1. WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE AVIAN PROTECTION PLAN: BIRD PROTECTION IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY MISSION LORI NIELSEN EDM INTERNATIONAL, INC. SR WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST 4001 AUTOMATION WAY FORT COLLINS, CO 80525 (970) 204-4001 lnielsen@edmlink.com PATRICIA CUTLER WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (575)678-2029 patricia.l.cutler.civ@mail.mil

2. AVIAN PROTECTION PLANS http://www.aplic.org/mission.php APP Guidelines Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) Edison Electric Institute (EEI) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service April 2005

3. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE Endangered Species Act Migratory Bird Treaty Act Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act

4. WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE – APP 2013

5. WSMR By the Numbers 3,200 square miles 5 counties 3 rural electric cooperatives 100s miles of distribution lines 1,000s of poles Military Mission U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defense, and other entities High quality services for experimentation, testing, research, development, and training

7. Areas Ranging from… Native and Remote Elevations: 4,000-9,000 feet Habitats: Chihuahuan Desert to southern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains High Security Areas

8. …to High Hazard Areas

10. …to Cantonment Area w/ High Raptor Use

11. OVERHEAD NEUTRAL & GROUNDWIRE – ACROSS WSMR

12. Neutral Conductor Phases (Hot) Groundwire Phase-to-Neutral Phase-to-Phase Phase-to-Ground Groundwire Bonded to Hardware

13. RELATIVELY SIMPLE CONFIGURATIONS

14. MORE COMPLEX CONFIGURATIONS

15. VERTICAL CONFIGURATIONS

16. STEEL POLES & FAILING COVERUP

17. COMPLEX CONFIGURATIONS

18. TRULY COMPLEX CONFIGURATIONS

19. AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

20. OUTDATED USE OF PERCH DISCOURAGERS

21. Golden Eagles Breeds/Winters on WSMR - Particularly Tularosa Basin March 2013 Surveys: 174 GOEA nests documented 5-day aerial survey 1 ~56 Breeding Areas (42 Extrapolated as Occupied) Nesting Density ~76 Square Miles/Pair More work needed to verify these estimates 1 The American Eagle Institute and The Peregrine Fund 2013

22. GOLDEN EAGLE FATALITIES ON WSMR IMPORTANT DETERMINING FACTOR FOR APP DEVELOPMENT

23. GOLDEN EAGLE FATALITIES ON WSMR IMPORTANT DETERMINING FACTOR FOR APP DEVELOPMENT Golden Eagle Fatalities: Averaged 7/year 2009-2011 This banded bird being one…

24. HOW TO SAMPLE AND SURVEY ON SUCH A SCALE?

25. OVERHEAD NEUTRAL & GROUNDWIRE COMPLICATES EVEN SIMPLE CONFIGURATIONS

26. “SUGGESTED PRACTICES”…2006 Electrocution / Nesting Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) Edison Electric Institute (EEI) California Energy Commission (CEC) Updated December 2006 http://www.aplic.org/mission.php

27. “REDUCING AVIAN COLLISIONS”…2012 Collision Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Updated December 2012 http://www.aplic.org/mission.php

28. REACTIVE PROGRAM Incidents and Problem Nests PROACTIVE RETROFITTING Risk Assessment NEW CONSTRUCTION Avian-Friendly Standards APP COMPONENTS

29. TARGETING ALL BIRD SPECIES – NOT JUST EAGLES

31. HISTORIC REACTIVE PROGRAM Areas - Active Missions Retrofit by pole Areas - Inactive Missions Open switches to taps

32. DE-ENERGIZED EQUIPMENT POLES = ATTRACTIVE NESTING Problematic Missions could start on short notice

33. PROACTIVE PROGRAM APP Development Infeasible to inspect every pole Field Risk Assessment ~80% of WSMR examined APP Implementation Aid in short- and long-term planning Improve facility electric reliability Due diligence for regulatory compliance All in turn supports military mission

34. RISK ASSESSMENT Survey Methods RECORD POLE CONFIGURATION RECORD HABITAT RECORD SIGNS OF USE RECORD ANY BIRD FATALITY

35. RISK ASSESSMENT Each Pole or Area Recorded: Existing Animal Protection Measures Recommended Retrofitting Products Copyright © 2013. EDM International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

36. Copyright © 2011. EDM International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. THREE-PHASE

37. HABITAT VALUES

39. HABITAT, OTHER BIOLOGICAL VARIABLES, AND POLE CONFIGURATION RISK USED TO CALCULATE PRIORITY Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 No Retrofit Needed High risk - (lethal pole in good habitat) Medium risk Low risk No risk +- RISKRISKRISKRISK Priority 1 Highest risk - (lethal pole in Golden Eagle habitat) WSMR RETROFITTING PRIORITIZATION

40. Copyright © 2011. EDM International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2013. EDM International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

41. ANECDOTAL OBSERVATIONS HABITAT DIFFERENCES VS. EAGLE SIGN

43. OTHER OBSERVATIONS COYOTE SIGN COINCIDED WITH POLES EXHIBITING SIGNS OF HIGH BIRD USE

44. APP- MOVING FORWARD Incrementally Reduce Electrocution Risk to Birds Retrofitting Plan - Poles & Areas: 5 years = Priority 1 10 years = Priority 2 15 years = Priority 3 & 4 Review & update APP annually Regulatory Compliance Support of Military Mission Increased electrical reliability

45. SUMMARY An APP is not “one-size-fits all” and is specific to the facility Risk Assessment approaches will vary Personnel and contractor training are critical Quality checks of retrofitting and new construction standards are integral to the process An APP is a dynamic process, not a static document Avian protection (e.g., retrofitting) on an installation this size is costly and will depend on funds received from Army SRM program Advantage of an APP is that it provides input on the most hazardous areas; therefore, the greatest benefit is achieved from retrofitting the most hazardous poles or areas first APP Goal: to meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk to area birds, and support the military mission

46. THANK YOU! APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED 5 March 2014 Special Thanks to: ECO Inc.