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• RECOMMENDATIONS <br />Bald Eagle <br />Due to the proximity of the SKM surface facilities and rail spur to bald eagle <br />winter habitat, we are concerned that the proposed activity may minimally <br />impact this endaagered species. We therefore recommend that. construction <br />activity avoid all riparian trees in excess of 12 inches diameter at breast <br />height. A time-of-year restriction to minimize disturbance to the bald eagle <br />is not necessary, since major construction along this rail spur is proposed <br />only during the summer months. <br />In recent gears, much attention has been given, especially in the West, to the <br />protection and enhancement of raptor populations (hawks, owls and eagles) with <br />respect to powerlines. Eagles and other raptors perch on the distribution <br />poles and consequently become primary victims of electrocution. To offset the <br />possibility of adverse impacts to bald eagles or peregrine falcons, or other <br />large raptors, we suggest that SKM construct any project-related powerlines <br />using the latest designs to protect raptors from electrocution as outlined in <br />the recent document: Su gested Practices for Raptor Protection on Powerlines <br />- The State of the Art - 1981. Raptor Research Report ii4, Raptor Research <br />Foundation, Inc. 198I. Copies of this report may be obtained from the Raptor <br />Research Foundation, c/o Department of Veterinary Biology, University of <br />Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101. <br />Another document you may wish to obtain and review for possible use in <br />connection with .bald eagle conservation actions for this project is Steenhof, <br />Raren. 1978. Management of Wintering Bald Ea les. U.S.D.I. Fish Wildl. <br />Serv. FWS/OBS - 78/79. 59 pp. Copies of this document maq be obtained from <br />the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, <br />b. C., 20240. <br />CONCLUSION <br />Should there be any changes in the average annual net depletion of water <br />needed for the SKM project, or any other project change from that which was <br />outlined in the biological assessment which may affect any endangered or <br />threatened species, or if there is failure Co agree to the Conservation <br />Measures for endangered fishes outlined above, then Section 7 consultation may <br />be reinitiated. <br /> <br />7 <br />