20220233 SSUUSTSTAAINAINABBILITILITY REY REPPORORTT Protecting snakes – and people – A creative solution minimizes After a thorough review, the prototype was approved. in the Nevada mountains waste and creates animal habitat It turned out, the prototype materials are better for the owls than the materials in initial plans. The prototype Message from Management In a mountainous region of Nevada, venomous snakes The Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. team on the Salton was made of concrete and those material properties are often spotted on a large solar project site. Some of Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project found a are better suited for temperature regulation and 1. Overview the measures implemented by the team in coordination creative reuse for excess electrical pull boxes that breathability than the wood or plastic which were with the client and third-party consultants to protect would have otherwise gone to a landfill. part of the initial habitat plans. About Kiewit workers and snakes include: Sustainability at Kiewit The boxes, which were either surplus or damaged, The project team built one extra artificial habitat, ■ Everyone on the job wears snake chaps as a were used to create artificial burrowing owl habitat which will be used as an educational piece during Our Projects barrier to keep snake fangs from penetrating skin installed on site. The burrowing owl is native to the community engagement events. in the event of a bite. region where the project is located. Some habitat had 2. Governance to be disrupted during the project, but a commitment ■ The phrase “Kick it before pick it” reminds workers Corporate Governance to check for rattle snakes prior to picking up solar was made to create two artificial habitats for every one Supply Chain panels. The vibration from a quick kick can stir that was displaced. up the snakes and alert workers of their presence. A field engineer noticed the electrical pull boxes on site 3. Environmental ■ Environmental awareness and compliance is one day and had the idea to use one for a prototype for Environmental Stewardship reviewed during onboarding for sta昀昀, craft the artificial burrowing owl habitat. First, a hole was cut Greenhouse Gases & and subcontractors. into each side of the pull box. Next, pipe left from the Energy Consumption project’s dewatering operations were connected to use as tunnels to access the habitat inside the boxes. Gap 4. Social filler foam was used to fill in cracking that had made the pull boxes defective for their original intended use. Health & Safety A new fiberglass lid was installed to allow access to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion habitat for maintenance as needed. Talent & Workforce Development The next step was to review the prototype with Community Engagement project partners. That include the ornithologist – a person who studies Appendix or is an expert on birds – who works for the subcontractor overseeing biological monitoring and permit compliance, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is responsible for maintaining the habitat when the project is complete. 3434