Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment PAGE 3-176 Source: WSDOT 2014 3.7.2.3 Roads on BLM, Reclamation and JBLM YTC Administered Lands The BLM has jurisdiction over 98,383 acres within Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties. All of the BLM roads are gravel or native material. The primary function of these roads is to provide access for ranching and recreational use activities occurring on BLM lands. BLM roads are categorized into four primary “Maintenance Intensity” levels (low, medium, and high) that allow for removal irrespective of the type of route (road, primitive road, or trail). The Maintenance Intensity Levels are set forth in BLM Road Manual 9113 (BLM 2011b). The BLM changed from “Maintenance Levels” to “Maintenance Intensity” and simplified the standards for consistency across linear features in 2011. The old “Maintenance Levels” definitions addressed both the type of road (road geometry or construction materials) and the level of use; however, they did not provide a clear standard for the actual maintenance level. Maintenance Intensities provide consistent objectives and standards for the care and maintenance of BLM routes based on identified management objectives. Maintenance Intensities are consistent with land-use planning management objectives (e.g., natural, cultural, recreation setting, and visual). Maintenance Intensities provide operational guidance to field personnel on the appropriate intensity, frequency, and type of maintenance activities that should be undertaken to keep the route in acceptable condition and provide guidance for the minimum standards of care for the annual maintenance of a route. Maintenance Intensities do not describe route geometry, route types, types of use, or other physical or managerial characteristics of the route. The Maintenance Intensity Levels are described below. Level 0 • Maintenance Description - Existing routes that will no longer be maintained and that will no longer be declared a route. • Maintenance Objectives - o No planned annual maintenance o Meet identified environmental needs o No preventative maintenance or planned annual maintenance activities Level 1 • Maintenance Description - Routes where minimum (low intensity) maintenance is required in order to protect adjacent lands and resource values. These roads may be impassable for extended periods of time. • Maintenance Objectives - o Low (minimal) maintenance intensity o Emphasis is given to maintaining drainage and runoff patterns, as needed, in order to protect adjacent lands; grading, brushing or slide removal is not performed unless route bed drainage is being adversely affected, resulting in erosion o Meet identified resource management objectives o Perform maintenance as necessary to protect adjacent lands and resource values o No preventative maintenance o Planned maintenance activities limited to environmental and resource protection o Route surface and other physical features are not maintained for regular traffic