Developing Recommendations With an Eye on the WHMP

Recommendations
with an Eye on the
WHMP
J
M S
FAA
H MaribenS Espiritu Andersen,
FAA
Michael Baker Jr. Inc.
Amy Anderson – FAA
J k McSwain
Jack
M S i – FAA
Hermann Smith - FAA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Charlotte Brown
and
Steven Hicks
Federal Aviation
Administration
2
Wildlife Hazard Management
should be HOLISTIC
Operation,
Maintenance
& Training
Planning,
D i &
Design
Construction
Financial
WHM
Program
Environmental
(Abatement Measures)
Regulatory,
Compliance,
p
,
&
Monitoring
Social & Education
Regulatory Compliance
Recommendations
Requirements:
q
Advisoryy Circular
• If the FAA determines that a Wildlife Hazard
M
Management
t Plan
Pl (WHMP) iis needed,
d d th
the
airport operator must formulate and implement
a WHMP
WHMP, using the Wildlife Hazard
Assessment (WHA) as the basis for the plan.
• The goal of an airport’s WHMP is to minimize
the risk to aviation safety, airport structures or
equipment or human health posed by
equipment,
populations of hazardous wildlife on and
around the airport.
Federal Aviation
Administration
5
Requirements:
q
Advisoryy Circular
• The WHMP must identifyy hazardous wildlife
attractants on or near the airport and the
appropriate wildlife damage management
t h i
techniques
tto minimize
i i i th
the wildlife
ildlif h
hazard.
d
It must also prioritize the management
measures.
measures
Federal Aviation
Administration
6
Requirements: Part 139
• The p
plan must include:
(1) Measures to alleviate or eliminate wildlife hazards
to air carrier operations.
(2) A list
li off the
h iindividuals
di id l h
having
i authority
h i and
d
responsibility for implementing each aspect of the
p
plan.
(3) Requirements for and, where applicable, copies of
local, state, and federal wildlife control permits.
(4) Identification of resources that the certificate holder
will provide to implement the plan.
Federal Aviation
Administration
7
Requirements: Part 139 Cont.
• The plan must include:
(5) Procedures to be followed during air carrier
operations.
(6) A list prioritizing the following actions identified in
the WHA and target dates for their initiation and
completion:
(a) Wildlife population management;
((b)) Habitat modification; and
(c) Land use changes
Federal Aviation
Administration
8
Requirements:
q
Part 139 Cont.
• The plan must include:
(7) Procedures
P
d
to
t review
i
and
d evaluate
l t the
th WHMP
every 12 consecutive months or following a
triggering event
event.
(8) A training program conducted by a qualified wildlife
biologist to provide airport personnel with the
knowledge and skills needed to successfully carry
out the WHMP.
Federal Aviation
Administration
9
Wildlife Hazard Working Group (WHWG)
M b
Members
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Airport Management
Operations/Communication Center
Public Safety (Law Enforcement and ARFF)
Maintenance
Air Traffic Control
Airport Tenants
Surrounding Stakeholders
Wildlife Biologist
Federal Aviation
Administration
10
Regulatory - Federal
Federal
 FAA – NEPA and ACM*
 COE – Section
S ti 10 & 404*
 EPA – Pesticide GP, NPDES MSGO, Nutrient
Criteria ELGs
Criteria,
ELGs, etc
etc.
 FWS – Section 7 & 10, Depredation Permit
 NMFS – EFH coastal only
*will
will be discussed in a separate session
Regulatory - State
State
 Water Quality Protection
 Wetland
W tl d P
Protection*
t ti *
 Protected Species*
 Historic,
Hi t i A
Archeological,
h l i l &C
Cultural
lt l R
Resources
 Licenses and permits
*will be discussed in a separate session
Regulatory - Local







Landscape and Tree Protection
Water Quality Protection
W tl d and
Wetland
dU
Upland
l dP
Protection
t ti
Land Development Code
B ildi C
Building
Code
d
Watershed Management Plans
C
County/City/Parish
t /Cit /P i h
Social and Education
Recommendations
Public Perception and Engagement
• Recognize it’s a team effort and stay engaged!
– Coordinate with the surrounding community to ensure
the effectiveness of the WHMP.
– Work with zoning boards to be alerted of proposed landuse changes or modifications to existing land use that
could
ld attract wildlife
ildlif to the
h airport.
i
– Enlist the support of all airport (employees, tenants,
ATC, etc.) and governing (county, city, etc.) entities for
plan implementation.
Federal Aviation
Administration
15
Public Perception and Engagement
• Start spreading the word
– Combine public education activities with the local
community because some activities can attract wildlife
and present a danger to aircraft.
• Create and distribute wildlife hazard brochures which
describe the species at your airport
airport.
• Lecture on specific wildlife hazards in your area and reasons
nott to
t feed
f d in
i a variety
i t off forums
f
(including
(i l di schools,
h l public
bli
meetings, environmental group meetings, and service
organization meetings)
Federal Aviation
Administration
16
Public Perception and Engagement
• Start spreading the word
– Develop a wildlife hazard hotline to encourage wildlife
sighting reporting.
– Encourage the surrounding community to develop a
wildlife management plan.
Federal Aviation
Administration
17
Planning, Design and
Planning
Construction
Recommendations
Planning and Development
 Airport Layout Plans
 Master Plan
Updates
Development
p
and Expansion
p
Design
Project Design according to AC 150/5200
150/5200-33B
33B






Vertical Structures
Horizontal Structures
Drainage
Stormwater ponds
p
Mitigation
Landscaping
Construction





