Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan Northern Access 2016 Project August 2016 Prepared for: National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation and Empire Pipeline, Inc. 6363 Main Street Williamsvillle, NY 14221 Prepared by: Tetra Tech, Inc. 301 Ellicott Street Buffalo, NY 14203 This page left blank intentionally. Northern Access 2016 Project Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1.0 Project Description ...................................................................................................................1 2.0 Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................................1 3.0 Pre-Construction Condition......................................................................................................2 4.0 General Pipeline Construction Procedures ..............................................................................3 5.0 Monitoring and Maintenance ...................................................................................................5 6.0 References.................................................................................................................................6 LIST OF TABLES Table Page Table 1. Noxious and Invasive Weeds Occurring or Potentially Occurring Along the Proposed Northern Access 2016 Project Pipeline Route in Pennsylvania and New York................2 ATTACHMENT Attachment Title Attachment 1. Wash Rack Figure i Northern Access 2016 Project Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 LIST OF ACRONYMS EI Environmental Inspector Empire Empire Pipeline, Inc. EO Executive Order National Fuel Supply and Empire, collectively known as NYS DEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation OD outer diameter PA DCNR Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Project Northern Access 2016 Project ROW right-of-way Supply National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation USDA United States Department of Agriculture USDA-APHIS USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ii Northern Access 2016 Project 1.0 Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 Project Description National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (“Supply”) and Empire Pipeline, Inc. (“Empire,” and together with Supply, herein referred to as “National Fuel”) propose to construct and operate the Northern Access 2016 Project (the “Project”) in McKean County, Pennsylvania and Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara Counties, New York. The proposed facilities include approximately 96.9 miles of new 24-inch outer diameter (“OD”) natural gas transmission pipeline, the addition of compression at an existing compressor station, and three interconnect meter stations. The proposed facilities include a new compressor station, a new dehydration facility, and approximately 2.1 miles of a combination of 16- and 24-inch OD pipeline). 2.0 Goals and Objectives The goal of noxious and invasive weed control is to implement preventive measures to minimize the establishment and spread of noxious and invasive weeds during ground-disturbing activities associated with construction of the Project. Noxious weeds and other invasive plants are nonnative, undesirable native, or introduced species that are able to outcompete desired native species and thereby decrease overall species diversity. Noxious weeds often invade and persist in areas after disturbance. Noxious weeds are addressed by Executive Order (“EO”) 13112, which was set into federal law on February 3, 1999. Under EO 13112, the federal government is required to prevent the introduction of invasive species, provide for their control, and minimize their impacts. The EO further specifies that the federal government shall not authorize, fund, or carry out actions likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species unless it has been determined that the benefits of such actions would outweigh the potential harm caused by invasive species after all prudent and feasible measures to minimize risk of harm are taken in conjunction with the actions. There are four key elements to this Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan: (1) Identification of pre-existing problematic plant species and treatment of existing infestations prior to construction; (2) Maintenance of construction equipment in a weed-free state during the construction process; (3) Implementation of proper construction methods and procedures that minimize opportunities for invasive plants to establish and spread; and, (3) Continued monitoring, and treatment if necessary, of National Fuel’s right-of-way (“ROW”) for noxious weeds during the operation of the Project. This Plan is applicable to activities during pre-construction, construction, and operation of the Project. 1 Northern Access 2016 Project 3.0 Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 Pre-Construction Condition During the fall of 2014 through spring of 2016, National Fuel conducted biological surveys, including general habitat assessment, and identification and delineation of wetland and waterbody resources located within the Project survey areas (which generally consisted of a 300foot-wide corridor encompassing the proposed pipeline ROW and workspace areas). Although these surveys did not specifically target or involve detailed inventory or delineation of invasive and noxious weeds, communities of each were observed in the Project survey areas. It is possible that additional invasive and/or noxious weeds are present within the vicinity of the Project. Table 1 lists potential noxious and invasive weeds that may occur in the regions traversed by the Project. There are various resources for identifying state-listed invasive and noxious plant species for Pennsylvania and New York. The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (“PA DCNR”), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYS DEC”) and New York Invasive Species Information (as funded by Cornell University and Sea Grant) compile lists of known invasive and noxious plant