Agenda - 12-07-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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1.0 INTRODUCTION The proposed Orange County Transfer Station Site -Mill House Road Paydarfar Site occurs on a 10 -acre parcel in east central Orange County (Figure 1). The subject property consists of secondary forest and planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) habitats, with an adjacent fallow field. Relatively open gaps in the forest canopy extend from the southeast corner of the property, extending to the northwest corner. As part of the environmental impact analysis, the Catena Group Inc. (TCG) was retained to conduct Threatened and Endangered species surveys on the property. 2.0 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES — ORANGE COUNTY The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently lists five federally protected species as occurring in Orange County, NC (Table 1) (hqp://www.fws.gov/nc-es/es/couniyfr.html Table 1. Federally Protected Species in Orange County, North Carolina Common Name Scientific Name Federal Status Record Status Vertebrate: Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus BGPA Current Red - cockaded woodpecker Picoides borealis Endangered Historic Invertebrate: Dwarf wedgemussel Alasmidonta heterodon Endangered Current Vascular Plant: Michaux's sumac Rhus michauxii Endangered Historic Smooth coneflower Echinacea laevigata Endangered Historic BGPA = Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act TCG conducted a search for element occurrences on the property site via the NC Natural Heritage Program (NHP) virtual workroom http://www.acI.org_/). No federally protected species were identified within two miles of the property. 3.0 SURVEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS A Threatened and Endangered species habitat determination was conducted at the proposed project location on September 14, 2009 by Tim Savidge and Mike Callahan. As there are no water features on the property, there is no potential habitat for dwarf wedgemussel and bald eagle. While there are a few large pine trees scattered throughout, the planted pine stand is less than 30 years of age and the property is not contiguous with any pine stands greater than 60 years of age. Therefore, it was determined that the site did not contain potential nesting or foraging habitat for the red - cockaded woodpecker. In addition, there are no known red - cockaded woodpecker colonies within the project vicinity, and there are no known active colonies in the County. Potentially suitable habitat is present for the smooth coneflower and Michaux's sumac in the form of forest canopy gaps and forest and field edges. These areas were thoroughly searched plant -by -plant and no individuals were located. Therefore, it is concluded that the project actions will have "No Effect" on any of the species listed for Orange County. Paydarfar T & E September 2009 TCG Job #3258