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52 <br />they conform to regulations and, if needed, to modify regulations to provide <br />Protection for cranes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating the merits <br />of rerouting a portion of the waterway outside of the area of concentrated <br />whooping crane use to reduce the danger of chemical and petroleum spills and <br />leaks from boats and barges. Quivira NWR is an important stopover site for <br />migrating whooping cranes. The refuge contains numerous oil and gas wells where <br />spills could occur. However, each site is surrounded by a containment berm to <br />ensure site protection if a line ruptures. <br />124. Diminish collisions. <br />Collisions with powerline and fences are a frequent known cause of death or injury <br />of whooping cranes. New lines should be routed around areas frequently used by <br />whooping cranes, and existing problem lines or fences should be marked to reduce <br />collision. Unnecessary fences should be removed from crane use areas on national <br />wildlife refuges and barbed wire fences should be of no more than 3- strand design. <br />Efforts should be made to maximize visibility of any existing structures or those <br />which of necessity must be constructed in whooping crane use areas or flight <br />routes. <br />13. Restrict detrimental human activities <br />Human disturbance of whooping cranes is chronic and results from activities such as <br />petroleum exploration, mining, hunting, fishing, bird watching, and boat and airplane <br />traffic. Some disturbances cause the birds to leave an area; the effects of others may <br />be more subtle. Sources and intensity of disturbance are expected to increase in the <br />future. The cumulative effect on cranes should be evaluated. <br />131. Restrict construction oeri <br />Seismic exploration, drilling, pipeline activity, dredging, and other development or <br />construction activities within or near whooping crane critical habitat should be <br />conducted only when cranes are absent. This scheduling should be accomplished <br />through Federal and State permitting procedures and by agreement with the <br />company or agency involved. <br />132. Restrict aircraft altitud <br />An altitude restriction of 2,000 feet minimum, required by Federal Aviation <br />Administration regulations, is particularly important in regulating helicopter flights. <br />Biological survey flights and emergency situations, including unusual weather <br />conditions, should be the only exceptions to these restrictions. <br />133. Restrict other detrimental human agtivijjm. <br />The public has access to much of the whooping crane wintering habitat because <br />most water areas are public. Whooping cranes are somewhat tolerant of human <br />presence when people are in carefully operated boats. Airboats, cars and trucks <br />