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Biological Evaluation of T&E Species

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Biological Evaluation of T&E Species PXP Plains Exploration & Production Company Revisions to the Platform Hidalgo Development and Production Plan to Include Development of the Western Half NW/4 of Lease OCS-P 0450 Accompanying Information Volume Biological Evaluation of Threatened and Endangered Species Submitted to: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Pacific OCS Region Submitted by: Plains Exploration & Production Company October 2012 Address Inquiries To: Mr. David Rose Environmental Health and Safety Manager Plains Exploration & Production Company 201 South Broadway Orcutt, CA 93455 (805) 934-8220 [email protected] Accompanying Information Volume – Biological Evaluation Hidalgo DPP Revision Table of Contents Page 1.0 Purpose and Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Project Description and Location ........................................................................................ 1 2.1 Proposed Drilling Activities ............................................................................................. 2 2.1.1 Drill Muds and Cuttings............................................................................................ 3 2.1.2 Produced Water ......................................................................................................... 3 2.1.3 Support Activities ..................................................................................................... 3 3.0 Protected Species ................................................................................................................ 4 3.1 Marine Mannals ................................................................................................................ 9 3.1.1 Southern Sea Otter (Threatened) .............................................................................. 9 3.1.2 Steller Sea Lion (Threatened) ................................................................................. 14 3.1.3 Guadalupe Fur Seal (Threatened) ........................................................................... 15 3.1.4 Blue Whale (Endangered) ....................................................................................... 16 3.1.5 Fin Whale (Endangered) ......................................................................................... 18 3.1.6 Sei Whale (Endangered) ......................................................................................... 19 3.1.7 Humpback Whale (Endangered) ............................................................................. 20 3.1.8 North Pacific Right Whale (Endangered) ............................................................... 21 3.1.9 Sperm Whale (Endangered) .................................................................................... 23 3.2 Birds ............................................................................................................................... 24 3.2.1 California Least Tern (Endangered) ....................................................................... 24 3.2.2 Marbled Murrelet (Threatened) .............................................................................. 26 3.2.3 Western Snowy Plover (Threatened) ...................................................................... 28 3.2.4 Short-tailed Albatross (Endangered) ....................................................................... 31 3.2.5 Light-footed Clapper Rail (Endangered) ................................................................ 33 3.3 Reptiles ........................................................................................................................... 35 3.3.1 Leatherback Sea Turtle (Endangered) .................................................................... 35 3.3.2 Green Sea Turtle (Endangered) .............................................................................. 37 3.3.3 Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Threatened) ..................................................................... 38 3.3.4 Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Endangered) ..................................................................... 39 3.4 Invertebrates ................................................................................................................... 41 3.4.1 White Abalone (Endangered) ................................................................................. 41 3.4.2 Black Abalone (Endangered) .................................................................................. 43 3.5 Amphibians .................................................................................................................... 45 3.5.1 California Red-legged Frog (Threatened) ............................................................... 45 3.6 Fish ................................................................................................................................. 47 3.6.1 Tidewater Goby (Endangered) ................................................................................ 47 3.6.2 Steelhead Trout (Endangered) ................................................................................ 48 3.7 Plants .............................................................................................................................. 51 3.7.1 Salt Marsh Bird’s-Beak (Endangered) .................................................................... 51 3.7.2 California Sea-Blite (Endangered) .......................................................................... 52 4.0 Potentially Signficant Impacts Sources ............................................................................ 53 4.1 Noise, Lighting, and Disturbance ................................................................................... 53 4.1.1 Vessel Traffic .......................................................................................................... 53 4.1.2 Aircraft Traffic ........................................................................................................ 54 4.1.3 Offshore Drilling ..................................................................................................... 55 i Accompanying Information Volume – Biological Evaluation Hidalgo DPP Revision Table of Contents Page 4.1.4 Offshore Production ................................................................................................ 56 4.1.5 Lighting ................................................................................................................... 56 4.2 Effluent Discharges ........................................................................................................ 57 4.2.1 Drilling Fluids ......................................................................................................... 57 4.2.2 Produced Water ....................................................................................................... 58 4.3 Oil Spills ......................................................................................................................... 59 4.3.1 Oil Spill Risk Assessment ....................................................................................... 59 4.3.2 Oil Spill Prevention and Response ......................................................................... 64 5.0 Impacts to Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................... 67 5.1 Marine Mammals ........................................................................................................... 67 5.1.1 Southern Sea Otter (Threatened) ............................................................................ 72 5.1.2 Steller Sea Lion (Threatened) ................................................................................. 74 5.1.3 Guadalupe Fur Seal (Threatened) ........................................................................... 74 5.1.4 Blue Whale (Endangered) ....................................................................................... 74 5.1.5 Fin Whale (Endangered) ......................................................................................... 76 5.1.6 Sei Whale (Endangered) ......................................................................................... 76 5.1.7 Humpback Whale (Endangered) ............................................................................. 76 5.1.8 North Pacific Right Whale (Endangered) ............................................................... 77 5.1.9 Sperm Whale (Endangered) .................................................................................... 78 5.2 Birds ............................................................................................................................... 78 5.2.1 California Least Tern (Endangered) ....................................................................... 81 5.2.2 Marbled Murrelet (Threatened) .............................................................................. 82 5.2.3 Western Snowy Plover (Threatened) ...................................................................... 83 5.2.4 Light-footed Clapper Rail (Endangered) ................................................................ 84 5.2.5 Short-tailed Albatross (Endangered) ....................................................................... 85 5.3 Reptiles ........................................................................................................................... 85 5.3.1 Leatherback Sea Turtle (Endangered) .................................................................... 87 5.3.2 Green Sea Turtle (Endangered) .............................................................................
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