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ATTACHMENT 1 U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE LETTER

ATTACHMENT 2 U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE LETTER CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME LETTER

The following response was written in reply to the letter commenting on the Draft EIS/EIR Biological Assessment from Mr. Wayne S. White, United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, dated February 20, 1992:

The mitigation measures identified in the biological assessment will be included in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for LLNL. There are no changes to the proposed action that would or may result in a "may affect" determination for listed species that were not considered in the EIS/EIR.

The following response was written in reply to the letter commenting on the Draft EIS/EIR from Mr. James D. Messersmith, California Department of Fish and Game, Region 2, dated October 23, 1991:

As indicated in section 4.9.3 of the EIS/EIR, ground squirrel poisoning is restricted to the two high explosives wastewater surface impoundments. These impoundments occupy a very small portion of LLNL Site 300 land and are in an area of relatively high levels of human activity. In addition, the impoundments are fenced, preventing most species of wildlife, including the San Joaquin kit fox, from gaining access to these sites. Further, as shown in Appendix F of the EIS/EIR, surveys for the San Joaquin kit fox in 1991 indicate that potential dens (ground squirrel dens) for the kit fox do not occur at or near these impoundments.

Although the San Joaquin pocket mouse has been recorded in very small numbers at LLNL Site 300, the potential does exist for this species to occur near the impoundments. The ground squirrel poisoning program could result in limited San Joaquin pocket mouse mortality; however, this species is no longer considered a sensitive species and was removed from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service candidate species list subsequent to the publication of the EIS/EIR. Habitat for other sensitive species such as the dens and burrows of the burrowing owl and American badger; raptor nests; and potential habitat for the elderberry longhorn beetle, tiger salamander, red-legged frog, and Alameda whipsnake do not occur in the area of the impoundments. For these reasons, DOE and UC do not believe that rodent control at these impoundments poses a threat to sensitive species including the San Joaquin kit fox, and do not believe that alternative methods for rodent control are required.

When the runoff from the cooling towers ceases, less than 0.5 acre of artificially created wetlands will also be eliminated. This impact cannot be avoided. It is believed that three remaining discharges from LLNL Site 300 facilities will continue to support wetlands. As indicated in Appendix G of the EIS/EIR, the discharge of water into Corral Hollow Creek adjacent to LLNL Site 300 will likely result in the creation of artificial wetlands as part of the ground water restoration project at LLNL Site 300. These artificially created wetlands, in addition to sustaining wetlands at Buildings 801, 836A, and 865, will provide mitigation for the loss of the less than 0.5 acre of artificially created wetlands. The development of wetlands in Corral Hollow Creek will be monitored as part of the ground water restoration project at LLNL Site 300.