Pre-construction
Pre
construction briefing
Mobilization
L d di
Land
disturbance
t b
Sediment and Erosion control
W t managementt
Waste
Environmental/Wildlife
Abatement Recommendations
Biological Control
Biological Control
• Prey – predator
relationship
•Photo by Johnny
Metcalf
Turf Management
• FAA Guidelines: 6-12* inches
• Perhaps the single MOST
EFFECTIVE deterrent!!!
• Grass is INDIGESTIBLE to majority
of wildlife… they are eating seeds,
weeds, insects, & mammals… NOT
GRASS!
#1 MOST IMPORTANT thing you
can do!!
*controversial
Federal Aviation
Administration
Stormwater/Aquatic Weed Management
Ditches/Ponds
• Must maintain flow
• Clear vegetation
• Concrete linings when
possible
• Maintain culverts
• Steep side slopes
Federal Aviation
Administration
Facilities and Structures Management
• Airport
p buildings
g & hangars
g
• Signage & Lights
• Netting
• Closing doors
• Anti-perching
A i
hi d
devices
i
• Tubular beams
Federal Aviation
Administration
Landscape Management
Airport
p Landscaping
p g
• Ornamental trees
• Eliminate food sources
• Eliminate roost sites
• Eliminate nesting sites
• Water features
Federal Aviation
Administration
Waste Management
 Waste Management
•Close dumpsters/containers
•Public awareness
•Talk to your neighbors
Federal Aviation
Administration
Dispersal and Repelling Methods
 Exploit prey-predator relationship
Federal Aviation
Administration
Trapping and Removal
•Live trapping benefits:
•Gives the public “warm fuzzies”
•Sometimes it’s the law ((Gopher
p
Tortoises))
Federal Aviation
Administration
Den, Nest, and Egg Removal
 Destroying Nest &
Eggs
•Eggs
Eggs can be oiled or
pricked and left in nest
•Eggs can be removed
•Nests can be removed
(b f
(before
eggs are llaid
id iis
best!)
Federal Aviation
Administration
Lethal Control
 Shooting
g
•Trained personnel
•Appropriate
Appropriate gun & ammo
•Have necessary permits
•Notify
N tif local
l
l llaw enforcement
f
t
when necessary
•Be prepared for BAD PRESS!
Federal Aviation
Administration
Lethal Control
 Poisoning
•Very limited use at airports
•Toxicants registered for birds (starlings, blackbirds, pigeons, & gulls)
•DRC-1339/Starlicide
DRC 1339/Starlicide – Only oral toxicant for birds registered by EPA
•Best to control pigeons/starlings around airport buildings
•Acute toxicant for rodents ((die immediately)
y)
•Zinc phosphide
•Expensive!
•Anticoagulant (chronic poison) bait stations
•Asphyxiation in burrow (CO cartridge)
Federal Aviation
Administration
Wildlife Management
 Successful airport wildlife management must
integrate
g
all management
g
techniques.
q
 The importance of accurate monitoring and
record keeping cannot be overemphasized!!!
•Key to program evaluation
•Allows
All
ffor assessmentt off effectiveness
ff ti
•Provides justification for management actions e.g. lethal
removal of wildlife
•Used in litigation if necessary
Federal Aviation
Administration
Training Recommendations
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mowing techniques
Aquatic Weed Control
WHM Training
T i i
Mosquito Control
Fi
Firearms
S
Safety
f t
Other
Monitoring Recommendations
• Are the current measures effective?
• When does the WHMP need to be
revised/updated?
– WHMP review
– Cert Inspector Report review
– WH Team interview
Financial Recommendations
•
•
•
•
Capital Costs
Operating Costs
M i t
Maintenance
C
Costs
t
Benefit and Cost Analysis
– Immediate
I
di t tterm
– Short term
– Long term
AIP Eligibility of Wildlife Management
M
Measures
i an FAA A
in
Approved
d WHMP
• Must be designed to produce a long-term
solution to the wildlife hazard.
• May be a stand-alone project.
• Habitat Modification is eligible.
• Bird hazard reduction equipment such as
cassette
tt tape
t
decks,
d k PA systems,
t
exploding
l di gas
cannons, shotguns and pyrotechnic pistols are
eligible.
• Expendable items such as shotgun shells and
chemicals are not eligible.
Federal Aviation
Administration
38
Implementation Schedule
• Start NOW!
– Conduct a WHA
– Develop a WHMP
• Distribute and implement the plan
– Conduct training
– Acquire required permits
– Hire
Hi the
h “bi
“big guns”” if necessary
• Conduct an annual review of the
plan to evaluate it’s effectiveness
• Update the plan as required
Turkeys be gone!
Federal Aviation
Administration
39
Wildlife Hazard Measures
Brain Storming
Closing the runway?
• Last resort wildlife measure
• Who has the authority to close the runway?
• Repercussions
R
i
after
ft closing
l i th
the runway?
?
Decision Makers
• Who has the authority to make decisions at
night?
• Who has the authority to make the decision to
take an animal?
• What if the decision maker is not available?
Local Government Challenges
• How does an airport convince a solid waste
department, waste water/water treatment
plant or parks department to implement
plant,
wildlife hazard measures for facilities near an
airport?
What are the creative Wildlife
Abatement Measures that you
have developed or observed at
other
th airports?
i
t ?
•Photo by Johnny
Metcalf
Outside the Fence
What are the innovative measures that you
have implemented or observed for wildlife
attractants outside the airport property?
–
–
–
–
–
Private property owners
Restaurants and hotels
Parks
Golf courses
Other
Some Resources
• National Wildlife Research Center
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/research/aviation/index.shtml
• Transport Canada WHMP Template
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/standards/aerodromeairnav-standardswildlifecontrol-plan-menu-978.htm
• ACRP Synthesis 23: Bird Harassment,
Harassment
Repellent, and Deterrent Techniques for Use
on and near Airports
p
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/acrp/acrp_syn_023.pdf