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Subtask 5.2.4—Air Quality Conformity Checklist The standard Caltrans Transportation Air Quality Conformity Checklist will be submitted as part of the documentation needed to support a project-level conformity determination from FHWA. Task 5.3-Biology A Biological Opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is typically the longest lead-time item in the environmental process and is needed for project approval from Caltrans. To expedite the process, CONSULTANT will initiate work on a Biological Assessment, Natural Environment Study, and Jurisdictional Delineation immediately after receiving Notice to Proceed. The studies will include conducting a reconnaissance-level field review, consulting relevant databases and literature and coordinating with CITY and Caltrans staff about known biological concerns in the project area. As soon as the existing conditions are assessed and potentially present special-status species and habitats are identified, CONSULTANT will arrange for one field meeting with staff from CITY, Caltrans Biology, the USFWS, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFVI� to obtain concurrence on the resources that must be addressed and the appropriate measures necessary to avoid, minimize, or mitigate effects to species. Subtask 5.3.1—Biological Assessment Although the project area is highly urbanized, the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) shows occurrences of federally listed San Francisco garter snake and western snowy plover within 1 mile, and the Maple Street drainage may provide habitat for those and other species. CONSULTANT will identify species with potential to occur in the project area based on a review of the CNDDB, the California Native Plant Society Electronic Inventory, USFWS species lists, and previous studies. CONSULTANT will conduct one focused reconnaissance-level survey of the biotic resources of the project area to characterize its plant and animal communities. Species presence will be evaluated based on the survey, records information, and existing available documentation on species presence from biological studies previously performed in the project vicinity. This scope does not include protocol-level surveys for special-status plants and animals ar surveys over multiple seasons. CONSULTANT will prepare a Biological Assessment in accordance with Caltrans District 4 standards. If the USFWS indicates in the project field meeting that compensatory mitigation would be needed for impacts to federally listed species, CONSULTANT will include conceptual-level mitigation options in the Biological Assessment. Detailed mitigation plans are not proposed in this scope of services. USFWS normally prepares the Biological Opinion based on the Biological Assessment; CONSULTANT is therefore not assuming preparation of the Opinion. Although Redwood Creek provides habitat for fish, no project activities would take place there. Drainages in the project area do not appear to support fisheries. A separate Biological Assessment for NOAA Fisheries is therefore not proposed and is assumed to not be required. ATTY/AGR/2013.164/URS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGR REV:10-15-13 VR Page 34.r�f'?R