A00871-613295.pdf

Massachusetts Department Of Transportation Highway Division Proposal No. 613295-133722

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DOCUMENT A00871

BAT INSPECTION REPORT

Massachusetts Department Of Transportation Highway Division

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Ten Park Plaza, Suite 4160, Boston, MA 02116

Tel: 857-368-4636, TTY: 857-368-0655 mass.gov/massdot

March 18, 2024

Greenfield (DOT Project #613295) GREENFIELD- DECK REPLACEMENT, G-12-022 (144), LOG

PLAIN ROAD WEST OVER G&W RAILROAD

Bat Habitat Inspection

The MassDOT Wildlife and Endangered Species Unit (WESU) conducted a visual inspection for roosting bats and bat habitat at Bridge G-12-022 associated with MassDOT Project #613295GREENFIELD- DECK

REPLACEMENT, G-12-022 (144), LOG PLAIN ROAD WEST OVER G&W RAILROAD. This project will consist of a bridge deck replacement at the Log Plain Road West bridge over the G&W Railroad in the town of

Greenfield. The project will also involve cleaning and painting of the structural steel. During the inspection, WESU biologists used flashlights, binoculars, and a borescope to search gaps, crevices, and other locations on bridge structures that could potentially hold roosting bats. No bats, guano, or staining were observed at the bridge during the inspection.

Bridge G12-022 is steel I-Beam structures with steel and concrete decking over the G&W Railroad Figures 1 and

9). Inspection of gaps, weep holes, and any small cracks/crevices of the bridge provided no indication of bat roosting (Figures 2-7, 10-14). Suitable roosting habitat for several bat species including eastern small-footed bats

(Myotis leibii), northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis), little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) is limited as cracks/crevices are minimal due to the current work on the bridge.

Exposed gaps have minimal habitat due to the depth of the cracks and unlikely to provide thermal protection.

Similarly, visual inspection of the bridge’s metal guardrails indicated they are unlikely to provide suitable roosting habitat.

In conclusion, MassDOT Wildlife and Endangered Species Unit did not observe any roosting bats, or evidence of roosting bats, during the inspection of bridge G-12-022. MassDOT WESU did observe limited areas of potential roosting bat habitat within gaps and at weep holes located near the abutments of the bridge. A completed bridge assessment form is included as Appendix D.

Sincerely, David Paulson

Wildlife and Endangered Species Unit Supervisor, MassDOT, Environmental Services

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Figure 1. Bridge G-12-022 over G&W Railroad

Figure 2. Existing I-beams on Bridge G-12-022 over G&W Railroad

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Figure 3. Existing conditions on the abutments on Bridge G-12-022 over G&W Railroad

Figure 4. North abutment on Bridge G-12-022 over G&W Railroad

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Figure 5. Existing conditions on Bridge G-12-022 over G&W Railroad

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Figure 6. Existing conditions and guardrail on Bridge G-12-022 over G&W Railroad

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APPENDIX D: Bridge/Structure Bat Assessment Form Bridge/Structure Bat Assessment Form Instructions

• This form will be completed to document bat occupancy or bat use of bridges, culverts, and other structures. This form shall be submitted to the appropriate personnel within the DOT and USFWS for recordkeeping (or uploaded into the Information, Planning, and Consultation (IPaC) Determination Key for use of the Programmatic Biological Opinion for Transportation Projects in the Range of the Indiana Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat) prior to conducting: any activities below the deck surface either from the underside or from above the deck surface that bore down to the underside; any activities that could impact expansion joints; any activities involving deck removal on bridges; or any activities involving structure demolition for bridges, culverts, and/or other structures.

• Assessments must be completed within two (2) years of conducting any work (see the above bullet), regardless of whether assessments have been conducted in the past. Assessments must be completed in appropriate weather conditions, suitable for the assessor to observe common signs of bat use.

• Evidence of bat use may include visual observation (live and/or dead), presence of guano, presence of staining, audible observation, and/or odor observation. Presence of one or more indicators is sufficient evidence that bats may be using the bridge, culvert, and/or other structure.

