HomeMy WebLinkAboutSavannah River Ecology Laboratory
Augusta Richmond GA
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AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
SA V ANNAH RIVER ECOLOGY LABORATORY
AND
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
Effective, February 1, 1999, the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.,
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, hereinafter called the "University", accepts from the
Augusta, Georgia, hereinafter called the "Sponsor", a research grant, the conditions of which are
as follows:
1. Obiect: There are four main objectives of this research grant. First, the University will
continue to develop and add to a previously-established data base describing the abundance and
distribution patterns of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans), wading birds (herons, egrets, ibises,
wood storks), other waterbirds (American coots, grebes, gallinules, cormorants, anhingas, gull
species), and avian species of special interest (bald eagles, ospreys) using wetlands (both natural
and man-made) in the vicinity of Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field, hereinafter called the
"Airport". This data base will describe use of the nearby Messerly Wastewater Treatment Plant's
developing artificial wetlands and natural wetlands in their immediate vicinity, Merry Land and
Investment Company's brickyard ponds, and the Georgia Department of Natural Reso'urces'
Phinizy Swamp Wildlife Management Area by the aforementioned species. Secondly, the
University will now begin to provide assistance to Airport personnel for the purpose of
identifying birds involved in collisions with aircraft at the Airport. Thirdly, the University will
examine historical bird strike data from the Airport to identify patterns existing pre- and post-
construction of the artificial wetlands. Finally, the University will summarize the above
information and the data collected under the previous contract into a general ecological study of
the kind called for in section 139.337(a) of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations. Such study
will be designed to continue to provide information to the Sponsor and the Sponsor's Attorney,
to consider in making a determination of whether a significant potential birdstrike hazard exists
for aircraft using the Airport and for the Sponsor and the Sponsor's Attorney to use in
negotiations with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as to grant
assurances, location of future construction of additional cells of the artificial wetlands, and any
other matters raised by the FAA, including whether or not there is a need for the Sponsor to
implement a wildlife hazard management plan for the Airport, as described in section 139.337(c)
of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations. In the event that such a wildlife hazard
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management plan should be necessary, the research described herein to be undertaken by the
University shall be designed in such a way as to provide information concerning bird abundance
and distribution around the Airport directly to the party responsible for designing and
implementing such a plan.
II. Program: The principal contractor/investigator, Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr., Savannah
River Ecology Laboratory, will direct the program. The contractorlinvestigator will be assisted
by certain technical consultants. Commitments as to the extent of the obligations of these
investigators will be the responsibility of the principal investigator, within the scope of the work
plans approved by the Sponsor. Work plans for accomplishing each of the objectives listed above
are attached.
III. Funds: (a). For the work accomplished by the University during the grant period from
February 1, 1999 - April 30, 2000 (total cost - $75,748.00), the Sponsor will pay the University
75% ($56,811.00) upon submission of an invoice and upon receipt of evidence approved by the
Sponsor that the work program is well underway, and the remainder of the annual fund allocation
($18,937.00) upon submission of an invoice due February 15,2000. A budget for the research
program is attached.
(b). If this research grant is terminated prior to the end ofthe grant period, payments by
the Sponsor shall be provided based on the actual incurred and/or obligated expenditures as of
the date of termination.
(c). Expenditures shall be made at the discretion of the principal investigator in
conformity with the approved budget and work plans and in relation to the fiscal policies of the
University.
IV. Liability: To the extent provided by Georgia law, each party agrees to be responsible
for any and all liability including claims, demands, losses, costs, dam:1ges, and expenses of every
kind and description, or damages to persons or property, arising out of or in connection with, or
occurring during the course of this contract, where such liability is founded upon or grows out of
the acts or omissions of any of the officers, employees, or agents ofthe party. The University
assumes no responsibility for its interpretation of the data collected under these studies, with
regard to aircraft accidents occurring as the result of bird strikes at the Airport.
V. Reports: The principal investigator will submit fifteen (15) copies of a comprehensive
final report on May 15, in the year of the investigation's completion, covering all aspects of these
investigations, in accordance with the conditions defined in the work plan agreed to by the
University and the Sponsor. An interim report summarizing the results to date of the aerial
surveys of avian wetland use in the vicinity of the Airport, as described above, will be provided
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to the Sponsor's Attorney on October 15, 1999, marked "Confidential and Attorney-Client
Privileged".
