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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3 <br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment <br /> PAGE 3-207 <br />3.8.4.7 Route Segment 2d <br />Route Segment 2d crosses undeveloped Class B and Class C landscapes along Cold Creek, Yakima <br />Ridge, and Umtanum Ridge. The closest potential sensitive viewers are located on the north and the south <br />end of the route segment. The route segment would potentially be viewed in the middleground viewing <br />condition from SR-24 travelers on the south end of the route. On the north end of the route, dispersed <br />Columbia River users would view the route segment in the immediate foreground and foreground <br />distance zone. Also, SR-243 travelers would potentially view the route segment in the background <br />distance zone. The route segment would also cross a short segment of Class III Interim VRM across BLM <br />lands. <br />3.8.4.8 Route Segment 3a <br />Route Segment 3a is a very short segment located in the context of the existing Vantage Substation with <br />associated dominant Industrial/Utility Development Character Area. Beverly-Burke Road travelers and <br />nearby residences would potentially view the route segment in the middleground distance zone. <br />3.8.4.9 Route Segment 3b <br />This route segment crosses the Columbia River just south of the Wanapum Dam in an Industrial/Utility <br />Development Character Area adjacent to four other transmission lines of various voltages (230 kV to 500 <br />kV). The route segment also follows Huntington Road and the abandoned C, M, SP, & P Railroad on the <br />west side of the Columbia River in agricultural and undeveloped Class B Scenic Quality landscapes. <br />Sensitive viewers associated with this route segment include recreationists using the John Wayne Pioneer <br />Trail and associated facilities who would view the route segment in the immediate foreground, as well as <br />Huntzinger Road travelers and residences associated with Wanapum Village (see KOP 11-Wanapum <br />Village), the Auvil Fruit Company, and Desert Aire Community located on the east side of the river. The <br />Auvil residential area would view the route segment in the immediate foreground distance zone. The <br />route segment would also be potentially viewed in the background by recreationists using the Huntzinger <br />Boat Launch, Priest Rapids Recreation Trail, Desert Air Dock, Priest Rapids Dock, and dispersed users of <br />Priest Rapids Reservoir-Columbia River. South of the Priest Rapids Dam, residences in the Priest Rapids <br />Community would also view the route segment in the immediate foreground. Travelers using SR-243 <br />would also potentially view the route segment in the background distance zone. The route segment would <br />also cross a short segment of Class III Interim VRM across BLM lands adjacent to the John Wayne <br />Pioneer Trail. <br />3.8.4.10 Route Segment 3c <br />Route Segment 3c would cross Class C and Class B scenic quality landscape and landscapes dominated <br />by agricultural development. Class C landscapes are located in and around the Saddle Mountains area and <br />Class B scenic quality landscapes are located on the north side of the Saddle Mountains and along the <br />Lower Crab Creek corridor. Agricultural Development Character areas are associated primarily with the <br />Wahluke Slope area of Grant County. Residential Development Character Areas are crossed northeast of <br />Beverly and in isolated areas of the Wahluke Slope. Existing utility development occurs near the <br />Columbia River crossing, in the Saddle Mountains MA, and north of Beverly. Immediate foreground <br />views would potentially occur from Columbia River corridor users; SR-243 travelers (see KOP 5 - SR <br />243); several residences located in the Wahluke Slope area and north of Beverly; Road 24 SW and Road <br />O NW travelers (see KOP 6 - SW Road); Saddle Mountains MA and Access route users (see KOP 7 - <br />Saddle Mountain OHV Access Route); the private Saddle Mountain hang-gliding launch site; Beverly <br />Sand Dunes Recreation Area; and the Milwaukee Trail/Crab Creek Road corridor (see KOP 9 - <br />Milwaukee Road Corridor). Other foreground or middleground potential views occur from the Burkett <br />Lake-Crab Creek Corridor recreation area (see KOP 8 - Burkett Lake Recreation Area); Wanapum <br />Village; Beverly (see KOP 10 - Beverly); and Nunnally Lake Fishing Area. The route segment would also <br />cross a short segment of Class III Interim VRM across BLM lands in the Saddle Mountains.