species found within these states; these lists were reviewed and compiled for the Project (see Table 1). Table 1. Noxious and Invasive Weeds Occurring or Potentially Occurring Along the Proposed Northern Access 2016 Project Pipeline Route in Pennsylvania and New York Common Name Burning bush Purple loosestrife Reed canary grass Japanese barberry Autumn/Russian olive Common buckthorn Multiflora rose Mugwort Japanese honeysuckle Japanese stiltgrass Kudzu Common reed Japanese knotweed Oriental bittersweet Morrow’s honeysuckle Mile-a-minute weed Garlic mustard Giant hogweed Giant knotweed Tropical soda apple Canada thistle Wild parsnip Scientific Name Euonymous alatus Lythrum salicaria Phalaris arundinacea Berberis thunbergii Elaeagnus umbellate/angustifolia Rhamnus cathartica Rosa multiflora Artemisia vulgaris Lonicera japonica Microstegium vimineum Pueraria montana Phragmites australis Fallopia japonica Celastrus orbiculatus Lonicera morrowii Persicaria perfoliata Allaria petiolate Heracleum mantegazzianum Reynoutria sachalinensis Solanum viarum Cirsium arvense Pastinaca sativa 2 PA State-Listed X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X NY State-Listed X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Northern Access 2016 Project Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 Table Sources: (a) USDA 2011. (b) PA DCNR 2011a. (c) NYS DEC 2016. (d) NYS DEC 2014. Noxious weeds are a concern for several reasons, including ecological/biodiversity, human health (as they may be hazardous to human health), livestock health (they may be toxic if ingested by livestock), in addition to the ecological concerns they present. For example, giant hogweed is considered hazardous to human health, as contact with the sap of this species can cause a skin reaction, photodermatitis, in which the skin becomes sensitive to ultraviolet light of the sun (USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [“USDA-APHIS”] 2003, PA DCNR 2011b). National Fuel is aware of one location within the Project survey area that contains giant hogweed and will be vigilant for any additional sightings of this species. National Fuel will follow appropriate protocol to eliminate occurrences that occur in the Project workspaces before construction, for worker safety. 4.0 General Pipeline Construction Procedures General pipeline construction procedures that will serve to prevent the establishment and spread of invasive/noxious plants include: Environmental Training of construction contractor personnel to identify key invasive species and understand the measures to be implemented to reduce the chance of introduction and spread of invasive species; Preconstruction identification and treatment, or isolation during construction, of notably large or dense populations of invasive plants that have high potential to be spread to other, currently uninfested areas as a result of pipeline construction; Inspection of contractor equipment and vehicles upon arriving to the Project area to ensure the absence of foreign weed parts (“weed clean” inspection); Segregation of topsoil during construction in wetlands with saturated soils, and returning it to the top layer of soil during restoration. Restoration and seeding of workspace areas within prescribed timeframes, to minimize the amount of time disturbed soils remain bare and susceptible to infestation by invasive plants. Mulching with straw, hay, wood fiber hydro-mulch, erosion control fabric, or some functional equivalent to prevent introduction of invasive weeds. 3 Northern Access 2016 Project Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 If necessary or required in New York State-regulated Freshwater Wetlands, an elevated wash rack station (see National Fuel’s Erosion and Sedimentation Control and Agricultural Mitigation Plan [“ESCAMP”] Best Management Practice [BMP] Figure #44, see Attachment 1) will be used for equipment where: o The construction equipment exits a wetland having predominant invasive species vegetation, and o It enters another wetland without the invasive species within the next 1,000 feet along the pipeline route. Before construction, National Fuel will provide information and training regarding noxious weed management as part of pre-construction environmental training. The importance of preventing the spread of noxious weeds into areas not already infested and controlling the proliferation of weeds already present will be explained. At the start of construction, areas of concern for noxious weeds will be identified and flagged in the field by National Fuel’s Environmental Inspector (“EI”). The flagging will alert construction personnel and prevent access into areas until noxious weed management control measures have been properly implemented. Known1 invasive plant populations that occur within the construction workspaces and are deemed to have an opportunity to spread significantly as a result of construction activities will be treated with appropriate measures to prevent their spread. Measures may include stockpiling and containing at the affected location during construction (to prevent spread by equipment movement), physical removal, spot spraying with approved herbicides, mechanical treatment, or covering with growth-preventing materials (e.g., black plastic tarps). Contractors will be required to ensure that equipment and vehicles initially arriving to work of the Project (from other construction projects/geographic regions) are clean and weed free. National Fuel’s EI will inspect equipment and vehicles to determine that they are free of soil and debris capable of transporting seeds or other propagules. In areas with existing noxious weed infestations, vegetation, soils, and trench spoil material will be stockpiled and contained at the affected site, and following construction the material will be returned to its original location on the ROW, to prevent spread. Following work at identified noxious weed infested sites, the contractor will be required to use compressed air or other means to remove soil and propagules from machinery and vehicles to prevent their transport to other sections of the ROW. For pipeline installation in wetlands that have saturated soils at the time of construction, topsoil will be segregated before trenching and replaced on top during backfill/restoration. Then, restoration and seeding with annual ryegrass (or native perennial seed mix) will allow for quick establishment of vegetative cover, until the indigenous seed and rhizomes in the topsoil regenerate and reestablish in the wetland. Restoration of disturbed areas will occur in accordance with the timeframes identified in National Fuel’s ESCAMP. These timeframes are consistent with the FERC’s Upland Erosion Control, Revegetation, and Maintenance Plan and Wetland and Waterbody Construction and 1 “Known,” meaning: as identified in the past during the biological field surveys and new populations identified by National Fuel’s EI prior to construction. 