The U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, proposed to implement an Energy Saving Performance Contract at Fort Buchanan and 11 U.S. Army Reserve Centers (USARCs) in Puerto Rico. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) had expressed concern that the installation of wind turbines could adversely affect the endangered yellow-shouldered blackbird (YSBB) (Agelaius xanthomus), its associated designated critical habitat, and other birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. For this reason, USACE and the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Buchanan had identified a need to conduct a Biological Assessment (BA) and associated endangered and migratory bird survey in and around the 54-acre Roosevelt Roads USARC in Ceiba to determine potential impacts of the proposed installation of wind turbines and other energy-saving equipment at the site.
ANAMAR was contracted by USACE to conduct the survey and generate the BA and survey report as part of a National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 Environmental Assessment by USACE and the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Buchanan and an Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation with USFWS.
The endangered and migratory bird survey was performed during a 14-day period in July 2012 and consisted of recording:
• Observations for characterization of natural and urban habitats
• Bird species observed and percent cover at point-count stations
• Bird species and behaviors observed while conducting strip transects through forests
• Bird species and nests observed during visual searches in urban and landscape habitats
A comprehensive BA and survey report was generated by ANAMAR, including an extensive literature review, analysis of effects, and recommendations of conservation measures. The final report and BA was approved by USACE and the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Buchanan in November 2012.