FEDS ORDER STEPS TO PROTECT TOAD.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

AGUA DULCE - A proposed sand and gravel mine in Soledad Canyon poses ``no jeopardy'' to the existence of the Southwestern arroyo toad, as long as new steps are taken to protect the endangered amphibian, federal officials say.

A biological opinion issued last week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also found that several other endangered species in the area do not require safeguards from the impacts of Transit Mixed Concrete's proposed 56.1-million-ton gravel pit.

Officials in Santa Clarita, which has been fighting the quarry proposal, declined last week to comment on the biological opinion until it was reviewed by city staff members.

TMC representatives praised it, and promised to install the additional protections.

``This is good for everyone,'' said Brian Mastin, environmental affairs manager for the Azusa-based company. ``We're pleased the agency did a thorough review of all of the endangered species.''

The opinion concurred with an assessment completed in August by the Bureau of Land Management, which found that the mine would harm the arroyo toad if wells weren't carefully planned. Where the wells are drilled and when they are pumped could make a difference in the toad's habitat.

The additional mitigation measures ordered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service include an employee education program, the relocation of toads found near wells, additional groundwater monitoring, the construction of fences and the restriction of vehicle use along the river.

Without the additional safeguards, the breeding pools for the 2-inch, light-greenish-gray toads would dry up, federal officials said.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to take final action on the proposed mine Nov. 27. The board had postponed its action until after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued its opinion, county officials said.

Santa Clarita officials had pushed federal officials to reconsider the environmental impact of the entire project on all of the endangered species in the area, including the unarmored three-spine stickleback, a fish, and the slender-horned spineflower, a plant.

City officials and local environmentalists contend that the mine will pollute the air, harm the Santa Clara River, choke the Antelope Valley and Golden State freeways with traffic and threaten the water supply in the Santa Clarita Valley.

County officials are considering the city's proposals to require a rail line to truck the sand and gravel away from the mine, a pipeline to import water and to prevent the ridgeline from being reduced. Those measures would significantly downsize the mine.

TMC counters that the mine is needed to avert a looming sand and gravel shortage in Southern California that could prompt public works projects to grind to a halt.

Because the sand and gravel resources are owned by the federal government, county officials can only impose ``reasonable'' environmental measures.

A court challenge is expected to define which mitigation measures are allowed, and whether the mine project can move forward.

The report was prompted in May after the discovery of arroyo toad tadpoles by city-hired biologist Nancy Sandburg. Earlier this year, Sandburg also discovered toads along the banks of the San Francisquito Creek on property owned by The Newhall Land and Farming Company.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is also studying that discovery and is due to issue a report on the creek habitat within several months, officials said.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that, with proper steps, TMC's proposed gravel mine won't threaten the endangered Southwestern arroyo toad.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer