Appendix L Risk Assessment and Environmental Consequence Analysis Final EIS Keystone Pipeline Project Appendix M Specific Practices of the Pertinent Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guides (Note: This appendix is Table 1, taken directly from Data Response #2, submitted by TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to the Department of State in the Application for Presidential Permit on April 4, 2007.) Final EIS Keystone Pipeline Project U.S. Department of State TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. Application for Presidential Permit Response to Data Request # 2 April 4, 2007 Page 1 of 6 Soils: Item 2 Data Request: List by state and county the specific practices of the pertinent NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (Section IV) that would be followed during construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed pipeline. Response: Keystone is reviewing the NRCS Field Office Technical Guides (Section IV) for relevant conservation and reclamation practices, and will conform to district guidelines as they apply to the project. Based on information compilation from Technical Guides, Keystone will develop a comprehensive conservation and reclamation document for the construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed pipeline. Table 1 includes the requirements identified to date. Table 1: Specific Practices of the pertinent NRCS Field Office Technical Guide State Document Title Summary North NRCS ND Conservation General guidelines for planting vegetation on critical areas. Dakota Practice Standard and Includes information on seeding rates and quality, seedbed Specifications Critical preparation, and soil amendments and stabilization. NRCS Planting (342) recommends using the critical area planting practice for reclamation. North NRCS ND Conservation Standards and specifications for mulching after seeding Dakota Practice Standard and has occurred. Covers criteria, purposes, guidance, Specifications Mulching operation and maintenance for mulching. (484) North NRCS ND Conservation Outlines general guidelines used for range (native) Dakota Practice Standard Range plantings. Used by NRCS to define overall intent of the Planting (550) practice. North NRCS ND Conservation Outlines general guidelines for forage plantings. Used by Dakota Practice Standard NRCS to define overall intent of the practice. Pasture and Hay Planting (512) North NRCS ND Conservation Outlines general guidelines for the protection of habitats for Dakota Practice Standard aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial species through Riparian Herbaceous streambank and shoreline stabilization and water quality Cover (390) management techniques. Response prepared by: Scott Ellis Page 2 of 6 Soils: Item 2 Table 1: Specific Practices of the pertinent NRCS Field Office Technical Guide State Document Title Summary North NRCS ND Conservation Outlines general guidelines for the management of land, Dakota Practice Standard water, and plants to control and minimize accumulations of Salinity and Sodic Soil salts and/or sodium on the soil surface. This technical Management (610) guide may aid in the development of strategies to maximize post-construction ROW revegetation success in areas with high sodic and/or saline concentrations. North NRCS Conservation General guidelines for constructing and improving stream Dakota Practice Standard crossings to improve water quality, reduce streambank and Stream Crossing (578) streambed erosion and provide access across the stream. Provides criteria for various types, considerations, operation and maintenance. North NRCS Conservation Provides general guidelines to rehabilitate wetlands to a Dakota Practice Standard close approximation of the original natural condition prior to Wetland Restoration disturbance through restoring hydric soils, hydrology and (657) native vegetation. North NRCS Conservation General guidelines to establish and maintain vegetation on Dakota Practice Standard channel banks other such similar areas. Purpose of Channel Bank vegetation is to stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion and Restoration (322) sedimentation and enhance environmental quality. South NRCS SD Conservation General guidelines for planting vegetation on critical areas. Dakota Practice Standard and Includes information on seeding rates and quality, seedbed Specifications Critical preparation, and soil amendments and stabilization. NRCS Planting (342) recommends using the critical area planting practice for reclamation. South NRCS SD Conservation Standards and specifications for mulching after seeding Dakota Practice Standard and has occurred. Covers criteria, purposes, guidance, Specifications Mulching operation and maintenance for mulching. (484) South NRCS SD Conservation Outlines general guidelines used for range (native) Dakota Practice Standard Range plantings. Used by NRCS to define overall intent of the Planting (550) practice. South NRCS SD Conservation Outlines general guidelines for forage plantings. Used by Dakota Practice Standard NRCS to define overall intent of the practice. Pasture and Hay Planting (512) South NRCS SD Conservation Outlines general guidelines for the protection of habitats for Dakota Practice Standard aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial species through Riparian Herbaceous streambank and shoreline stabilization and water quality Cover (390) management techniques. South NRCS ND Conservation Outlines general guidelines for the management of land, Dakota Practice Standard water, and plants to control and minimize accumulations of Salinity and Sodic Soil salts and/or sodium on the soil surface. This technical Management (610) guide may aid in the development of strategies to maximize post-construction ROW revegetation success in areas with high sodic and/or saline concentrations. Page 3 of 6 Soils: Item 2 Table 1: Specific Practices of the pertinent NRCS Field Office Technical Guide State Document Title Summary South NRCS Conservation General guidelines for constructing and improving stream Dakota Practice Standard crossings to improve water quality, reduce streambank and Stream Crossing (578) streambed erosion and provide access across the stream. Provides criteria for various types, considerations, operation and maintenance. South NRCS Conservation Provides general guidelines to rehabilitate wetlands to a Dakota Practice Standard close approximation of the original natural condition prior to Wetland Restoration disturbance through restoring hydric soils, hydrology and (657) native vegetation. South NRCS Conservation General guidelines to establish and maintain vegetation on Dakota Practice Standard channel banks other such similar areas. Purpose of Channel Bank vegetation is to stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion and Restoration (322) sedimentation and enhance environmental quality. Nebraska NRCS NE Conservation General guidelines for planting vegetation on critical areas. Practice Standard and Includes information on seeding rates and quality, seedbed Specifications Critical preparation, and soil amendments and stabilization. NRCS Planting (NE 342) recommends using the critical area planting practice for reclamation. Nebraska NRCS NE Critical Provides specific requirements for stabilizing critical areas Planting Design in Nebraska. It outlines various revegetation aspects such Procedure (NE 342DP) as seedbank preparation, site shaping, seeding methods, dates, rates, mixtures, weed control, mulching, and site maintenance. Nebraska NRCS NE Conservation Outlines general guidelines used for range (native) Practice Standard Range plantings. Used by NRCS to define overall intent of the Planting (NE 550) practice. Nebraska NRCS NE Range Provides specific requirements for seed mixtures, seeding Planting Specification methods, rates, dates, depths, etc. by NE vegetation zones (NE 550S) and site types. Goal of this document was to provide specifications for revegetation with respect to restoring communities to their historic climax form and function. Map included with vegetation zones. Nebraska University of Nebraska Guide for weed management developed by the University Guide for Weed of Nebraska and used by the NRCS for technical guidance. Management in Nebraska Nebraska Pure Live Seed Seeding rate information for several plant species in NE. Calculations Provides an overview of how NRCS calculates seed mixtures and seeding requirements in NE. Nebraska Nebraska Noxious Weed List of state regulated noxious weeds that need to be List controlled in the pipeline corridor Nebraska Seeding Seeding recommendations to restore plant communities Recommendations similar to historic climax for the counties in the project area. Nebraska NRCS NE Conservation Outlines general guidelines for the protection of habitats for Practice Standard aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial species through Riparian Herbaceous streambank and shoreline stabilization and water quality Cover (390) management techniques. Page 4 of 6 Soils: Item 2 Table 1: Specific Practices of the pertinent NRCS Field Office Technical Guide State Document Title Summary Nebraska NRCS ND Conservation Outlines general guidelines for the management of land, Practice Standard water, and plants to control and minimize accumulations of Salinity and Sodic Soil salts and/or sodium on the soil surface. This technical Management (610) guide may aid in the development of strategies to maximize post-construction ROW revegetation success in areas with high sodic and/or saline concentrations. Nebraska NRCS Conservation Provides general guidelines to rehabilitate wetlands to