20150424-5295 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/24/2015 3:37:20 PM 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700 | Pittsburgh, PA 15222 844-MVP-TALK | [email protected] www.mountainvalleypipeline.info April 24, 2015 Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20426 Re: Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC Docket No. PF15-3-000 Draft Resource Report Nos. 3 and 4 Dear Ms. Bose: Pursuant to the Commission’s rules and regulations, Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (“MVP”) is submitting for filing in the captioned proceeding Draft Resource Report Nos. 3 and 4. A copy of this filing is also being provided to Paul Friedman, OEP and to Lavinia DiSanto, Cardno. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the undersigned by telephone at (412) 395-5540 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Respectfully submitted, Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC Paul W. Diehl Enclosures cc: Paul Friedman (w/enclosures) Lavinia M. DiSanto, Cardno, Inc. (w/enclosures) 20150424-5295 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/24/2015 3:37:20 PM Mountain Valley Pipeline Project Docket No. PF15-3 Resource Report 3 – Fisheries, Vegetation and Wildlife Draft April 2015 20150424-5295 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/24/2015 3:37:20 PM Mountain Valley Pipeline Project Resource Report 3 – Fisheries, Vegetation and Wildlife Resource Report 3 Filing Requirements Location in Resource Information Report Minimum Filing Requirements 1. Classify the fishery type of each surface waterbody that would be crossed, including fisheries of special concern. (§ 380.12(e)(1)) Section 3.1.3 This includes commercial and sport fisheries as well as coldwater and warmwater Table 3.1-2 fishery designations and associated significant habitat. 2. Describe terrestrial and wetland wildlife and habitats that would be affected by the project. (§ 380.12(e)(2)) Section 3.3.1 Describe typical species with commercial, recreational or aesthetic value. 3. Describe the major vegetative cover types that would be crossed and provide the acreage of each vegetative cover type that would be affected by construction. (§ 380.12(e)(3)) Sections 3.2.2 and 3.2.9 • Include unique species or individuals and species of special concern. • Include nearshore habitats of concern. 4. Describe the effects of construction and operation procedures on the fishery resources and proposed mitigation measures. (§ 380.12(e)(4)) Section 3.1.4 Be sure to include offshore effects, as needed. 5. Evaluate the potential for short-term, long-term, and permanent impact on the wildlife resources and state-listed endangered or threatened species caused by Sections 3.3.4 and 3.4 construction and operation of the project and proposed mitigation measures. (pending) (§ 380.12(e)(4)) 6. Identify all federally listed or proposed endangered or threatened species that potentially occur in the vicinity of the project and discuss the results of the Section 3.4 consultations with other agencies. Include survey reports as specified in Survey Reports will be (§ 380.12(e)(5)). provided when completed, and See § 380.13(b) for consultation requirements. Any surveys required through included in RR3 with § 380.13(b)(5)(I) must have been conducted and the results included in the FERC application application. 7. Identify all federally listed essential fish habitat (EFH) that potentially occurs in the vicinity of the project and the results of abbreviated consultations with NMFS, and Section 3.1.2.1 any resulting EFH assessment. (§ 380.12(e)(6)) 8. Describe any significant biological resources that would be affected. Describe impact and any mitigation proposed to avoid or minimize that impact. (§ 380.12(e)(4&7)) Sections 3.1.4, 3.2.9, For offshore species be sure to include effects of sedimentation, changes to 3.3.2, 3.3.4, and 3.4 substrate, effects of blasting, etc. This information is needed on a mile-by-mile basis and will require completion of geophysical and other surveys before filing. Additional Information Often Missing and Resulting in Data Requests Provide copies of correspondence from federal and state fish and wildlife agencies along with responses to their recommendations to avoid or limit impact on wildlife, fisheries, Appendix 3-A and vegetation. Provide a list of significant wildlife habitats crossed by the Project. Specify locations by Section 3.3.2 and milepost, and include length and width of crossing at each significant wildlife habitat. Table 3.3-2 20150424-5295 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/24/2015 3:37:20 PM Information Requested by FERC – Dated March 13, 2015 1. List, in a table organized by MP, all parcels of forest or wood lots that would be crossed by the proposed pipeline route. Include miles and acres of forest affected by Project construction and operation. Discuss how the creation of forest edge or Sections 2.3.4.1, fragmentation would affect habitat and wildlife, including potential impacts on 2.3.4.2, 3.2.10, and federally listed threatened and endangered species and migratory birds. Describe 3.3.4 and Table 3.2-1 measures that would be implemented to avoid, minimize, or mitigation impacts on forest habitat. 2. In response to stakeholder comments, include a detailed discussion regarding impacts on local apiaries and honey bees due to removal of flowering vegetation Section 3.3.4 along the proposed pipeline route. 3. Discuss if state and federally protected bat species would be affected by the Project. Identify bat habitat, including caves and forest that would be crossed by the Section 3.4.3 and proposed pipeline route. Outline measures that would implemented to avoid, Appendix 3-A minimize, or mitigate impacts on bat habitat. Document consultations with state and federal wildlife agencies regarding Project impacts on bats. 4. Discuss if state and federally protected mussels would be affected by the Project. Identify any steams containing mussel populations or habitat for mussels that would Sections 3.1.2.2, be crossed by the proposed pipeline route. Outline measures that would 3.1.3.1, 3.1.3.2, 3.4.1, implemented to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on mussels. Document and 3.4.4 and consultations with state and federal wildlife agencies regarding Project impacts on Appendix 3-A mussels. 5. Identify and describe the migratory bird species of special concern and their habitats Section 3.3.3 known to occur in the project area. Include the following information: a. An evaluation of the short-term, long-term, and permanent impacts on these species of special concern by construction and operation of the proposed Section 3.3.4 facilities. The evaluation should include the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the Project; Consultations are b. Project-specific conservation measures and best management practices, ongoing, results will be developed in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), to provide in RR3 protect migratory birds and their habitats and to avoid or minimize take; and included with MVP’s application to FERC c. Documentation of consultation with the FWS regarding project-related impacts Section 3.3.3, Table on migratory bird species of special concern. 3.3-3, and Appendix 3-A 6. Include an assessment of the recommendations regarding aquatic resources provided by the Virginia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in their filing dated March 9, 2015. State which recommendations would be adopted by Mountain Section 3.1.4 Valley, and if some recommendations would not be adopted, include a discussion of the rationale. 20150424-5295 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 4/24/2015 3:37:20 PM Draft Resource Report 3 Fisheries, Vegetation and Wildlife Docket No. PF15-3 RESOURCE REPORT 3 FISHERIES, VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 3-1 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE REPORT ORGANIZATION ........................................................... 3-1 3.1 FISHERY RESOURCES .............................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.1 Fisheries Habitat Classification ....................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Existing Fishery Resources .............................................................................................. 3-2 3.1.3 Fisheries of Special Concern ........................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.4 Fisheries Impacts and Mitigation ..................................................................................... 3-6 3.2 VEGETATION ........................................................................................................................... 3-10 3.2.1 Ecoregions ..................................................................................................................... 3-10 3.2.2 Existing Vegetation ........................................................................................................ 3-12 3.2.3 Agricultural Land ........................................................................................................... 3-12 3.2.4 Forested Upland ............................................................................................................. 3-12 3.2.5 Scrub-Shrub Land .......................................................................................................... 3-14 3.2.6 Herbaceous Upland .......................................................................................................