VI. Records: The University agrees to abide by the General Services Administration
Federal Management Circular O.M.B. A-21 in regard to accounting for staff workloads.
VI1. Publications: (a). The University shall have freedom of publication of the research
conducted under this contract, other than the interim report, which shall be deemed Attorney's
Work Product, Confidential, and subject to the Attorney-Client Privilege.
(b). All manuscripts written for publication will be a collaborative effort between the
principal investigator and a designee of the Sponsor. In the event that no Sponsor collaborator is
designated, the Sponsor will be provided two (2) courtesy copies of any manuscripts written by
the principal investigator prior to publication.
VII1. Duration: (a). The period of performance shall be from February 1,1999 - April 30,
2000.
(b). This research grant may be terminated at any time upon 30 days written notice by
either party.
(c). The contract covering this research program shall be renewable on an annual basis
upon agreement of both the Sponsor and the University. The Sponsor and the University
specifically recognize that any attempt to evaluate a general birdstrike hazard to aircraft using the
Airport would be limited in the event that there is construction of additional artificial wetlands or
that there are changes in management practices employed at existing artificial wetlands.
IX. Equal Opportunity E.mplovment: During the performance of this contract, the
University/Contractor agrees not to discriminate in its employment practices or subcontracts with
regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin or disability.
X. Inventions: Investigators/Contractors shall comply with the stipulations ofP.L.96-5I7.
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PRINCIP AL CONTRACTOR/INVESTIGA TOR
(SA V ANNAH RIVER ECOLOGY LABORATORY)
BY: ,). ~ ~. DATE: J"t.I~ t;,) /"1"''1
1. Lehr Brisbin, Jr.,
Senior Ecologist
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INe.
BY: 0.1 ~ I~/ DATE: SEP 3 1999
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Executive Vice President
DATE:
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BUDGET FOR THE ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE
VICINITY OF AUGUSTA REGIONAL AIRPORT AT BUSH FIELD AND
THE MESSERLY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
(February 1, 1999 - April 30, 2000)
Personnel costs, including benefits
I.L. Brisbin, Jr. (Principal Investigator, 5% FTE)
Salary: $6,579 Benefits: $1,781
R.A. Kennamer (Research Coordinator, 25% FTE)
Salary: $11,153 Benefits: $3,238
K.F. Gaines (GIS Specialist, 20% FTE)
Salary: $8,303 Benefits: $2,411
W.L. Stephens, Jr. (Flight. Observer, 25% FTE)
Salary: $7,246 Benefits: $2,533
$ 8,360.00
$14,391.00
$10,714.00
$ 9,779.00
Aircraft and pilot (Augusta Aviation, Daniel Field)
weekly aerial surveys @ approx. 1.5-2.0 hrs each
$ 9,850.00
GIS coverages, expendable supplies, mise, expenses
$ 3,000.00
Travel expenses
$ 1,500.00
RESEARCH PROGRAM DIRECT COSTS
$57,594.00
Other direct SREL costs ([acilities, operations)
$11,519.00
SREL DIRECT COSTS TOTAL
$69,113.00
Indirect costs (Un iv, Georgia overhead, 9,6%)
$ 6,635.00
GRAND TOTAL
$75,748.00
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WORK PLAN FOR CONDUCTING AERIAL SURVEYS OF BIRDS IN THE
VICINITY OF AUGUSTA REGIONAL AIRPORT AT BUSH FIELD AND
THE MESSERLY W ASTEW A TER TREATMENT PLANT
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) personnel will engage the services of
Augusta Aviation, Inc., based at Daniel Field airport in Augusta, to provide aircraft and pilots for
conducting aerial surveys over the Bush Field airport vicinity. These aerial surveys will be
conducted in close coordination with Bush Field administrative officials and air-traffic
controllers to assure safety of all aircraft operating in the vicinity of Bush Field during the
execution of these surveys.
