Appendix L - Enviromental Best Managment Practices (BMPs).pdf

Appendix L - Environmental Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Transmission Line 3005 Liberty to Van Buren Rebuild

RECOMMENDED BMPS FOR SENSITIVE AREAS WITHIN THE ROW:

Due to highly sensitive areas within the ROW and the probable equipment staging area, the contractor shall implement the best management practices (BMPs) as protection during all construction phases and take all necessary measures to avoid sensitive areas.

• The protected habitats are located on the attached maps, sensitive sites are regional (aquatics, avian and bats), therefore cannot be established as a point on the map but as a range of the species and detected by USFWS as known species for this area.

• If Helicopters are used, site for landings and pad must be identified and communicated to Southwestern for environmental and 106 review notice at least four (4) weeks in advance of any construction or landing area plans.

• Equipment staging areas outside of the ROW must be identified for preliminary reviews of habitat and other sensitive targets to be identified at least four (4) weeks prior to any mobilization of equipment. Staging areas may not be located in any of the following sensitive regions.

• Since the staging areas are not identified during the initial NEPA and Section 106 Review, it is necessary to send a map and location; latitude and longitude with dimensions of equipment staging area that will be disturbed to Southwestern’s Project Engineer and Environmental Manager.

RECOMMENDED BMPS FOR CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AREAS:

• The Culturally sensitive areas to be protected during construction are located within the regions of transmission structures 35 and 47; 35.49112, ‒94.39762 and 35.499009, ‒94.425501 in Arkansas and the gullied area 500 feet east of transmission structure 70; 35.500284, ‒

94.479554 in Oklahoma.

• These regions shall be avoided during all stages of construction. Cultural resource monitoring will be required during the replacement of three (3) transmission structures.

• Southwestern’s Archaeologist will provide cultural resources monitoring for the construction activities. Prior coordination with the Southwestern Archaeologist and Environmental Program Manager will be necessary for any activities in these areas at least two (2) weeks in advance.

1. RECOMMENDED BMPS FOR WETLAND AND FLOODPLAIN ACTIVITIES:

Work in proximity to any floodplains and wetlands may have additional specific requirements and these areas should be avoided and protected. The Contractor shall use best management practices and erosion control measures such as silt fence, wattles, and hay bales as needed to protect all waterways from being impacted during project construction. Areas of specific concerns for wetlands along Line 3005 within rivers and streams crossing the line in the following areas:

Riverine Wetland and floodplain between structures 80-81 within ROW Riverine Wetland and floodplain between structures 61- 62 within ROW Riverine Wetland east of structure 47 within ROW; and east of structure 41 within ROW

Riverine Wetland and Floodplain between structures 36-37 within ROW Riverine Wetland and Floodplain around structure 34, 25, and 21 within ROW Riverine Wetland along the Southwest side of the ROW between structures 3-1

The major areas of protection to the wetlands and floodplains are within regions where contractors may need to drive down the ROW due to lack of road access to the structures. Wetland habitats and floodplains are highly susceptible to compaction from equipment, oil, and fuel leaks.

The contractor shall find access to the sites without disturbing or destroying wetlands or floodplains.

Best management practices shall be provided by the contractor for the protection of waterways, floodplains, and wetlands.

2. RECOMMENDED BMPS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HABITAT PROTECTION:

The 3005 Liberty to Van Buren Rebuild project area may contain tree habitat for federally endangered or threatened species of bats near or within the ROW. Prior to project initiation trees that must be removed or trimmed will need to be pre-identified and located on a topo map by the contractor and supplied to Southwestern.

Tree location maps must be provided to Southwestern’s Engineer and Environmental Manager within three (3) weeks of the contract award. Southwestern’s Project Engineer and Enviornmental Manager will coordinate as appropriate, in accordance with regulations, to accommodate the Contractor’s tree removal requirements.

The contractor shall be made aware of bat timing restrictions or mitigation requirements that may apply and could interfere with the Contractors’ ability to perform the contract requirements.

If construction is performed during non-roosting and non-maternity dates of the threatened or endangered bats within the construction area, mitigation measures will be lessened.

The contractor shall be responsible for any mitigation measures if contamination or negative impacts occur during any construction phases to any threatened or endangered species habitat.

SITE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION:

Threatened and Endangered Species that may occur in the project region include:

• The Gray Bat, (grisescens) Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis), Northern Long Eared Bat (NLEB) (Myotis septentrionalis), Ozark Big Eared Bat (OBE) (Corynorhinus (=Plecotus) townsendii ingens), and the proposed for listing Tricolored Bat (TCB) (Perimyotis sublavus).

• Threatened Piping Plover, and Red Knot, shorebirds. The shorebirds will have nests within sand flats, and sand bars along the waterways. The contractor will keep equipment and trucks from entering areas of sandbars and sand flats.

• The Eastern Black Rail is a threatened species that roosts under thick grasses throughout the region. Avoidance measures shall be taken within the ROW between structures for ground nests.

• Bald and Golden Eagle nest and roost in trees surrounding the Lee Creek and reservoir. If the construction is to be conducted in January to March time frame avoidance is necessary and if nests located on Southwestern equipment, the contractor shall call Southwestern and an eagle rehabilitation professional to remove and relocate the nest at least two (2) weeks prior to mobilizing to the structure. Bald and Golden Eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. All federal agencies that plan or conduct activities that may result in impacts to Bald or Golden eagles, or their habitats, shall follow appropriate regulations and consider implementing appropriate conservation measures, as described in the links below.

• Missouri Bladderpod (Physaria filiformis) habitat, the Bladderpod grows on limestone glades and is highly susceptible human impacts. The contractor shall avoid disturbance in all areas of the project where they are found.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES PROTOCOL FOR SENSITIVE AREAS

• Silt fence, dikes, wattles, and straw bales shall be used in areas of sensitivity and runoff regions from the project during the construction activity to keep silt, sediment, and fluids from leaving the construction site.

• The dissipation devices will be maintained following the Oklahoma and Arkansas SWPPP protocol and NPDES permit for the entire event of construction stages where runoff from construction and bare soils are present and until vegetation is established.

• Implementation of BMPs utilizing silt fence and silt dikes shall be installed where construction (sediment runoff) is upgradient, and within reach of the sensitive area and waterways, impacts sensitive regions as listed and private property of yards in Van Buren and town streams.

• Disturbance of sensitive areas- the Contractor shall contact the Southwestern Engineer, Environmental Protection Specialist and Regional Field Manager immediately.

PERMITS REQUIRED PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION MOBILIZATION

Total estimated disturbed soils: 9.25 acres

• NPDES Permit and SWPPP for Oklahoma ODEQ

• NPDES Permit and SWPPP for Arkansas ADEQ

• If the contractor is in need of entering a waterway with equipment or trucks- USACE 404 and

Individual State 401 Permits will be required prior to construction by Southwestern, the USACE, ADEQ and ODEQ.

The Contactor shall provide Southwestern’s Engineer and Environmental Manager with a copy of the NPDES permits and SWPPP for both Oklahoma and Arkansas at least one month prior to mobilization of equipment. Also, if required copies of 404 and 401 permits are required within a month prior to equipment mobilization. The permits shall be followed by providing stormwater inspections for each state per state requirements, and copies of inspections sent to Southwestern for review. BMPs sheets for each state regulation and requirements for stormwater runoff shall be implemented and monitored as the permit statute demands.

Line 3005 Sensitive Areas Maps 1-5