4 Northern Access 2016 Project Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 Mitigation Procedures and applicable state-required timeframes for soil disturbance and stabilization in Pennsylvania and New York. Final cleanup (including seeding/mulching) will generally be completed within 20 days after the trench is backfilled in each area, or the area will be temporarily stabilized using temporary seed, mulch, or other acceptable forms of stabilization. Because the locations of aboveground appurtenant facilities are, or will be, largely maintained with herbaceous and gravel cover during operations, noxious weed control requirements are anticipated to be limited mainly to spot mowing, mechanical removal, or approved herbicide application during operations. 5.0 Monitoring and Maintenance Following construction and restoration, National Fuel will monitor for and treat target species noxious weed infestations on the ROW. Monitoring will commence following completion of construction, in accordance with the Project’s ESCAMP and wetland permits. In addition, areas of known infestations will be inspected every year and treated if necessary. Monitoring data collected will include: identifying the noxious weed species; their location; the extent of infestation; results of previous control measures implemented, if any; and recommendations for further control, if needed. To prevent potential impacts associated with improper herbicide application or accidental spills, National Fuel will use locally licensed/certified applicators where required by law and develop site-specific herbicide application, handling, and cleanup guidelines. If possible, National Fuel will provide funds for county or agency personnel to provide weed control services under cooperative agreements. Herbicide applications will follow United States Environmental Protection Agency label guidelines and be performed in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. In general, the guidelines to be implemented will include: Scheduling and implementing control measures for noxious and invasive plants before seed maturation/development. Suspending herbicide application when: Wind velocities exceed 6 miles per hour for the application of liquid materials and 15 miles per hour for the application of granular materials; Ice covers the target vegetation; or Precipitation is occurring or imminent. Transporting to the construction site only the quantity of material necessary to treat the expected weed population. Herbicides will be transported in approved containers that are inspected daily for leaks. Mixing of chemical controls at least 200 feet from wetlands, waterbodies, or other known sensitive biological resources (e.g., localities supporting threatened or endangered species). 5 Northern Access 2016 Project Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 Precluding use of herbicides in or within 100 feet of wetlands or waterbodies unless specifically authorized by an appropriate regulatory agency. Carrying material safety data sheets and spill kits in any vehicle transporting or applying herbicides. The overall goal of National Fuel’s weed control program is to treat weeds populations deemed noxious and invasive by federal, state, and/or county weed control agencies to the extent that they do not present a significant hindrance to reclamation efforts. 6.0 References New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). 2014. New York State Prohibited and Regulated Invasive Plants. Available online: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/isprohibitedplants2.pdf. Accessed March 9, 2016. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). 2008. New York Invasive Species Information. Available online: http://www.nyis.info/index.php. Accessed March 9. 2016. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR). 2011a. Invasive Exotic Plants in Pennsylvania List. Available online: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20026634.pdf. Accessed March 9, 2016. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR). 2011b. DCNR Invasive Exotic Plant Tutorial for Land Managers. Giant hogweed Hercleum mantegazzianum. Available online: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_010273.pdf. Accessed March 9, 2016. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDAAPHIS). 2003. Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) – A Federal Noxious Weed. June 2003. Available online: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/poster_ph hogweed.pdf. Accessed March 9, 2016. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2010. Plants Database. Available online: http://plants.usda.gov/ Last Modified: 08/23/2010. Accessed March 9, 2016. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2011. Pennsylvania State Noxious Weeds List. September 1, 2011. Available online: http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=42. Accessed March 9, 2016. 6 Northern Access 2016 Project Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management Plan August 2016 Attachment 1. Wash Rack BMP Figure B 44 D-118 A 44 A 44 B 44 SECTION A 44 SECTION B 44 ELEVATED WASHRACK 44
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