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project site,however,does not provide habitat for species identified in Table 1 or any other potentially occurring special status species,with the exception of the steelhead. Central California coast steelhead is known to be present in the San Francisco Bay,and likely use the Redwood Creek Channel Central California Coast Steelhead. The central California coast population of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)is a federally threatened species(62 FR 43937). Critical habitat has been proposed for this species and the project site is within proposed Habitat Unit 6(69 FR 74572).The primary constituent elements of critical habitat for this species are freshwater spawning,rearing,and migration areas;estuarine areas free of obstructions and of sufficient quality to support adult and juvenile rearing;and nearshore and offshore marine areas.The Port of Redwood City Multi-Agency Maritime Facility project area is closest to the estuarine classification,but the project site does not contain any natural cover, large woody debris,side channels,and other features that would make it productive rearing habitat for steelhead. Therefore,the site does not support any of the primary constituent elements to be considered critical habitat. Adult steelheads spend two to three years in the ocean before returning to their natal streams to spawn. Juveniles spend one to two years in freshwater before migrating to the ocean.The closest known population of this species to the project area is in San Francisquito Creek. Although approximately 6 miles south of the project area, it is possible that the adults and juveniles could move through the Bay adjacent to the project site on their way to and from San Francisquito Creek. The project construction scheduled for a June through September period. Although the project does not require dredging,there could be some localized disturbance and resuspension of bottom sediments resulting from the removal and replacement of support piles over a 2 to 3-day period. The major potential concern of project implementation would be during the pile-driving stage of construction. Installation of piles using a hammer(i.e.,pile driving)can generate intense underwater sound pressure waves that can injure or kill fish. At present,available information from the NOAA Fisheries(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)indicates peak underwater sound pressure levels greater than 180 decibels (1 micropascal=pounds per square inch)may physically injure small fish. The project's potential effect on small fish would be avoided or minimized by limiting the number of piles,scheduling the pile-driving during established regulatory construction"windows"and,if necessary,the use of standard impact attenuation devices. The project proposes a limited number(2)of piles.The environmental work windows("windows")are one of the management tools promoted by the state and federal fish and wildlife agencies to protect endangered species,enabling necessary marine construction for the purpose of marine transportation and trade. The windows are specified periods of the year when marine construction activities,such as pile driving,are permissible. State and federal fish and wildlife agencies under their respective endangered species laws have determined that adverse impacts to fishery and wildlife species do not likely occur or are below a minimum threshold during these seasonal periods. In general the work window is defined from June 1 through November 30. The proposed June-September project construction schedule is within this defined work window;however, the exact"window"would be verified and established as a condition of project permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and, possibly,the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board. . In addition to scheduling work within specified work windows,for vibration impacts,standard impact attenuation conditions,such as the use of cushioning blocks between hammer and pile,or driving piles during periods of reduced currents could also be established by permit.As such the project would have a less-than-significant impact on Central California coast steelhead, or any other special-status species. b) Riparian vegetation cover and riparian wildlife habitat do not occur within the project area.The project would not adversely affect riparian habitat or sensitive natural communities identified by federal or state Port of Redwood City Multi-Agency Maritime Facility 20 February 2010 Initial Study