Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

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This page intentionally left blank. Affected Environment 56
Affected Environment For the once-per-week observations throughout the 52-week period, biologists visited both observation sites at least once per week for a minimum of 15 minutes per day between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. at each location to record avian activity. Data were recorded for birds observed within a 1-kilometer (0.62-mile) radius of the point count locations. Data for each avian observation included: species, number of individuals, and behavior of individuals (to include altitude, flight direction, feeding vs. flying/migrating, resting, etc.). During migration seasons, the biologists conducted 15-minute avian observations at least twice weekly between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. at each location at the same two observation points referenced above. During peak migration days, biologists supplemented these data by conducting observations at the U.S. Navy building mast tower, which offers unobstructed, panoramic views of the Wallops Island air space (including the rotor sweep areas of the proposed turbines). The survey team targeted fall and spring days when weather front movement was conducive to migratory activity and conducted their spot observations during daytime hours (between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.). Data collected during migration season surveys included the date and times of observations, species observed, numbers of individuals, and behavior. Behavioral information includes the path where birds were flying in relation to the proposed turbine area(s), height of flight (below, within, or above the rotor height zone), perching behavior, hunting behavior, etc. Local weather data, including temperature, sky conditions, wind direction, and wind speed, were also recorded. Avian Fatality Searches at Existing Towers NASA used three existing towers on Wallops Island as surrogates for wind turbines to study avian fatalities. By studying fatalities at these tall structures, an understanding of the nocturnal and diurnal birds that use the airspace above Wallops Island was acquired. One guyed (North Boresight, 47 meters [155 feet] tall) and two unguyed towers (South Boresight, 47 meters [155 feet] tall and South Meteorological Tower, 102 meters [335 feet] tall) were used for observations (see Figure 12). Fatality searches were conducted as soon as possible after sunrise between October 1, 2008, and September 30, 2009. The intensity of searches was greater during the peak spring (April to early June) and fall (August to October) bird migration seasons. Searches took place three times per week during the migration seasons and one time per week during the remainder of the year; the length of time for each search was not reported. At the North Boresight Tower, the search area extended outward to the full extent of guy wires (approximately 18 meters [60 feet]). At the South Boresight Tower and South Meteorological Tower, which have no guy wires, the search areas extended from the tower base outward to 80 percent of the tower height (approximately 38meter [125-foot] and 82-meter [268-foot] radii, respectively). The maximum area searched was a rectangle with transects separated by 7 meters (23 feet). All 335 square meters (3,600 square feet) was searched at the North Boresight Tower; a portion of the areas for the South Boresight Tower and the South Meteorological Tower was searched as shown on Figure 4 in Appendix A. All carcasses (i.e., feathers or clumps of feathers with flesh attached or loose tail or primary feathers not expected to come from molt) were recorded as fatalities. In addition to fatality searches for bird carcasses beneath the existing towers, searcher efficiency and carcass removal trials were also conducted. The Avian Study Final Report (Appendix A) contains more detailed explanation of the searcher efficiency and carcass removal trials. 57
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DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WALL
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DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ALTE
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INTRODUCTION Executive Summary This
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Executive Summary increase the over
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Executive Summary Resource Proposed
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TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 5.2.1 Post-Constr
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Figure 4: Potenti
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ACHP Advisory Council on Historic P
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NPS National Park Service NRHP Nati
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Mission, Purpose and Need, Backgrou
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4.6 PERMITS, LICENSES, AND APPROVAL
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Mitigation and Monitoring 5.2.1 Pos
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Agencies, Organizations, and Person
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NASA WFF Technical Library Building
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Name Organization Other Organizatio
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References Cohen, J.B., S. Karpanty
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References Kunz, T.H., E.B. Arnett,
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References Richardson, D.L. 1992. H
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References USFWS. 2009c. Northeaste
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