STATE WILDLIFE AGENCY APPROVES 241 TOLL ROAD PROJECT
All state and federal wildlife approvals for the project now complete
IRVINE, Calif. (May 8, 2008) – The California Department of Fish and Game has issued a Streambed Alteration Agreement for the 241 Toll Road, finalizing 63 measures the Transportation Corridor Agencies committed to implement to protect fish and wildlife resources during construction and operation of the roadway.
“TCA has now received all three wildlife approvals for this project,” said Lance MacLean, chairman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency. “This marks a major step toward satisfying all state and federal environmental requirements.”
The Agreement stipulates that the project “shall not impact/fill more than 37.69 acres of streambed.” Of those impacts, 14.61 acres will be temporary impacts during construction.
“TCA has restored, created and preserved more than 100 acres under previous agreements with Fish and Game for the other segments of the existing 51-mile toll road system.” said Valarie McFall, acting deputy director of environmental planning at the Transportation Corridor Agencies.
The Agreement establishes mitigation ratios for all the impacts, including a 1 to 1 ratio for unvegetated areas, a 2 to 1 ratio for alkali meadow, riparian herb mulefat scrub and southern willow scrub and a 3 to 1 ratio for impacts to woodlands.
As part of the Agreement, TCA will submit a Biological Resources Management Plan to the Department of Fish and Game with specific design and implementation features “to ensure the long term perpetuation of the existing diversity of habitats
through restoration in the project area and adjacent urban interface zones and to prevent offsite or indirect effects.”
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently issued the Biological Opinion for the project, confirming that it complies with the Endangered Species Act. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2007 issued its determination that the project would not adversely affect the steelhead trout.
The 16-mile alignment was selected after exhaustive study and a collaborative effort by local, state and federal agencies. The collaborative process resulted in the identification of the Green Alignment that minimizes impacts on the human and natural environment and that is compatible with the mission of Camp Pendleton.
ABOUT TCA
Nearly 300,000 trips are taken on The Toll Roads every weekday. The Toll Roads are operated by the Transportation Corridor Agencies, two joint powers authorities formed by the California state legislature in 1986 to plan, finance, construct, and operate Orange County's 67-mile public toll road system. Fifty-one miles of the system are complete, including the 15-mile San Joaquin Hills (SR-73) Toll Road from Newport Beach to San Juan Capistrano; and the 36-mile Foothill/Eastern Toll Road system (SR-241, SR- 261, SR-133) from the 91 Freeway to south Orange County. More info: www.thetollroads.com.