During aerial surveys, SREL observers will reference species and numbers of individuals
from the following list: waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans), wading birds (herons, egrets,
ibises, wood storks), other waterbirds (American coots, grebes, gallinules, cormorants, anhingas,
gull spp.), and avian species of special interest (bald eagles, ospreys). Sightings will be map-
referenced at the time of occurrence. Other data to be included with each aerial survey are: date,
beginning and ending times of the survey, Savannah River stage at Butler Creek, local weather
conditions (including temperature, wind speed, extent of wetland icing in winter, etc.), and
sightings (map-referenced) of people, watercraft, or other disturbance-related activities taking
place during the aerial survey. Actual duration of these aerial surveys will be approximately 90
minutes each, allowing additional flight time of 10-20 minutes for travel time to and from Daniel
Field and the possibility of surveys being interrupted by air-traffic controllers while other aircraft
move through the survey area. Aerial surveys will be conducted from a height of approximately
250-300 ft and at a minimal, but safe airspeed given the prevailing weather conditions.
This project will include sixty-three (63) flights over a contract period of fifteen (15)
months to be executed at weekly intervals (no aerial surveys will be undertaken during the week
ofthe Masters Golf Tournament). If inclement weather or aircraft unavailability precludes the
completion of more than six (6) flights over the contract period of a year, the flights may be
added to the end of the contract period or may be used for other purposes related to the study
during the contract period, at the discretion of the Sponsor.
For the purposes of electronic data storage and analysis, map-referenced data from the
aerial surveys will be pooled into logical groupings (units) of wetland locations within the total
survey area. For example, Merry Land and Investment Company brickyard ponds may be
considered as a single discrete wetland unit, although map-referenced sightings may occur in
specific ponds of the Merry Land wetland complex. Other logical discrete wetland units include
the artificial wetlands at the Messerly Wastewater Treatment Plant (sub-unit groupings, as
desired); natural wetlands of the Phinizy swamp area under the domain of the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources (above vs. below the Bobby Jones Expressway extension, as
desired).
Data will be stored on a networked Sun SPARC Station (Sun Microsystems, Inc.)
operating in a UNIX System V environment. Upon project completion, all data will be provided
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to the Sponsor in a mutually agreeable data base format (for example, Microsoft Excel). Data
summaries and analyses will be performed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute,
Inc.). Analyses will include a determination oflocational (wetland units as described above)
effects upon avian species assemblages and numbers, with emphasis on bird use of natural versus
man-made wetlands within the study area. Additionally, bird use of individual wetland cells at
the Messerly Wastewater Treatment Plant existing under various planting treatments may be
examined. Temporal (annual and seasonal) changes in the species assemblages and distributions
will also be examined in relation to changes in the artificial wetlands configuration. Identification
will be made ofthe effects of Savannah River water level stage and weather upon bird use of the
artificial wetlands.
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WORK PLAN FOR CONDUCTING A GENERAL ECOLOGICAL STUDY
AND COLLECTING BIRD STRIKE INFORMATION TO ASSIST IN DETERMINING
BIRDS TRIKE HAZARD TO AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY
OF THE AUGUST A REGIONAL AIRPORT AT BUSH FIELD
In this study, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) personnel will conduct a
general ecological study of the kind called for in Section 139.337(a) of the Code of Federal
Aviation Regulations. This study will be designed to provide information to the Sponsor and the
Sponsor's Attorney to consider in making a determination of whether a significant potential
birdstrike hazard exists for aircraft using the Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field, hereinafter
called the "Airport" and for the Sponsor and the Sponsor's Attorney to negotiate with the
Administrator of the Federa! Aviation Administration (FAA) as to grant assurances, location of
future construction of additional cells of the artificial wetlands, and any other matters raised by
the FAA, such as the possible need for the Sponsor to implement a wildlife hazard management
plan for the Airport, as described in section I39.337(c) of the Code of Federal Aviation
Regulations.
