Avoiding Raptor Electrocutions

Dennis Rankin, Environmental Protection Specialist,

Engineering & Environmental Staff, RUS

1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Raptor electrocution has been identified as one of the major concerns of the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service. The electrocution issue was first identified in the early 1970s and

continues to be a problem. Raptors are protected by several laws which include the

Endangered Species Act, the Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Guidelines for the protection of raptors are contained in the publication Suggested

Practices for Raptor Protection on Powerlines-The State of the Art in 1996. Suggested

Practices does not contain standardized drawings for utility structures and raptor

prevention measures. In addition, it contains structures that are not RUS standard

construction. Therefore, RUS has decided to publish a set of guidelines with standardized

drawings for its approved facilities.

INTRODUCTION

Raptor electrocution continues to be one of the major wildlife concerns of the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service (USFWS), especially in states west of the Mississippi River.

Raptors (birds of prey) are a group of birds, which includes eagles, falcons, owls, kites,

hawks, osprey and vultures. The USFWS - Division of Law Enforcement has

documented the electrocution of 1,030 migratory birds from the states of Colorado,

Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. These

birds of prey are protected through several laws, which include the Endangered Species

Act, the Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Violations of these

laws can result in fines and/or imprisonment.

The recent court decision involving Moon Lake Electric Association has given the raptor

electrocution/bird collision issue high visibility. The USFWS has elevated the

electrocution issue to one of its top priorities. News articles discussing the Moon Lake

court decision, the raptor electrocution problem and solutions to make power line

structures raptor friendly on the have appeared in major newspapers throughout the

country. In addition CCN did a segment on the electrocution problem and its potential

solutions.

EARLY HISTORY/BACKGROUND

The electrocution issue was first identified in the early 1970s when the USFWS were

investigating eagle deaths from shooting and poisoning in the west. Large numbers of

raptors were found under power lines. Members of government, industry and

conservation organizations met to discuss the problem and identify inexpensive ways to

minimize/eliminate raptor electrocutions. Raptors were being electrocuted through

phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground contacts while perching on the poles. The Rural
2

Electrification Administration (REA) published guidelines to reduce the loss of eagles

and other large birds due to the accidental electrocution by powerlines. It was found that

pre-1962 REA standard construction was potentially the most hazardous due to its

relatively flat construction and the use of steel crossarm braces. The guidelines (REA

Bulletin 61-10) entitled Powerline Contacts By Eagles and Other Large Birds identified

several measures to reduce accidental electrocution. These measures included the use of

wooden crossarm braces, covered jumpers, pole top perches, gapped ground wires and

the lowering of the crossarm (typical C-1 design). REA Bulletin 61-10 was revised in

1975 and 1979. The Edison Electric Institute also identified raptor protection measures

and techniques and these were published in 1975 in a book entitled Suggested Practices

for Raptor Protection On Powerlines.

The Raptor Research Institute revised the document in 1981 and it was published as

Suggested Practices for Raptor Protection On Powerlines – The State of the Art in 1981.

Many of the protection measures found in REA Bulletin 61-10 were also included in this

revision. In 1983 REA decided to abolish Bulletin 61-10 and adopt Suggested Practices

as its guidance document for raptor protection. The document was updated and revised

and published in 1996. It was entitled Suggested Practices for Raptor Protection On

Powerlines – The State of the Art in 1996 and is the industry standard for raptor

protection. Suggested Practices identifies different raptor protection measures, but does

not contain standardized drawings especially for the pole top configurations. Several

cooperatives had asked the Rural Utilities Service to issue standard drawings for several

of the configurations in Suggested Practices. RUS issued several standard drawings in

1991 and 1992 in Items of Engineering Interest. In addition, several issues such narrow

profile structures, the use of steel distribution poles and transformer problems are either

not addressed or not addressed adequately in Suggested Practices. Due to the increased

awareness of the electrocution problem, RUS has decided to publish a set of guidelines

with standardized drawings, where applicable, for its approved facilities. A draft version

should be ready in July 2000. The general format and a brief synopsis of the sections is

included below.

RUS RAPTOR GUIDELINES

• Introduction/Purpose

A brief introduction and history of the problem will be included. The purpose of

the guidelines will be to identify measures to make RUS standard structures raptor

friendly. Construction specifications will be included. The guidelines will

supplement Suggested Practices, but can be used as a stand-alone document.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Statutes

The Endangered Species Act, the Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty

Act, the Lacey Act and other pertinent statutes will be discussed.
3

• RUS Requirements

RUS requirements where applicable will be discussed. Certain types of

construction will need RUS review and approval.

• Preferred Raptor Protection Practices

RUS will identify preferred protection practices based on effectiveness,

reliability, safety, engineering and economics. It should be noted that different

measures might be necessary depending on the individual situations.

• Transmission Line Assemblies (34.5 kV and 69 kV)

Although most transmission line phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground spacing is

adequate, some 34.5 and 69 kV transmission line assemblies are not raptor

friendly. These transmission assemblies and appropriate mitigation will be

identified.

• Single-Phase Pole Top Design Assemblies

RUS believes its single-phase pole top assemblies are, for the most part, raptor

safe. However, other raptor friendly designs will be identified. In addition,

measures for single-phase poles with equipment will be discussed.

