Fiber Optic Habitat Determination

Burns & McDonnell provided environmental studies and permitting services for the Kansas City to Salt Lake City fiber optic communications system project. Constructed primarily in existing pipeline, railroad and highway/city street rights-of-way, the 1,200-mile communications system traverses parts of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.

Burns & McDonnell biologists conducted habitat assessments for:

• Ute ladies'-tresses orchid (Spiranathes diluvalis)
• Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei)
• Mountain plover (Charadrius montanus)

Burns & McDonnell prepared the following environmental compliance documents and permit applications for this project:

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Environmental Assessment
• BLM - Plan of Development
• BLM - Class I and Class III Cultural Resource Reports
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Section 404 and Section 10 permits
• Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (DPHE) - Construction Permit (fugitive dust emissions)
• Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) - Air Quality Permit (backup generators at 10 regeneration sites)
• Special Use Permit - Ashley National Forest, Colo.; Wasatche National Forest, Utah
• Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Stream Alteration Permit
• Salt Lake City - Watershed Management Authorization
• National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) - Notice of Intent and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans

For the federally listed Ute ladies'-tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis), Burns & McDonnell conducted field surveys and a habitat determination on 110 miles of the project in western Wyoming. The route was initially surveyed for potential orchid habitat via horseback, vehicle, and helicopter. Potential habitat includes old stream channels, alluvial washes and wet meadows below an elevation of 7,000 feet.

Potential orchid habitat was narrowed from 150 to nine watercourse and wetland meadow crossings, which were then surveyed during the orchid's flowering period in late July to August. No orchids were observed at these crossings. A report summarizing the field survey was prepared and submitted to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming. The agencies concurred with the survey results, allowing our client to construct the project with no time delays.

During construction, Burns & McDonnell provided cultural resource and biological construction monitoring along with permitting assistance as reroutes or minor running line modifications were identified.