Table 3.1-1 Summary of Environmental Commitments
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT MEASURES |
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NON-TIDAL WETLANDS & BUFFERS: |
No fueling of vehicles, equipment, or tools within wetlands or wetland buffer areas. |
When use of an access road is not possible, access/travel over wetlands should be the shortest distance possible in order to avoid unnecessary adverse impacts. |
Access and work areas in wetlands will be matted. |
| Avoid or minimize the transport of sediments into wetlands, streams or other bodies of water through the use of erosion and sediment controls and vegetation stabilization BMPs. |
| Use and length of time for construction mats shall be planned to minimize long-term vegetation disturbance. |
| All materials used to construct temporary access roads and work areas within wetlands will be removed immediately following the completion of their use. |
| At no time will the normal or expected high flow of any surface or subsurface water, including bordering streams, creeks, drainage areas (natural or man‐made), etc., be impeded in any way during field operations (e.g. mat bridging, etc.). |
| Grade restoration and stabilization of all disturbed wetland areas will be conducted after completion of the construction activity. |
| Delmarva Power will engage environmental monitor(s) to ensure compliance with wetland protection BMPs and non-tidal wetland permit conditions, including restoration specifications. |
| SOILS |
| Use existing roadways for construction access. |
| Erosion and Sediment Control Plan in place for construction activities. |
| Temporary control devices installed and inspected during construction. |
| Stabilization following disturbance in accordance with approved plans. |
| Restoration of unintended soil impacts to avoid compaction and erosion. |
| Minimization of rutting by use of matting and controlling access to erodible soils during wet conditions. |
| If contamination is discovered during construction, the soil will be stockpiled and covered. Delmarva Power will characterize the material for proper handling and disposal and inform the proper state, federal, and local agencies. |
| Follow Delmarva Power BMPs for general housekeeping to control litter and potential for unintended spills or leaks. |
| All portions of the ROWs disturbed during construction shall be stabilized immediately after the cessation of construction activities, except in active cultivated lands. |
| Delmarva Power will engage environmental monitor(s) to ensure compliance with erosion and sedimentation BMPs in accordance with County E&S standards and permit conditions. |
| POTENTIAL CONTAMINATED SITES |
| If hazardous substances in soil are encountered during excavation as determined by odor, sheen, or change in soil characteristics, work will be stopped until the soil is characterized, and the necessary health and safety measures are implemented. |
| If excavation of hazardous materials is required, soil will be handled, transported, and disposed of by Delmarva Power waste contractors in accordance with the Delmarva Power BMP Manual, local, state, and federal regulations. |
| WATER RESOURCES |
| Avoid in-stream construction. |
| Avoid stream crossings for access to maximum extent practicable. |
| Bank to bank temporary bridging during construction or unavoidable stream crossings. |
| Erosion and Sediment Control Plan including the use of temporary erosion control measure to prevent run-off from entering wetland/streams. |
| Restoration of construction impacts. |
| Access control to minimize traversing wetlands, floodplain, and waterways. |
| Structures, pulling locations, and staging located outside of water resource areas to the maximum extent practicable. |
| General housekeeping to control litter and potential for unintended spills or leaks per Delmarva Power BMPs. |
| Environmental Monitoring- Delmarva Power will engage environmental monitor(s) to ensure compliance with permit conditions, including restoration specifications. |
| VEGETATION |
| Avoid mowing during ground breeding bird nesting season. |
| Conduct vegetation management in accordance with FERC and NERC requirements and industry standards. |
| Conduct tree clearing and disposal activities in accordance with Revised Quarantine Order of the Secretary of Agriculture, State of Maryland, to prevent the spread of Emerald Ash Borer (Plant Protection Order #11-02 dated July 21, 2011). |
| WILDLIFE HABITAT |
| Access and work in designated Vernal Pools will be minimized to the maximum extent practicable. |
| ROW and structures shall be inspected prior to construction for the presence of raptor nests. |
| Restoration of the ROW will be conducted after completion of the construction activity to minimize temporary effects on wildlife habitat. |
| FISHERIES |
| Minimize all construction and disturbance at all stream crossings identified by the MD DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service as being in the vicinity of, or potential habitat for, rare, threatened, or endangered species. |
| RARE, THREATENED, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES |
| Apply appropriate BMP for E&S control during all work within WSSC’s. |
| Conduct pre-construction surveys to confirm presence or absence of identified species within ROW and implement avoidance procedure and E&S and BMPs. |
| AIR QUALITY |
| Delmarva Power /Contractor shall not cause or permit any material to be handled, transported, or stored without taking reasonable precautions to prevent particulate matter from becoming airborne. |
| NOISE |
| The Project shall comply with relevant noise ordinances. |
| TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT |
| Delmarva Power will comply with all permit requirements for staging equipment and crossing public roadways. Delmarva Power will obtain appropriate approvals, construction permits, road crossings, etc. as necessary. |