• If bat use of a bridge, culvert, and/or other structure is noted, additional studies may be undertaken during bat active season to identify the specific bat species utilizing the structure, or protected bat species presence can be assumed, in order to comply with threatened and endangered species regulations. Bat active season dates, typically between April and November, vary regionally and by species, so assessors should consult with their local USFWS Field Office for more specific active season dates.

• For use of the Programmatic Biological Opinion for Transportation Projects in the Range of the Indiana Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat – If the bridge/structure is 1,000 feet or more from suitable bat habitat1 (e.g., an urban or agricultural area without suitable foraging habitat or corridors linking the bridge to suitable foraging habitat), check the appropriate box and fill out the table below. No further assessment is required.

Date & Time of Assessment

DOT Project # Route/Facility Carried County

Federal Structure ID Structure Coordinates (latitude and longitude)

This bridge/structure is 1,000 feet or more from suitable bat habitat2

Name:__________________________________

Signature: _______________________________

• Any questions pertaining to assessments or this form should be directed to the local USFWS Field Office.

1 Refer to the USFWS’s summer survey guidance for the definition of suitable habitat (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/inba/inbasummersurveyguidance.html).

2 This condition is only for use of the Programmatic Biological Opinion for Transportation Projects in the Range of the Indiana Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat

March 18, 2025 1:00pm 613295 Log Plain Road Franklin County

G-12-022 (144) 42°38'29.9"N 72° 34'36.8"W

Trevor Burns

Proposal No. 613295-133722

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Metal None Concrete Concrete Concrete Timber Timber Steel Open grid Timber Other: Other:

Yes No

Box Pipe/Round Other: Other:

Bare ground Open vegetation Rip-rap Closed vegetation Flowing water Railroad Standing water Road/trail - Type:

Seasonal water Other:

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Not present Audible Species Odor Photos

Stone/Masonry

Notes:

Guano Staining

Metal Concrete Plastic

Guano Staining

Guano Staining

Guano Staining

Guano Staining

Visual - live # dead #

Guano Staining

Visual - live # dead #

Visual - live # dead #

Guano Staining

Visual - live # dead #

Visual - live # dead #

Unknown

Bridge Construction Style Deck Material Beam Material End/Back Wall Material

Pre-stressed Girder

Steel I-beam

Parallel Box Beam

Truss

Other:

Areas Assessed (check all that apply)

Residential-urban Residential-rural Woodland/forested

Grassland

Date & Time of Assessment

DOT Project Number County

Federal Structure ID

Structure Coordinates (latitude and longitude)

Structure Length

Route/Facility Carried

Structure Height (approximate)

Structure Type (check one) Structure Material (check all that apply)

Commercial

Culvert Material

Creosote Evidence

Ranching Riparian/wetland Mixed use Other:

Cast-in-place

Flat Slab/Box

Culvert Type

Stone/Masonry

Other Structure

Concrete surfaces (open roosting on concrete)

Spaces between concrete end walls and the bridge deck

Vertical surfaces on concrete I-beams

Crack between concrete railings on top of the bridge deck

Crossings Traversed (check all that apply) Surrounding Habitat (check all that apply)

Evidence of Bats (include photos if present)

Check all areas that apply. If an area is not present in the structure, check the “not present” box.

Document all bat indicators observed during the assessment. Include the species present, if known, and provide photo documentation as indicated.

Name: Signature:

Other:

Covered

All crevices and cracks:

Bridges/culverts: rough surfaces or imperfections in concrete Other structures: soffits, rafters, attic areas

All expansion joints

All guiderails

Weep holes, scupper drains, and inlets/pipes

Spaces between walls, ceiling joists

Agricultural

Assessment NotesArea (check if assessed)

Visual - live # dead # Guano

Visual - live # dead #

Staining

Guano Staining

Visual - live # dead #

Visual - live # dead #

March 18, 2025 1:00pm 613295 Log Plain Road Franklin County

G-12-022 (144) 42°38'29.9"N 72° 34'36.8"W 30' 100'

Trevor Burns

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