Hyundai Automotive Test Course: California City, Kern County, California

SERVICES USED ON THIS PROJECT INCLUDE:
	Environmental Compliance		Resource Management		Planning

Sapphos Environmental, Inc. was retained by Hyundai Motor America to prepare the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in support of the Redevelopment Area Expansion, Detachment, Annexation, Sphere of Influence Amendment, and General Plan Update with the Housing Element for the Hyundai Automotive Test Course Project. As part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. also prepared a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.

The project included redefining the redevelopment area to an area more appropriate for urban expansion, thus preserving areas containing high-quality habitat for the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a federally listed threatened species. As an element of the project, California City required Hyundai Motor America to complete the required infrastructure to support the redevelopment area, including 2 miles of roadway, water supply pipelines, and storm drains in the road shoulder.

The project site included Class III habitat for the desert tortoise and suitable habitat to support Mohave ground squirrel (Spermophilus mohavensis), a state-listed threatened species. Sapphos Environmental, Inc. conducted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) protocol surveys for desert tortoise pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act and California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) protocol surveys for the Mohave ground squirrel pursuant to state guidelines. Both desert tortoise and Mohave ground squirrel were identified within the project site and recorded using global positioning system (GPS) devices. The firm subsequently completed the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in support of the incidental take permit for the desert tortoise pursuant to federal guidelines as well as the 2081 permit for incidental take for Mohave ground squirrel pursuant to the state Endangered Species Act.

The USFWS certified the EA, adopted the HCP, and approved the Section 10(a) incidental take permit in 2003. The 2081 permit was issued by the CDFG in 2003. The EA/HCP compensated for impacts to Class III habitat through funding of acquisition and management of Class I and Class II habitat at a ratio consistent with established management policy for the desert tortoise. The funding of acquisition and management of desert tortoise habitat was adopted by California City as a condition of approval in its certification of the EIR. In addition, the EA/HCP provided an analysis of the feasibility of the land acquisition program to provide mitigation for impacts to desert tortoise and Mojave ground squirrel.

Sapphos Environmental, Inc. prepared an application for a Streambed Alteration Agreement (SAA), pursuant to Section 1603 of the State Fish and Game Code. Findings of the SAA were incorporated into the EIR prepared for the project. The application for an SAA defined areas on the property subject to the jurisdiction of the CDFG, quantified the potential impacts to jurisdictional areas resulting from the project, and specified the Mitigation Plan recommended as compensation for impacts to jurisdictional areas resulting from the project.

Sapphos Environmental, Inc. completed the EIR and the associated public outreach for the project in 8 months from receipt of authorization to proceed. The California City Council approved the project in October 2002. Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the USFWS over permits issued to Hyundai Motor America and California City to build an automotive test track in California City. On February 27, 2004, the lawsuit was settled in favor of the project applicant as a result of a settled arbitration agreement, Case Number CV04-01073TJH (AJMx).