Bureau of Land Management's Decision Record and Environmental

Jersey Valley Geothermal Development Project
Environmental Assessment: NV063-EAO8-091
The golden eagle is Nevada’s largest resident bird of prey, sometimes weighing over twelve
pounds and having a wingspan that may exceed seven feet. This bird is highly adaptable, has
world-wide distribution and is a common year-long resident of the planning area. Golden eagles
feed primarily on small mammals-jackrabbits, cottontails, and ground squirrels-though they are
capable of taking larger prey (Stamm 2006). There have been many sightings of golden eagle in
the Project vicinity, though there are no known nests nearby.
Migratory Birds
Migratory birds may be found in the proposed Project area as either seasonal residents or as
migrants. Provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 Usc 701-718h) prohibit the killing of
any migratory birds, including the taking of any nest or egg, without a permit. Executive
Order 13 186, titled “Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds,” was
signed on October 1, 2001 to further enhance and ensure the protection of migratory birds.
Migratory bird species utilize almost all of the Shoshone-Eureka Planning Area during some
time of the year.
Bird species include meadowlarks (Sturnella meglectus), horned larks (Eremophilia alpestris),
mourning doves (Zenaidura macroura), and barn swallows (Hirunda rustica). Red-winged
blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) and killdeer (Charadrius vocferous) were observed near the
two spring areas within the Jersey Valley Unit Area. House finches (Carpodacus mexicanus)
were observed and heard along the eastern Jersey Valley Unit Area boundary near the
pinyon-juniper woodlands on the hill slopes.
3.5.2 Environmental Consequences
3.5.2.1 Proposed Action
Surface disturbance associated with construction activities would result in the loss of wildlife
habitat. The direct displacement of wildlife would result from the surface disturbance required
for construction of the drilling pads, power plant site, pipelines, transmission line, switching
station and access roads. A slight reduction in wildlife carrying capacity would be expected to
occur for some species, but most wildlife would be expected to adjust and relocate to similar
habitat that is abundant in the Project vicinity.
The transmission line poles would provide perching sites for raptors. The approximately
27.59-mile-long transmission line would also increase the potential for bird collisions,
electrocution and bird mortality. However, Ormat has agreed to adopt transmission line raptor
protection practices which would minimize bird electrocutions with the transmission line and
reduce bird mortality. Additionally, to prevent perching, (a cone, Kaddas Enterprises type
KE1058 or equal) would be installed on the top of each transmission line pole along the entirety
of the transmission line (see Figure 12, Figure 13 and Section 2.1.11).
Project-generated noise could also keep some animals away from areas directly affected by
surface disturbance during the construction, drilling and power plant operations. Other indirect
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