Transmission Siting Considerations, Best Practices, and Lessons Learned

Gary Graham, Ph.D.

Transmission Project Director

Global warming poses the greatest threat to

biological diversity in human history.

Photo: Bob Martinka

Wildlife TollWildlife TollWildlife TollWildlife Toll

Climate change poses the greatest threat to biological diversity in human

history

• May lose 1/3 all species to climate change (IPCC Report)

Siting BMPs:

Opportunity Areas:• Existing corridors, ROWs, degraded lands, and areas with co-

locating opportunities

Exclusion & Avoidance Areas: • Critical & core habitats for T&E species, wildlife corridors and

linkages, protected wetlands and rivers• Special Recreation Management Areas• National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, National

Monuments• Wilderness Areas and areas with wilderness characteristics• National Conservation Areas other lands within BLM National

Landscape Conservation System• National Historic and National Scenic Trails

BMPs

Construction:• Species-specific and site-specific plans to avoid,

minimize or mitigate impacts• Crews employ professional third-party monitors with

authority to stop work where protections are violated

Mitigation Guidance:• Enhance long-term health and viability of the populations• Protection at least throughout life of project• Replace acre for acre (varies with habitat, geography,

legal protection, nature of impact)• Equivalent habitat same geographic area

To have your transmission vegetables consumed they have to be prepared right

• Invite early, meaningful engagement of diverse stakeholders with planning and siting.

• Incorporate environmental concerns and constraints throughout transmission planning

• Budget adequately for addressing environmental constraints