APPENDIX L: Endangered Species Technical Report - New Jersey ...

New Jersey – Pennsylvania Lackawanna Cut-Off Passenger Rail Service Restoration Project Environmental Assessment FINAL
respect to the proposed action that may affect the formulation or implementation of any reasonable and
prudent project alternatives.
If any wetlands occur within or near the project area, their potential suitability as a bog turtle habitat will
be assessed during preliminary engineering, as described under Step 2 of the Fish and Wildlife Service
Guidelines for Bog Turtle Surveys. The habitat survey could be conducted concurrently with a routine
wetland delineation by a qualified wetland biologist. If wetlands are identified as potential bog turtle
habitat, efforts will be made to avoid any direct or indirect impacts to those wetlands. If adverse impacts
cannot be avoided, a more detailed and thorough survey will be performed, as described in Step 3 of the
Guidelines for Bog Turtle Surveys. The Step 3 Survey will be conducted by a qualified biologist with bog
turtle field survey experience. Survey results will be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service for
review and concurrence. If project activities might adversely affect bog turtles, additional consultation
with the Service will be conducted, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
Upon the request of the USFWS, NJ TRANSIT has committed to perform wildlife surveys for Bald eagle,
Bog Turtle, Indiana Bat and Northeastern bulrush. These surveys will be conducted during the
preliminary engineering/final design stage, when the project has advanced to a point in which such studies
will be current for the USFWS to evaluate the potential for impacts on these species.
L.2.2 Pennsylvania
Impacts along the Pennsylvania portion of the alignment between Slateford Junction and Scranton are
anticipated to be minimal. The Timber rattlesnake is known to specifically utilize the existing alignment
as habitat. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commission reports that Timber rattlesnakes have been
observed utilizing the cleared area and ballast of the existing rail bed for thermoregulatory and denning
activities in Lackawanna County. While reconstruction of the rail bed could potentially disturb timber
rattlesnakes denning within the ballast, timing restrictions and precautions may be taken to prevent injury
or death to snakes discovered onsite during construction. Increased rail traffic following construction
may however drive snakes away from the rail bed habitat ultimately destroying the habitat.
The Timber rattlesnake is a candidate for being listed as a threatened or endangered species in
Pennsylvania. While not designated specifically as endangered impacts to this species and its habitat is
strongly discouraged.
In addition to the timber rattlesnake, the Fish and Boat commission has concerns regarding Bog turtle
habitat on or along the alignment. The Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) has been observed on the
Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg quadrangles in Monroe and Northampton Counties. It is not
anticipated that impacts to the Bog Turtle will occur based on the fact that suitable wetland habitats are
not present at each of the bridge areas slated for construction activities within this region. It is
recommended that this be verified in the field through surveys at the following locations: Slateford Creek
Bridge construction area vicinity; Cherry Creek Bridge construction area vicinity; and the Brodhead
Creek Bridge construction area vicinity. Field verification has confirmed that there is no potential for bog
turtle habitat on the alignment and there are no plans for expansion of the existing right of way.
Therefore impacts to bog turtle are not anticipated though Preliminary Phase 1 surveys will be conducted
along the alignment at the request of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Assessments of impacts resulting from the proposed station sites are addressed below.
NJ TRANSIT June 2008
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