AEP’s facilities and the management of our land resources can directly affect biodiversity, and we are committed to establishing a corporate policy on biodiversity. Biodiversity describes the number of different species that live within a particular ecosystem. Some of our specific actions relate to compliance with state and federal laws, such as the Endangered Species Act. When protected or listed species are found on AEP’s property, we take the appropriate measures to protect them. In 2008, we implemented an Avian Protection Policy and are now developing the first phase of a formal Avian Protection Plan.
We receive guidance from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the electric industry to ensure that we use best practices. Last year, a bald eagle was electrocuted at one of our facilities in Oklahoma. In response, we retrofitted certain types of electricity structures to make them safe for eagle perching. Since 1944, AEP has planted more than 63 million trees in the United States. Some of these forestry projects have been expansions of National Wildlife Refuges and were listed as priority sites by the USFWS.
Several power plants and transmission rights-of-way have undertaken habitat enhancement projects to attract and encourage development of various species. Many of these projects have been certified through the Wildlife Habitat Council, and some have received awards for their biodiversity successes. The international forestry projects undertaken to offset our carbon emissions are located in biodiversity “hot spots,” such as Bolivia, and enhance biodiversity.
One concern raised by some stakeholders is whether we consider environmental impacts when siting new transmission lines and other facilities. We absolutely take those issues into consideration and also look at how we can better manage rights-of-way to enhance biodiversity. In order to better understand and manage AEP’s impacts on biodiversity and address stakeholders’ interests, we will take a methodical approach such as one developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development — Business and Biodiversity: The Handbook for Corporate Action.
