Federal officials seek comment on Tejon Ranch environmental impacts
| Wednesday, Feb 08 2012 05:37 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Feb 08 2012 05:39 PM
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting the public to comment on environmental documents related to Tejon Ranch Co.'s operations in an environmentally sensitive area.
A Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement and a Draft Tehachapi Uplands Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan are available for public review and comment until May 3.
The documents are part of an exhaustive review process that is required under the law for any activity that could potentially harm wildlife, particularly threatened and endangered species.
Headquartered in Lebec, Tejon Ranch owns 270,000 acres in southern Kern County. Its operations there include farming, leasing of land for oil production and commercial and residential development.
The land is home to a diverse assortment of wildlife, including endangered California condors.
Tejon Ranch had already given federal officials documentation on the company's ongoing and future plans for the area in 2009, including the expected impact on 27 native plants and animals and what steps would be taken to protect them, according to federal filings.
Those reports had to be updated, however, to reflect changes since they were written, Tejon Ranch spokesman Barry Zoeller said.
In October 2009, the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved the development of a resort to be dubbed Tejon Mountain Village. Plans call for 5,082 acres of homes, hotels, golf courses and shops on more than 26,417 acres east of Interstate 5 near Frazier Park.
The supplement also contains Tejon Ranch's intention to set aside 62,000 acres for conservation, and an additional study by the U.S. Geological Survey on the behavior and location of condors in the area.
The updated documents can be viewed at the Frazier Park branch of the Kern County Public Library or online at www.fws.gov/ventura.
Comments on the reports can be emailed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at fw8tumshcp@fws.gov or sent by regular mail to the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003.
Typically, the government makes a decision on whether to issue a so-called incidental take permit about a year after the comment period on environmental documents has ended, but every case is different.
The permit would provide Tejon Ranch with legal cover if any federally protected wildlife is inadvertently harmed in the course of the company's activities, provided those activities were within the confines of what was spelled out and approved in the permit process.
It would not be permissable to kill a condor in the plan that is proposed.
"The particular measures and restrictions on activities within the ranch will not only protect the species on the ranch, but they will continue to enhance the recovery," Zoeller said.
Roger Root, an assistant field supervisor for the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, said Tejon Ranch "worked very closely" with federal officials as the plan was prepared.
