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Background
For the past two years VernalPools.Org (along with Butte Environmental
Council, California Native Plant Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Protect Our Water, San Joaquin
Raptor/Wildlife Rescue Center, San Joaquin Valley Conservancy and
The Nature Conservancy) have been meeting with the University of
California and the regulatory agencies to discuss conservation
issues related to the Merced campus. These meetings resulted in a
stronger conservation strategy and a smaller campus. On Friday,
October 5, 2007, the University issued a press release announcing
the reduction of their footprint and the intention to start the
environmental review process over.
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The agreed upon reduced footprint will protect an additional 670 acres
of pristine vernal pool habitat that would have been destroyed by the
current plan. Many additional occurrences of threatened and endangered
plants and animals will also be conserved by the reduced footprint.
Vernalpools.Org applauds the University of California for coming to the table
with a willingness to work out a compromise that works both for the
environment and for the campus.
The UC’s announcement marks the beginning of a new public process
for the campus expansion. Previous permit applications will be
withdrawn. A new application will be submitted that will trigger a
joint EIR/EIS for the campus and community. Vernalpools.Org and others will
continue to participate in the public process.
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