The Verdantas Team (as Flatwoods Consulting, Inc.) assisted Tampa Electric Company (TECO) by conducting ecological surveys adjacent to the existing Pebbledale Substation site in Polk County, Florida. Our team delineated the jurisdictional limits of wetlands on the Pebbledale Substation Reactor site. The wetland determination was conducted in accordance with The Florida Wetlands Delineation Manual (Chapter 62-340, F.A.C.) suitable for submittal to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and in accordance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 1987 Wetlands Delineation Manual, 2010 Supplement. Wetland boundaries were collected using a Global Positioning System (GPS) with sub-meter accuracy.

In addition to the wetland delineation, Verdantas conducted a survey for species considered Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under 50 CFR 11-12 and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under Chapter 68A-27 F.A.C. All surveys were conducted in accordance with the FWC Florida Wildlife Conservation Guide. We also documented any nesting on (stick nest) or nesting in (cavity nest) any of the trees, snags, or poles on the site including southeastern American kestrel (Falco sparverius paulus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and osprey (Pandion haliaetus) that may have nested within the project limits. Finally, a report was prepared and delivered to TECO with our findings.