1. Range Management in the Face of Climate Change
Best Management Practices for Siting, Developing, Operating and Monitoring Wind and Solar Energy in the West
Wild Utah Project
Allison Jones and Jim Catlin
Wild Utah Project
423 W 800 S Suite B-117
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Dec 2011

5. Need for comprehensive, specialized, science-based BMPs for renewable energy development
“One stop shopping” for conservationists trying to positively affect process (from zoning, siting, permitting, NEPA, development/construction, monitoring mitigation…)
Written concisely in easy to understand terms
Legal/administrative/regulatory framework (including “typical steps” in permitting process)
Up to date science and reference to the most guidance documents and other BMPS we could find on the topic (over 150 citations so far and counting)

7. Laws and Regulations for Renewable Energy Development
Executive and Interior Secretarial Orders relating to energy development
Inter-agency MOUs
Energy specific legislation
Pertinent agency (i.e. BLM) regulations
Applicable federal laws
State permitting and regulation of renewable energy 
Typical steps in wind and solar permitting process

8. Siting BMPs: Lands that should be prioritized
Built Environment
Lands that have been previously degraded or disturbed (e.g abandoned agricultural fields, landfills, reclaimed mine sites & brownfields)
Lands of comparatively low resource value located adjacent to impacted private lands and urbanized areas
Oil, gas and coalbed methane fields (wind)
Privately owned feedlots and lands currently in agricultural production (wind)
Solar Energy Zones identified in Draft BLM Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (solar)
** In general, locations that (a) minimize the need to build new roads, (b) could be served by existing substations, (c ) are proximate to load centers, and (d) with adequate access to transmission lines

9. Siting BMPs: Lands that should be avoided
Units of the National Landscape Conservation System
Special federal land management designations
Wilderness Study Areas and other wilderness quality lands
Lands that support federally threatened/endangered and candidate species
Wild and Scenic rivers, wetlands, riparian areas and ecologically significant intermittent washes.
All areas where the applicable land use plan designates no surface occupancy, or Right of Way Exclusion or Avoidance Areas
Landscape level biological linkages, such Big Game Migratory Corridors identified in land use plans
Big Game Winter Ranges identified in applicable land use plans
State wildlife management areas and state parks

10. BMPs for Siting, Constructing, Operating and Monitoring Wind and Solar Development on Western Lands
Sage grouse
Birds of prey
All other birds
Bats
Wildlife (general)
Site hydrology (including soils and vegetation)

11. Example: Best Management Practices for Bats
Siting BMPs for Bats for Wind Projects
Avoid siting turbines near bat hibernacula, breeding colonies and maternity roosts.
Avoid siting turbines within migration corridors and flight paths among and between colonies and feeding areas
Site turbines away from wetlands, riparian areas, and woodlands to reduce potential bat collisions
Site turbines away from high-use bat areas identified in pre-construction surveys
Planning and Pre-construction BMPs for Bats for Wind Projects
Conduct daytime and nighttime bat surveys during the spring and fall migration season to determine use of the proposed project area, and conduct nighttime bat surveys during the breeding season…..
Construction and Operation BMPs for Bats for Wind facilities
Turbines should be set to have a minimum ‘cut-in’ speed of 6 m/second to avoid the increased mortality risk to bats at slow turbine speeds.
Monitoring BMPs for Bats for Wind Facilities
Weekly fatality surveys should be conducted during the spring and fall migration periods and during the breeding season for at least two to three years post-construction

12. BMPs for Siting, Constructing, Operating and Monitoring Wind and Solar Development on Western Lands
Sage grouse
Birds of prey
All other birds
Bats
Wildlife (general)
Site hydrology (including soils and vegetation)

13. Examples of how to use BMPs
Conservationists: Checklist of laws, regulations and ordinances that agencies and developers need to consider and abide by
Conservationists (and agencies?): better understanding of role of land use planning as it pertains to renewable energy development
Conservationists: up-to-date and scientifically supported BMPs to stress through NEPA process to agency
Agencies: better anticipation of issues that will be brought forth by conservationists through NEPA process
Developers: knowledge of type of pre-construction studies and post construction wildlife monitoring potentially expected by regulating agencies in Plans of Operations
Developers: checklist of permitting steps on public lands
Citizens: basic guidance for submitting comments through public comment periods

14. Where we could use your help (help us tailor these BMPs to YOUR needs)
As a conservationist, is this draft document usable, well-organized, lay-person friendly (easy to use), and clear? Will it help you with NEPA based and other comments on proposed solar and wind developments?
As a developer, where are the areas, if any, where you feel current guidance is lacking, not strong or comprehensive, or not based in current, rigorous science?
As a regulator or agency planner, are you satisfied with degree of knowledge, compliance, and application/permit readiness of developers?

15. QUESTIONS? Wild Utah Project
Wild Utah Project (
Acknowledgements: Western Resource Advocates, Utah Clean Energy, and dozens of other conservation partners and expert peer reviewers
Wild Utah Project