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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-104 miles of Route Segment 3c (Figure 3.3-4). No active or inactive leks are known to occur within four miles of this proposed route segment; one historic lek occurs within four miles of the route segment (Table 3.3- 5). 3.3.4.11 Route Segment NNR-2 Route Segment NNR-2 is 5.1 miles long and parallels an existing JBLM YTC fire break road, existing roads and an existing transmission line (BPA Ellensburg-Moxee No.1 115 kV). The majority of Route Segment NNR-2 is comprised of annual grasses (3,559 acres, 48 percent), sagebrush/perennial grassland (1,781 acres, 24 percent), and agriculture (1,639, 22 percent); Table 3.3-2). Approximately 20 acres of rabbitbrush/annual grassland is present along the JBLM YTC fire break. The shrublands provide suitable habitat for shrub-steppe and grassland species. Route Segment NNR-2 crosses an irrigation canal operated by Roza Irrigation District and located on JBLM YTC and several un-named intermittent or ephemeral drainages. This route segment also crosses one wetland which is bisected by JBLM YTC’s 7th Avenue. This wetland is highly disturbed but does contain some forested riparian habitat. Within Route Segment NNR-2, black-tailed jackrabbit have been documented near the JBLM YTC cantonment area. The Selah Creek cliffs contain a high concentration of raptors, including golden eagle and prairie falcon. The pallid bat has been detected along Selah Creek within one mile of Route Segment NNR-2. A burrowing owl nest, active in the 1990s, occurs approximately 0.7 mile east of Route Segment NNR-2 and near the JBLM YTC cantonment area. The East Selah Wetlands, located southwest of Route Segment NNR-2 are used by waterfowl. The entire route segment ROW is within Sage-Grouse MUs defined as Regularly Occupied Habitat (Table 3.3-8). Approximately one mile of the route segment is adjacent to the area set aside by JBLM YTC as a primary protection zone for Sage-Grouse. The eight-mile wide Sage-Grouse analysis area also includes additional JBLM YTC primary protection zones for Sage-Grouse. The eight-mile-wide Route Segment NNR-2 analysis area contains 11,168 acres of suitable Sage-Grouse habitat (22 percent of the analysis area), 1,392 acres of marginal habitat (three percent), and 38,442 acres of unsuitable habitat (75 percent; Table 3.3-9). The estimated Sage-Grouse population range does not overlap the Route Segment NNR-2 ROW. Approximately five percent (9,140 acres) of the JBLM YTC 95 percent population range is within four miles of Route Segment NNR-2 (Figure 3.3-4). The core population range does not overlap the analysis area (Figure 3.3-4). Route Segment NNR-2 was not surveyed during ground transect Sage-Grouse surveys in 2013 due to lack of suitable habitat within the ROW. One active lek (Lek #1) is known to occur within four miles of Route Segment NNR-2 (Table 3.3-5). Lek #1 is located approximately 3.7 miles northeast of Route Segment NNR-2. As it is slightly closer to Route Segment NNR-3, Lek #1 is described in more detail for Route Segment NNR-3. Additionally, two historic leks occur between three and four miles east of Route Segment NNR-2. 3.3.4.12 Route Segment NNR-3 Route Segment NNR-3 is 9.3 miles long and more or less parallels I-82. The interstate is within two miles of the route segment for its entire length and separates the segment from the core areas of the YTC Sage- Grouse population. Route Segment NNR-3 crosses Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), BLM and private land. The DNR’s Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve (NAP), which provides opportunities for wildflower and wildlife watching, and scenic viewing, is located just west of Route Segment NNR-3 along Selah Creek. Refer to Section 3-5 - Recreation for more information on the Selah Cliffs NAP. Vegetation for Route Segment NNR-3 consists primarily of annual grasses (6,104 acres, 44 percent) and sagebrush with a perennial grass understory (6,985 acres, 50 percent; Table 3.3-2). Sagebrush shrublands provide suitable habitat for shrub-steppe and grassland species.