• Multi-Phase Pole Top Design Assemblies

Measures to make three-phase construction will be discussed including lowering

the crossarm and the use of a ten-foot crossarm. The use of anti-perching devices

will also be discussed. RUS continues to believe that its C-1 structure with an

eight-foot crossarm is a relatively safe structure and will continue to evaluate it.

Measures for structures with equipment will also be discussed.

• Covered Conductors

The use of covered conductors, as an alternative to make structures raptor friendly

will be discussed.

• Transformers (Insulated Transformer and Bushing Covers)

The use of insulated transformer and bushing covers will be discussed. RUS

believes that the majority of electrocutions occur on poles with transformers.
4

• Overhead Equipment Assemblies

Suggestions to make other overhead types of equipment raptor friendly will be

included. Also riser poles and other specialty structures such as corner poles will

be discussed. Standardized drawings will be included where feasible.

• Narrow Profile Designs

RUS must approve the use of narrow profile structures. These structures can

increase raptor mortality, even for small raptors due to insufficient phase-to-phase

and phase-to-ground spacing. Standardized drawings for narrow profile structures

will be included. Suggestions for making narrow profile structures which are not

raptor friendly safer will be included.

• Non-Wood Pole Assemblies

The use of steel poles as distribution structures poses an additional concern in

protecting raptors. Because the steel pole itself serves as the ground, the phaseto-ground spacing can serve as a problem for smaller raptors. Raptor friendly

designs will be identified and discussed. RUS must presently approve the use of

steel distribution poles on a case-by-case basis. Guidelines for the approval of the

use of steel distribution poles have been published.

• Manufacture’s List

A list of manufactures that make products to minimize bird electrocutions and

structures raptor friendly will be included.

• Reference Material

Reference material includes reports and videos on raptor protection, collision

moralities and animal-caused outages and where they can be obtained. A video

concerning raptor electrocution was recently developed by several agencies,

including RUS, utilities, consultants and several conservation groups. The video

will be available to the public for a nominal fee.

• Reporting Forms

RUS is currently working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other

groups to develop a new reporting form that could be used consistently

throughout the country.
5

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

DENNIS E. RANKIN

Mr. Rankin received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology and a Master of Science

Degree in Biology from West Virginia University.

He was employed by West Virginia University/Water Resource Research Institute as a

research assistant from 1971 to 1973 working on the effects of acid mine drainage and

thermal pollution. From 1973 to 1977 he was employed by Ecometrics, Inc., as a project

analyst and manager. In 1977 and 1979 he worked as a project manager for the Ohio

River Basin Energy Study and as a private consultant.

Employed by the Rural Electrification Administration since 1979, he has held the

position of Environmental Protection Specialist dealing mainly with electric and

telephone projects in the Western and Southwest areas of the United States. Mr. Rankin

currently holds the position of Environmental Protection Specialist within the

Engineering and Environmental Staff of the Water & Waste Disposal Division in the

Rural Utilities Service.
AVOIDING RAPTOR

ELECTROCUTIONS



	
	







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Agency Seeks Safeguards For

Birds on Power Lines

Electric Utilities Face Federal Sanctions

BACKGROUND

❂ RUS BULLETIN 61-10 : POWERLINE CONTACTS

BY EAGLES AND OTHER LARGE BIRDS

(1972, REVISED 1975 & 1979)

❂ SUGGESTED PRACTICES FOR RAPTOR

PROTECTION (1975)

❂ SUGGESTED PRACTICES FOR RAPTOR

PROTECTION-STATE OF THE ART IN 1981

❂ SUGGESTED PRACTICES FOR RAPTOR

PROTECTION-STATE OF THE ART IN 1996
RUS RAPTOR GUIDELINES

DISTRIBUTION AND

TRANSMISSION LINE

ASSEMBLIES AND MATERIAL

FOR THE MITIGATION OF

ELECTROCUTION OF

RAPTORS

❂ INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE

❂ U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

STATUTES

• ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

• EAGLE PROTECTION ACT

• MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT

RUS RAPTOR GUIDELINES
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT - ESA 16 USC 1540

	



	










	




 	

	





 
	

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❂ RUS REQUIREMENTS

❂ PREFERRED PRACTICES

RUS RAPTOR GUIDELINES
❂ TRANSMISSION LINE ASSEMBLIES

(34.5 kV AND 69 kV)

❂ SINGLE-PHASE - POLE TOP

ASSEMBLIES

❂ MULTI-PHASE - POLE TOP

ASSEMBLIES

RUS RAPTOR GUIDELINES

Crossarm Lowered
Ten-Foot Crossarm

Triangles
❂ COVERED CONDUCTORS

❂ TRANSFORMERS

• INSULATED TRANSFORMER COVERS

• BUSHING COVERS

• INSULATED STINGERS

❂ OVERHEAD EQUIPMENT

ASSEMBLIES

RUS RAPTOR GUIDELINES

Insulated Wires
❂ NARROW PROFILE ASSEMBLIES

❂ NON-WOOD POLE ASSEMBLIES

RUS RAPTOR GUIDELINES
❂ APPENDIX

• MANUFACTURERS’ LIST

• REFERENCE MATERIAL

• REPORTING FORM

RUS RAPTOR GUIDELINES

	

❂ Suggested Practices for Raptor

Protection On Power Lines: State of the

Art in 1996

❂ Mitigating Bird Collisions With Power

Lines: State of the Art in 1994

❂ Animal-Caused Outages

❂ Raptors At Risk