To Arizona Utility Employees

23 January 2004

We cordially invite you to attend the second annual Arizona Utility Workshop on Wildlife Protection. The workshop will be held on February 17th and 18th at SRP facilities in Tempe, Arizona.

This meeting is held specifically for utility employees for the purpose of sharing information and approaches on issues involving wildlife protection. Attendance is limited primarily to utility people. Last year’s workshop was attended by personnel from:

APS
Arizona Game and Fish Department
City of Mesa
DVEC (Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative)
Gila Resources
Graham County Electric Cooperative
Liberty Wildlife
Navopache Electric Co-op
NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)
SRP
SSVEC (Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative)
Southwest Transmission Cooperative
TEP (Tucson Electric Power)
TRICO Electric Cooperative
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

This workshop is being organized and supported by APS (Arizona Public Service), Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation, SRP (Salt River Project), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We welcome returning participants as well as first-time attendees from private and public utilities. We extend a special welcome to small companies and cooperatives that wish to explore options for their particular situations and circumstances.

SRP has offered to host this year’s workshop at its meeting facilities in Tempe. SRP’s service area covers 2900 square miles and the company services nearly 800,000 customers in the Salt River Valley. The service area includes both rural and highly urbanized areas. SRP is a leader in environmental issues, including the topic of our workshop, avian protection. The SRP facilities will provide a great venue for the 2004 workshop.

The 2004 meeting addresses new topics and new information. Introductory material for first time attendees or those seeking review will be offered in the morning session on Tuesday. In response to your requests at last year’s workshop, this workshop will focus on equipment solutions for bird-guarding and avian protection. Vendors have been invited to display and discuss equipment. The important components of an avian protection program (APP) and how to initiate an effective program will also be covered. Live bird demonstrations will bring participants into close contact with native species while learning more about them. And finally, workshop participants will work together in an open forum to explore the best ways to deal with the many unique issues faced by Arizona utilities in wildlife protection.

Please RSVP by phone (602) 253-9319 or by e-mail at libertywldl@aol.com (with the subject line AZWORKSHOP). Updates to the enclosed agenda and other workshop information will be available on Liberty Wildlife’s website at www.libertywildlife.org in the Research and Conservation section. We look forward to seeing you at another productive and interesting meeting.

Thank you



James Dawson
Wildlife Scientist
Manager, Research and Conservation

Arizona Utility Workshop on Wildlife Protection
Presented by: APS, Liberty Wildlife, SRP, USFWS
17-18 February 2004
Tempe Arizona

The following is a tentative schedule for the 2004 Workshop. Some changes may be necessary as vendors and speakers finalize their attendance and presentation times. Please check Liberty Wildlife’s website for updates to the schedule.

Session for First Time Attendees -- the first session on the morning of Tuesday the 17th will consist of background information on electrocution issues; relevant laws and regulations, working together in partnerships, and several program overviews.

Returning Participants -- are welcome to attend the Tuesday morning session if they wish to review basic information, or join the workshop after lunch and stay through Wednesday the 18th.

SRP is hosting the workshop at their PERA Club facility in Tempe, Arizona and will be providing breakfast (coffee and pastries) and lunch on both days. When you RSVP please indicate if you will be attending the Tuesday morning session.

RSVP (602) 253-9319 or libertywldl@aol.com. Workshop updates will be available online at www.libertywildlife.org as well as local hotel accommodations.

Click here for a map.

February 17 (Tuesday)

AM Sessions
8:30		Coffee and Pastries
9:00		Opening Remarks
		Working Together - Partnerships in Avian Protection
		USFWS Law Enforcement on Avian Protection
		Program Presentations      The SRP Avian Protection Program      The APS Management Plan      Cooperative Issues
12:15		LUNCH

PM Sessions
1:30		Welcome returning participants
		Key Components of an Effective Avian Protection Program
		Co-op Issues and Perspectives
		USFWS Permits
		The Natural History of Avian Electrocution
		Working Together - Partnerships in Avian Protection
		USFWS Law Enforcement on Avian Protection
5:00		Closing Remarks

February 18 (Wednesday)

AM Sessions
7:30		Coffee and Pastries
8:00		Opening Remarks
		Equipment Discussions and Demonstrations
12:00		LUNCH

PM Sessions
1:15		Live Hawk Demonstration
1:45		Vendors
2:30		Open Discussion Forum      Equipment Issues      Avian Protection Programs
4:30		Meeting Wrap-up/Closing Remarks

Arizona Utility Workshop on Wildlife Protection
Local Hotel Accomodations

SRP has a relationship with a hotel right near the PERA Club - just 1-1/2 miles away on Scottsdale Road. It's a Country Inn & Suites - and the approximate room rate is $89 (although rates may differ depending on availability). If anyone who attends the seminar is interested in staying there - and wants the SRP Corporate rate--please book reservations through SRP’s travel person, Melissa, at (602) 236-2051. Tell her you are attending the SRP sponsored workshop, the Arizona Utility Workshop on Wildlife Protection, when booking.

Other hotel options include Tempe Mission Palms, located directly in the downtown Tempe shopping and restaurant area, as well as those on the list below:

1)
Country Inn & Suites
808 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 858-9898
*To make reservations, call Melissa at SRP (602) 236-2051

2)
Best Western Inn of Tempe
670 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 784-2233

3)
Tempe Mission Palms Hotel
60 E. 5th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 894-1400

4)
Ameri Suites
1413 W. Rio Salado Pkwy
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 804-9544

5)
Quality Inn at ASU-Airport
1375 E. University Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 774-2500

6)
Rodeway Inn Tempe
1550 S. 52nd Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 967-3000

If anyone has questions on the event, they can contact Liberty Wildlife at (602)-253-9319. Please be aware that everyone is responsible for their own transportation.