Environmental Commitment - Biological and Archaeological Resources Protection
Environmental Policies and Commitments
SCE believes that a sound environment makes the regions in which we operate better places to live and work. Accordingly, the company is committed to preserving and protecting the environment for the benefit of its neighbors, customers, employees and future generations. This commitment encompasses full compliance with environmental laws, integration of sound environmental practices into SCE’s operations, and a pledge of environmental stewardship in the communities where the company does business.
As part of SCE’s effort to ensure environmental compliance and stewardship, SCE employs archaeologists and biologists to identify and manage protected archaeological and biological resources within its 50,000 square mile territory. SCE archaeologists and biologists help ensure that SCE’s activities are legally compliant and the Company fulfills its commitment to minimize its environmental footprint.
What are protected biological resources?
Biological resources include all living organisms. Many protected biological resources occur in Southern California Edison’s territory, such as California condor, desert tortoise, Mohave ground squirrel, Delhi Sands flower-loving fly and California jewel flower. SCE biologists examine the entire ecosystem from the habitat level down to individual species in order to determine what occurs in an area and work with field crews and project managers on how best to develop work and project plans to avoid impacting these protected resources.
What are archaeological resources?
In this context, the term archaeological resources is used flexibly to include archaeological sites, historic buildings and other structures, and Native American sacred sites or historic landscapes. They are places of human activity representing a particular time period, association, event, or style. SCE archaeologists review company activities to identify archaeological resources within project areas, apply state and federal criteria to evaluate resource significance, determine potential project effects, and develop measures to avoid impacts.
The Biological and Archaeological Resources Group is active in the professional scientific community. We work closely with federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions and private industry consulting firms. SCE archaeologists and biologists are also involved in public outreach and volunteering.