Biologists from aci consulting conducted a USACE jurisdictional waters survey in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act in preparation for the construction of a proposed 65.5-mile-long pipeline in the Washita River Floodplain and the Arbuckle Mountains in Oklahoma.

In October 2012 and January 2013, aci environmental consulting biologists conducted habitat evaluation and pedestrian survey for the presence of bald eagle, least tern, piping plover, whooping crane, Sprague’s pipit, and Arkansas shiner. No habitat for these species was observed within the pipeline corridor.

In December 2012 and January and February 2013, aci consulting archeologists conducted archeological survey at 44 USACE jurisdictional waters along a 55-mile-long portion of the proposed pipeline corridor.

The selection of USACE jurisdictional waters to be surveyed involved the development of a probability model, in coordination with USACE and the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, based on soils, stream types, floodplain proximity, and other factors. The development of this model allowed a thorough investigation of the most likely areas for archeological deposits while saving time and money for the client. No cultural resources were observed during the course of the archeological fieldwork.