2008-08-08_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2008086

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DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT STEP 2 Consult Table 17 for application of buffer recommendations to avoid and/or minimize human impacts to raptor nesting success during the breeding season. Recommendations in the Table 17 are NONE, HALF, and FULL, referring to the proportion of the spatial buffer (as presented in Tables 9-16) recommended during progressive points in the nesting chronology. Aircraft flight paths should also respect recommended spatial and seasonal buffer zones. Where intrusions within the recommended buffers must occur, flights should maintain a minimum 1,000 feet elevation and minimum 30 mph speed during overflights to minimize disturbance to raptors and raptor nest sites. (Is this unrealistic) STEP 3 Apply the information attained in Steps 1 and 2 to the following guidelines for occupied and unoccupied nest sites to avoid or minimize effects of proposed land use activities to nesting raptors: Occupied raptor nests: If possible, activities should not occur within the spatial/seasonal buffer of any nest (occupied or unoccupied) when raptors are in the process of courtship and nest site selection. Egg laying, incubation, fledging, brooding, and post-fledging dependency periods should be protected by varying seasonal and spatial buffers (Tables 9-16 and 17). Short term land use and human use activities should only proceed within the spatial buffer of an occupied nest outside the seasonal buffer, after coordination with appropriate Service, State wildlife resources management agency, and/or land management agency biologists. Mitigation for habitat loss or degradation should be planned. Long term land use activities and human use activities should not occur within the species-specific spatial buffer zone of occupied nests. Unoccupied raptor nests: If a nest site within a territory is deemed unoccupied after sufficient time has elapsed in a specified breeding season and prior to the beginning of the next year's breeding season, human activity could be allowed within the nesting area. This period varies dependent on raptor species. However, as a general rule, even renesting will usually not occur later than May 30. (C. White, BYU, 1998, pers. comm.). (Is May 30 Utah specific or is this regional? Please comment) Short term land use and human activities may progress near a nest or nest territory designated as unoccupied. For long term land use activities, unoccupied nests should be protected for 7 years or the period a known preferred prey species fluctuates from population highs to lows. At the end of the 7-year period, each nest should be evaluated by a qualified wildlife biologist as to its potential future use. Criteria could include the raptor species current population trend in the local area, the corresponding prey species population levels and trends, as well as past, current, and future impacts of the proposed action. Nests could also be considered permanently abandoned if the nest has been 19