Understanding environmental impacts
Environmental protection is important to us all. At ATC, we recognize that our infrastructure impacts the environment, the landscape and land use. Guided by our environmental policy and our environmental management system, we strive to reduce the impact that construction, operation, and maintenance of our facilities has on the environment. We look for opportunities to apply innovative practices and new technologies that build on our commitment to the environment.

Partnerships for the environment
Partnerships with environmental stakeholders are important to us -- before, during, and long after a project is completed. Through ongoing partnerships, we are able to identify broad issues of mutual concern and work collaboratively to achieve results. As we work together, we gain an understanding of the goals and motivations of the individuals and organizations. Building trust, respect, and understanding in working together transfers to project-specific issues. We believe that identifying issues and developing resolutions within diverse teams results in better solutions in the form of environmental and land-use compatibility and a more acceptable project or initiative. The stakeholders are you: as an individual, an organization, a governmental body, a Native American Tribe, or a resource agency.
Environmental protection built into construction practices
Throughout the planning, route selection, and construction phases of a transmission project, and with the help from our environmental management system we identify and look for solutions to potential environmental impacts. Early in a project, we will collaborate with regulatory agencies, landowners, communities, and other stakeholders who may be affected by our projects to understand possible concerns. We believe the involvement of a diverse group early on results in a more thoughtful and acceptable project that has consideration for environmental avoidance and protection. Balancing our responsibility to improve electric system reliability with our environmental responsibilities in planning and construction is critical. We have developed practices that provide guidance for our construction work: avoidance, protection, and restoration.