EAGLE CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE PIONEER WIND PARK WIND ENERGY FACILITY Pioneer Wind Park I, LLC 2180 South 1300 East, Suite 600 Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 October 19, 2016 Pioneer Wind Park - Eagle Conservation Plan CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Regulatory Framework .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .................................................................................................. 1 1.1.2 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ............................................................................... 2 1.1.3 National Environmental Protection Act .............................................................................. 2 1.1.4 State and Federal Permit Requirements .............................................................................. 2 1.2 Project Background .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Environmental Setting ..................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Pioneer Wind Park I LLC Commitment to Environmental Protection .......................................... 12 1.5 Agency Communication ................................................................................................................ 12 2.0 INITIAL SITE ASSESSMENT (STAGE 1) ..................................................................................... 12 3.0 SITE SPECIFIC SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENTS (STAGE 2) .................................................. 13 3.1 Raptor Nest Surveys ...................................................................................................................... 13 3.1.1 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 13 3.1.2 Eagle Results ..................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.3 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Eagle and other Raptor Surveys: Long-watch Surveys ................................................................. 17 3.2.1 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 17 3.2.2 Eagle Results ..................................................................................................................... 19 3.2.3 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 23 3.3 Other Avian Use Surveys: 20 Minute Point Counts ...................................................................... 24 3.3.1 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 24 3.3.2 Eagle Results from Avian Use Surveys ............................................................................ 26 3.3.3 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 26 3.4 February 2010 Winter Bird Survey ................................................................................................ 26 3.4.1 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 26 3.4.2 Eagle Results ..................................................................................................................... 27 3.4.3 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 27 3.5 Eagle Roost Site Surveys ............................................................................................................... 27 3.5.1 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 27 3.5.2 Results ............................................................................................................................... 29 3.5.3 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 29 3.6 Greater Sage-Grouse Lek Surveys ................................................................................................. 29 3.6.1 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 29 3.6.2 Results ............................................................................................................................... 31 3.6.3 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 31 3.7 Prey Base ....................................................................................................................................... 31 3.8 Eagle Use ....................................................................................................................................... 33 4.0 AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION OF RISKS DURING PROJECT PLANNING/DESIGN PHASE (STAGE 4)..................................................................................... 36 4.1 Pre-Construction ............................................................................................................................ 36 4.1.1 Siting the Project Layout .................................................................................................. 36 4.1.2 Additional Pre-construction BMPs and Conservation Measures ...................................... 39 i Pioneer Wind Park - Eagle Conservation Plan 5.0 ASSESSING EAGLE RISK AND PREDICTING FATALITIES (STAGE 3) ............................. 39 5.1 Assessing Golden Eagle Risk ........................................................................................................ 39 5.1.1 Nesting and Breeding ........................................................................................................ 40 5.1.2 Concentration Areas (Communal roosts, foraging areas, migration corridors, and migration stopovers) ......................................................................................................... 42 5.1.3 Eagle Risk Factors ............................................................................................................ 42 5.2 Fatality Predictions ........................................................................................................................ 49 5.2.1 Re-evaluation of Risk Considering Reduction in Turbines .............................................. 52 5.3 Categorizing Site according to Risk .............................................................................................. 53 6.0 ADDITIONAL AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION OF RISKS, ACP’S, AND COMPENSATORY MITIGATION ................................................................................................ 54 6.1 During Construction....................................................................................................................... 54 6.2 During Operation ........................................................................................................................... 55 6.3 Upfront Compensatory Mitigation ................................................................................................. 57 6.4 Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................................................................... 58 6.4.1 Population Status and Local Area Population Thresholds ................................................ 58 7.0 POST-CONSTRUCTION MONITORING (STAGE 5) ................................................................. 59 7.1 Fatality Monitoring ........................................................................................................................ 60 7.2 Avian Use Surveys ......................................................................................................................... 60 7.3 Golden and Bald Eagle Nest Surveys ............................................................................................ 60 7.4 Reporting ....................................................................................................................................... 61 7.5 Wildlife Incident Report and Handling System ............................................................................. 61 8.0 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PROCESS ....................................................................................... 62 8.1 Adaptive Management Process ...................................................................................................... 62 8.2 Agency Interaction ......................................................................................................................... 64 9.0 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................... 64 10.0 LITERATURE CITED ..................................................................................................................... 64