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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-72 ravens or other predators by keeping food waste in covered receptacles and removing daily and using perch deterrents within four miles of active leks. The RDFs also include conducting pre-construction clearance surveys for Sage-Grouse in overland access areas and avoiding construction and/or maintenance activities within four miles of active leks from February 1 to June 15 to protect lekking, nesting, and early brood-rearing and avoiding construction and/or maintenance activities within Sage-Grouse winter habitat from December 1 through February 1 if winter conditions are exceptionally severe (i.e., snow cover is much higher than normal [above sagebrush height]) or temperatures are much lower than normal. Winter construction and/or maintenance activities within Sage-Grouse winter habitat will be coordinated with JBLM YTC. Seasonal restrictions will protect Sage-Grouse during vulnerable breeding and winter periods. Additional RDFs are anticipated to be effective at minimizing disturbance and avoidance of the proposed Project infrastructure by Sage-Grouse and other wildlife are discussed in Section 4.3.3.1. Potential mitigation actions to compensate for residual disturbance and avoidance impacts are described in Appendix B-6 - Framework for Development of a Sage-Grouse Compensatory Mitigation Plan. TABLE 4.3-6 Miles of Centerline within 4 Miles of Active Greater Sage-Grouse Leks ROUTE SEGMENT ACTIVE LEKS WITHIN 4 MILES (NUMBER)1 MILES OF CENTERLINE WITHIN 4 MILES OF ACTIVE LEK 1a/NNR-1 0 0.0 1b 3 (Lek #s 1, 3, 4) 4.7 1c 3 (Lek #s 1, 3, 4) 4.3 2a 1 (Lek #4) 0.6 2b 1 (Lek #4) 7.3 2c 1 (Lek #4) 5.5 2d 0 0.0 3a 0 0.0 3b 0 0.0 3c 0 0.0 NNR-2 1 (Lek #1) 1.2 NNR-3 1 (Lek #1) 4.1 NNR-4o and NNR-4u* 0 0.0 NNR-5 0 0.0 NNR-6o and NNRu6u* 1 (Lek #2) 3.7 NNR-7 0 0.0 NNR-8 0 0.0 MR-1 0 0.0 1 Active leks are defined as a lek that has been attended by at least two male Sage-Grouse within the past 24 months (2012-2013; Stinson et al. 2004; SEE 2013). *o = overhead design option; u = underground design option. Habitat Connectivity and Linkage The YTC Sage-Grouse population is one of two geographically distinct populations in Washington; the second population is located in the Mansfield Plateau/Moses Coulee area in Douglas and Grant Counties (Stinson et al. 2004). The YTC population is isolated from the Mansfield Plateau/Moses Coulee population by more than 30 miles and from populations in Oregon and Idaho by approximately 150 miles (Robb and Schroeder 2012). These populations have reduced genetic diversity relative to populations outside of Washington, and differ genetically from each other suggesting a recent genetic bottleneck and little gene-flow between these populations (Benedict et al. 2003; Oyler-McCance et al. 2005). The proposed Project has the potential to impede connectivity among Sage-Grouse populations, with implications for the genetic and demographic health of the populations. The WHCWG modeled connectivity potential among the four Sage-Grouse populations in Washington (two established