these species

and others exists immediately adjacent to the site .

Special-Status Wildlife. No threatened or endangered wildlife species were expected

or observed within the survey area . However, several species known from the area (westernwhiptail, legless lizard, ring-neck snake, rufous-crowned sparrow, sage sparrow) are considered

species of special concern by CDFG . These species may occur in the survey area but were not

observed .

Findings for Building 133

Vegetation . The survey focused on the area surrounding Building 133, which has beenweedwacked for fire suppression out to approximately 40 feet from the facility's fence . Native

coastal sage scrub and partially vegetated sandstone outcrops are present in varying levels ofdisturbance on all four sides outside of the weedwacked area. Plant species observed

throughout these areas included mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia), Mexican elderberry (Sambucus

mexicana), laurel sumac, scattered coast live oaks, chalk dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta),

yerba santa (Eriodictyon crassifolium), chaparral yucca (Yucca whippler) and annual grasses .

Special-Status Plants . No threatened or endangered plants were found within the

building pad or surrounding area . However, several Santa Susana tarplants were found along

the asphalt access road, but will not be affected by project activities . No Braunton's milk-vetch

plants were observed at or near the site .

Wildlife . Species observed included many of the same species observed at Building 29(due to direct observation or proximity), in addition to sharp-shinned hawk, California quail,California thrasher, northern rough-winged swallow, house wren, western fence lizard, and

western rattlesnake . No nesting/breeding bird behavior was observed throughout the survey

area .

Special-Status Wildlife . No threatened or endangered wildlife species were expected

or observed within the survey area . However, several species known from the area (westernwhiptail, legless lizard, ring-neck snake, rufous-crowned sparrow, sage sparrow) are considered

species of special concern by CDFG . These species may occur in the survey area, one of

which has been observed in close proximity to the project site (ring-neck snake on the northern

slope below RMHF) .

Findings for the Soil Borrow Pit

Vegetation . The survey focused on the area within and immediately adjacent to the

existing soil borrow pit footprint . Vegetation within the borrow pit is mainly annual grasses .

Native coastal sage scrub is present on both sides outside of the borrow pit .

Special -Status Plants . Prior to survey activities, four (4) Braunton's milk-vetch (BRMV)plants had been identified and fenced for protection-in-place at the west (uphill) end of the

borrow pit . The July 13, 2005 survey resulted in the observation of four (4) additional BRMV a t

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2 plants (8 and 9inches tall )

or near the borrow pit. Yellow flagging was placed on adjacent plants to signify their presenceand provide for easy identification at a later time . Table 1 below summarizes the count andlocation of special-status plant species :

Table 1 . Special -status Plants Obse rved Within or Adjacent to the Area 4 Borrow Pit.

Species Count (Size) Location

Braunton 's milk-vetch

Braunton's milk-vetch

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Within or Adjacentto Borrow Pit ?

Approximately 150 feetuphill of east ( lower) end ,directly south of access Withinroad in small erodedgully.

6 plants (24 to 40 Along access roads atinches tall ) west (upper) end . Adjacen t

Wildlife. The timing of the survey at midday resulted in ve ry limited observations ofwildlife. Therefore , wildlife species were limited to the aforementioned species observed at ornear the building sites . No nesting /breeding bird behavior was observed throughout the surveyarea .

Special -Status Wildlife . No threatened or endangered wildlife species were expectedor observed within the survey area . However, several species known from the area (westernwhiptail, legless lizard, ring-neck snake, rufous-crowned sparrow, sage sparrow) are consideredspecies of special concern by CDFG . These species may occur in the survey area, but are notlikely to occur directly within in the borrow pit site due to frequent disturbance .

Recommended Conservation Measures

Building 29 . Due to the presence of potential nesting habitat for birds and sufficientleaf-litter to provide habitat for legless lizard habitat, we recommend at least : one (1) pre-construction survey for nesting birds and legless lizard at the Building 29 site . If any partiallybuilt nests (determined by a qualified biologist) are found within 100 feet of the site, they shouldbe removed to prevent breeding and take of migratory birds . Any special-status reptiles foundduring the pre-construction survey should be captured and relocated to suitable habitat areasoutside of the project site. Oak trees located directly adjacent to the building and asphaltdriveway (which also requires removal) should be protected in place with orange constructionfencing .

Building 133 . Due to the sparse vegetation and disturbed condition at or near Building133, and negative findings of any special-status plant or wildlife species within the site, norecommendations for demolition activities are made at this time . As stated above, SantaSusana tarplants located near the existing access road will not be impacted by project activitiesand do not require any additional protection .

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Soil Borrow Pit. In order to prevent the destruction of Braunton's milk-vetch plants andany potential seedbed in the immediate vicinity of these plants, it is recommended that locationsof these plants measuring approximately 50 feet long adjacent to (but outside of) the road beavoided by all project-related activities and equipment at the Borrow Pit . Orange construction

fencing, or at a minimum, yellow caution tape should be placed along the edge of the road to

delineate these sensitive areas . All workers should be notified of the plants' presence andinstructed to avoid these areas by staying within the existing roadway and avoiding two plants

near the east end of the Borrow Pit . The Boeing representative (Tom) who escorted the Padre

biologist throughout the July 13, 2005 survey confirmed that he would fence off the newly foundplants with orange construction fencing to protect them in place .

Should you have any questions regarding this Report, please contact me at your earliest

convenience .

Sincerely,

Padre Associates, Inc .

Chris DunnStaff Biologist

Attach : Appendix A: Site Photographs , July 13, 2005 .

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APPENDIX A. SITE PHOTOGRAPHSJULY 13, 2005

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