In conducting this study, SREL personnel will utilize data from two sources: (1)
historical birdstrike data from the Airport, which will be provided on or before February 1,2000
by the Airport Manager; this data will be of the sort required to fulfill the requirement of Section
139.33 7(b)(1) of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations, (2) aerial survey data, including data
collected under the previous contract between the Sponsor and the University from February I,
1998 through January 31, 1999, describing bird abundance in the vicinity of the Airport. Such
aerial survey data will.continue to be collected by the SREL according to the work plan
presented above. Data from these two sources will be compared, interpreted and integrated into a
single overall evaluation in order to fulfill to the maximum extent possible within the limits of
the data bases available, the requirements of Section 139.337(a) of the Code of Federal Aviation
Regulations.
Spatial analyses based on the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) will be used
to describe the location of habitat features on and near the Airport that could attract wildlife, as
called for in Section 139.337(b)(3) of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations. In undertaking
these analyses, the term "near the airport" will be taken to include those areas named in "Part
1.0biect" of the agreement between the University and the Sponsor. Within the GIS, a detailed
(30m pixels) habitat coverage ("Habitat for SRS and surrounding areas: 1997"; prepared by J.E.
Pinder III and K.K Guy) incorporating approximately 50 categories, will be used for the
identification and location of habitat features on and near the airport that potentially attract
wildlife. In addition, National Wetland Inventory (NWI) coverages will be used to more
specifically identify wetland areas. Since NWI coverages may overestimate wetland area, all data
used from these coverages will be cross-referenced with the original habitat map and verified
during aerial surveys. In addition, USGS Digital Line Graphs (DLG) of the hydrography of the
area will be used to incorporate river drainage systems into the GIS model. To the maximum
extent possible, bird abundance and distribution data collected by SREL from aerial surveys will
be incorporated into the GIS model. All GIS data will be analyzed within Arc/Info ver. 7.1.1,
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ArcView 3.0b and ERDAS Imagine 8.2 using both a UNIX (Solaris CDE ver.1.2 on a SPARC
20 - Sun Microsystems Inc) and Windows NT (ver. 4.0 on a Pentium PC) platform. The final
model and associated data will be available to be viewed within ArcView on UNIX, Windows 95
and Windows NT platforms.
In undertaking this study, description of the "wildlife hazard to air carrier operations", as
called for in Section 1 39.337(b)(4) of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations, shall be limited
to an analysis and description of the spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of birds by
species/groups, as described in the above work plan for the SREL aerial surveys. No attempt will
be made by the University to relate data on the location and numbers of birds to the severity of
consequences that would result if such birds should actually strike aircraft, or to determine
whether such birds are likely to be found at altitudes that would place them within the glide paths
of specific aircraft operations at the Airport.
All efforts will be made to relate bird abundance and distribution data collected by SREL
during the aerial surveys to both specific artificial wetland acreage/configuration and climatic
conditions encountered during the years of study. Recognizing the high annual variability of
wetland conditions as related to climatic conditions, the interpretation of such data will
necessarily relate to the specific years during which the data were collected. To the extent that
climatic conditions during the study prove to be particularly abnormal (e.g. excessively wet or
dry, or excessively hot or cold during particular seasons), attempts to use the interpretation of
such data to generalize an associated birdstrike hazard to aircraft using the Airport will be biased
and therefore would not allow the Sponsor or the FAA Administrator to adequately assess the
need for a wildlife hazard management plan, as called for in Section I39.337(c) of the Code of
Federal Aviation Regulations. Further, interim results may be inconclusive and attempts to use
the data may be biased; therefore, such interim report shall be for the sole benefit of Sponsor's
Attorney use and shall be appropriately noted as being Attorney's Work Product, Confidential,
and subject to the Attorney-Client Privilege.
In addition, the principal investigator and/or technical consultants supported under this
contract will respond to all calls for assistance from airport officials, to help in identifying the
remains and/or photographs of any birds involved in aircraft strikes in the vicinity of the Airport,
during the contract period. If desired, these same individuals will work with any Airport
personnel who may be interested in improving their own abilities to identify such remains, and/or
better understand the factors involved in any bird strike incidents occurring in the vicinity of the
Airport, during the contract period.
Prepared by: Dr. 1. Lehr Brisbin, Jr., Robert A. Kennamer, and Karen F. Gaines
University of Georgia
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802
(803) 725-0387
kennamer@srel.edu