San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan adopted in 1983
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- in coordination with San Mateo County and the cities of Brisbane, Daly City and South San Francisco - today announces it has begun a comprehensive environmental review for a proposed amendment to the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in California. The review, called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), is being conducted in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and will include a comprehensive review under both State and federal laws. The review will also constitute an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Approved by the Service in 1983, the San Bruno Mountain HCP is the nation's oldest habitat conservation plan under the Endangered Species Act. It has had a tremendous benefit in preserving open space and habitat for rare species on the 3,600-acre San Bruno Mountain in northern San Mateo County. The mountain comprises most of the remaining habitat for three endangered species, the mission blue, callippe silverspot and San Bruno elfin butterflies, and provides sanctuary for several other rare or protected plants and animals.
The goal of the amendment is to update and strengthen the plan to reflect changes and new information regarding species status, habitat preservation and species protection. A major component of the amendment is to consider adding the endangered callippe silverspot butterfly, listed in 1997, to the plan. The proposed amendment is being conducted, in part, to comply with a January 6, 2003, consent decree and final judgment in a lawsuit filed by San Bruno Mountain Watch. The Service agreed to review the efficacy of the HCP and render a decision on an HCP amendment by July 2005.
Under the Endangered Species Act, private landowners, corporations, state or local governments, or other non-Federal landowners who wish to conduct activities on their land that might incidentally harm (or "take") an endangered or threatened species must first obtain an incidental take permit from the Service. To obtain a permit, the landowners or agencies must develop a HCP to offset any harmful effects the proposed activity might have on the species. The HCP process allows development to proceed while promoting listed species conservation.
The 1983 San Bruno Mountain HCP permit provided incidental take for only three species - the endangered Mission blue butterfly, the endangered San Bruno elfin butterfly, and the endangered San Francisco garter snake. The update will consider adding four more species to the permit - the endangered Callippe silverspot butterfly, the threatened bay checkerspot butterfly, the endangered San Francisco lessingia, and the unlisted San Bruno Mountain manzanita.
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the Service is soliciting comments from interested parties regarding the potential impacts of the proposed amendment and a reasonable range of alternatives.
The Service will host two public workshops in Brisbane on July 29. The first meeting will take place from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at the Mission Blue Community Center, 475 Mission Blue Drive. The second meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Brisbane Community Center, 250 Visitacion Avenue.
Written comments may also be provided to the Service on or before Monday, August 23, 2004. Information, written comments, or questions related to the preparation of the EIS/EIR and NEPA process should be submitted to Lori Rinek, Chief, Conservation Planning and Recovery Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825 (facsimile: 916-414-6713).
