EASTERN SYSTEM UPGRADE RESOURCE REPORT 3 Fisheries, Vegetation, and Wildlife FERC Docket No. CP16-__-000 July 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 3.0 FISHERIES, VEGETATION, AND WILDLIFE...........................................................3-1 3.1 FISHERY RESOURCES ..............................................................................................................3-2 3.1.1 Fisheries Classification.....................................................................................................3-2 3.1.2 Fisheries of Special Concern ............................................................................................3-3 3.1.2.1 Essential Fish Habitat ..................................................................................3-4 3.1.2.2 Trout .............................................................................................................3-4 3.1.3 Construction and Operation Impacts on Fisheries............................................................3-4 3.1.3.1 Pipeline .........................................................................................................3-4 3.1.3.2 Access Roads ................................................................................................3-6 3.1.3.3 Pipe / Contractor Yards and Staging Areas .................................................3-6 3.1.3.4 Aboveground Facilities.................................................................................3-7 3.2 VEGETATION..............................................................................................................................3-8 3.2.1 Existing Vegetation Resources.........................................................................................3-8 3.2.1.1 Pipeline Facilities.........................................................................................3-9 3.2.1.2 Access Roads ..............................................................................................3-11 3.2.1.3 Pipe / Contractor Yards and Staging Areas ...............................................3-11 3.2.1.4 Aboveground Facilities...............................................................................3-12 3.2.2 Vegetative Communities of Special Concern.................................................................3-13 3.2.2.1 Floodplain Forest .......................................................................................3-13 3.2.2.2 Chestnut Oak Forest ...................................................................................3-14 3.2.2.3 Hemlock-Northern Hardwood Forest.........................................................3-14 3.2.3 Vegetation Impacts and Mitigation ................................................................................3-14 3.2.3.1 Construction and Operation Impacts and Mitigation ................................3-14 3.2.3.2 Noxious Weed and Invasive Species Control..............................................3-15 3.3 WILDLIFE ..................................................................................................................................3-16 3.3.1 Existing Wildlife Habitat Types.....................................................................................3-16 3.3.2 Sensitive Habitats ...........................................................................................................3-19 3.3.3 Migratory Birds ..............................................................................................................3-19 3.3.3.1 Important Bird Areas..................................................................................3-20 3.3.3.2 Bald Eagle ..................................................................................................3-21 3.3.4 Impacts and Mitigation...................................................................................................3-22 3.3.4.1 Wildlife Habitat ..........................................................................................3-22 3.3.4.2 Effects on Migratory Birds and Mitigation ................................................3-23 3.4 THREATENED, ENDANGERED, AND CANDIDATE SPECIES..........................................3-25 3.4.1 Federally Listed Species.................................................................................................3-26 3.4.1.1 Plants ..........................................................................................................3-26 3.4.1.2 Mammals.....................................................................................................3-27 3.4.1.3 Reptiles and Amphibians ............................................................................3-30 3.4.1.4 Mussels .......................................................................................................3-30 3.4.2 State-Listed Species........................................................................................................3-31 Resource Report 3 i Eastern System Upgrade Fisheries, Vegetation, and Wildlife 3.4.2.1 Aquatic Species...........................................................................................3-31 3.4.2.2 Birds............................................................................................................3-31 3.4.2.3 Insects .........................................................................................................3-32 3.4.2.4 Mammals.....................................................................................................3-32 3.4.2.5 Reptiles and Amphibians ............................................................................3-32 3.4.3 Impacts and Mitigation...................................................................................................3-32 3.5 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................3-33 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX 3A Supplemental Tables TABLE 3A-1 Representative Fish Species that May Occur in the Project Areas TABLE 3A-2 Potentially Sensitive Fisheries Crossed by the Project Areas TABLE 3A-3 Vegetation Community Types and Representative Plant Species Identified in the Survey Corridor TABLE 3A-4 Vegetated Communities of Special Concern Identified within the Project Area TABLE 3A-5 Non-Native Vegetative Species Identified in the Survey Corridor TABLE 3A-6 Common Wildlife Species Occurring in Habitat Types in the Project Area TABLE 3A-7 Federally and State-Listed Threatened and Endangered Species Potentially Present Within the Project Area TABLE 3A-8 Summary and Status of Pending Surveys TABLE 3A-9 Birds of Conservation Concern Potentially Occurring in BCR 28 APPENDIX 3B Invasive Species Management Plan VOLUME III – PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION APPENDIX 3C Bald Eagle Presence / Absence Survey Report APPENDIX 3D Indiana Bat Acoustic Survey Report and Acoustic Survey Study Plan APPENDIX 3E Revised Phase I Bog Turtle Habitat Survey Report APPENDIX 3F Phase II Bog Turtle Presence / Absence Survey Report APPENDIX 3G Timber Rattlesnake Presence / Absence Survey Report Resource Report 3 ii Eastern System Upgrade Fisheries, Vegetation, and Wildlife RESOURCE REPORT 3 -- FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, AND VEGETATION Location in Filing Requirement Environmental Report Describe commercial and recreational warmwater, coldwater, and saltwater Section 3.1, fisheries in the affected area and associated significant habitats such as Table 3A-1 and 3A-2 in spawning or rearing areas and estuaries. (§ 380.12 (e) (1)) Appendix 3A Describe terrestrial habitats, including wetlands, typical wildlife habitats, and Sections 3.2 and 3.3, rare, unique, or otherwise significant habitats that might be affected by the Tables 3A-3 and 3A-5 in proposed action. Describe typical species that have commercial, recreational, Appendix 3A or aesthetic value. (§ 380.12 (e) (2)) Describe and provide the affected acreage of vegetation cover types that would Section 3.2.3 and Table 3A- be affected, including unique ecosystems or communities such as remnant 3 in Appendix 3A prairie or old-growth forest, or significant individual plants, such as old-growth Table 8A-2 in Resource specimen trees. (§ 380.12 (e) (3)) Report 8 and Table 2A-7 in Resource Report 2. Describe the impact of construction and operation on aquatic and terrestrial Sections 3.1.3, 3.2.3, 3.3.2, species and their habitats, including the possibility of a major alteration to and 3.3.4 ecosystems or biodiversity, and any potential impact on state listed endangered or threatened species. Describe the impact of maintenance, clearing and treatment of the project area on fish, wildlife, and vegetation. Surveys may be required to determine specific areas of significant habitats or communities of species of special concern to state or local agencies. (§ 380.12 (e) (4)) Identify all federally listed or proposed endangered or threatened species and Section 3.4; critical habitat that potentially occur in the vicinity of the project. Discuss the Table 3A-6 in Appendix 3A results of the consultation requirements listed in Sec. 380.13(b) at least through Sec. 380.13(b)(5)(i) and include any written correspondence that resulted from Resource Report 1, the consultation. The initial application must include the results of any required Appendix 1D surveys unless seasonal considerations make this impractical. If species surveys are impractical, there must be field surveys to determine the presence of suitable habitat unless the entire project area is suitable habitat. (§ 380.12 (e) (5))