North Area Environmental Assessment
for Vegetation Management
Western Area Power Administration
Northern California and Southern Oregon

Burleson was awarded a subcontract from Aspen Environmental Group for management and technical expertise for the Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (Western) North Area Environmental Assessment (EA). The project was initiated to streamline environmental permitting for routine maintenance activities including vegetation management of existing transmission lines owned by Western and the Transmission Agency of Northern California. Burleson was responsible for the training and coordination of biological and cultural survey crews and completing biological surveys. Burleson also assisted with the preparation of the EA by completing the following sections: biological resources, floodplain and wetland assessment, and esthetics. Burleson provided technical and quality reviews for the document and resource areas. The EA was prepared to meet the requirements of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Burleson surveyed more than 1,200 miles of transmission lines and access roads from southern Oregon to Tracy, California. Due to
the rugged terrain, special efforts were required to ensure submeter accuracy of data collected by a global positioning system (GPS) in the field. Burleson worked with Western to gain access from land owners and added crews to ensure that surveys would be completed prior to winter. The crews were able to complete all surveys within one season. Burleson assisted with Geographical Information System (GIS) activities including digitizing and correction of data. Burleson mapped information obtained from GPS units onto aerial photographs.

Western modified the contract to include preparation of the biological assessments and coordination with agencies including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Parks Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Burleson assisted with the preparation of conservation measures and the floodplain and wetland assessments for the project area.