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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-23 known occupied habitat of Columbia milkvetch in the region. WNHP and BLM Geographic Biotic Observations (GeoBOB) data indicate that this species occurs along an additional 1.4-mile section of Route Segment 2d. These locations include large buffers, so it is difficult to accurately determine whether these occurrences truly intersect the ROW corridor. All potential habitat on federal and state lands was surveyed, so it is unlikely Columbia milkvetch occurs elsewhere in Route Segment 2d. In addition, it was assumed that this occurrence will be spanned and construction activities would avoid this occurrence. Direct and indirect impacts and RDFs that would be implemented to minimize impacts to occurrences Columbia milkvetch are similar to those described above for Route Segment 2b. With the implementation of RDFs described above and the assumption that this occurrence will be spanned and avoided, Project construction, operation, and maintenance activities could impact individuals or habitat (moderate impact), but would not contribute a trend toward federal listing. 4.2.4.8 Route Segment 3a General Vegetation Long-term disturbance to approximately 1.2 acres of land would occur through the construction of Route Segment 3a and would be entirely in sagebrush/perennial grasslands (1.2 acre; Table 4.2-4). No short- term disturbance to vegetation is anticipated. Impacts are similar to those described above for Route Segment 1a/NNR-1. Disturbance would be minimized by RDFs described above that are designed to reduce impacts to vegetation resources. RDFs include using existing public roads to access structure sites, minimizing blading and disturbance to plant communities, revegetating following construction, and implementing a Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Management Plan. Refer to Section 2.3 - Required Design Features Common to Action Alternatives for a complete list and description of RDFs. Impacts for Route Segment 3a are anticipated to be moderate for the total length (0.2 mile). Special Status Species and Priority Habitats No special status plant species or WNHP priority ecosystems are known to occur along Route Segment 3a (Table 4.2-5). Annual sandwort (Minuartia pusilla var. pusilla), beaked spike-rush, Geyer’s milkvetch (Astragalus geyeri), gray cryptantha, and Great Basin gilia (Aliciella leptomeria) occur within one mile of Route Segment 3a. The entirety of this route segment is comprised of non-federal land (3.3 acres) and was not surveyed (Table 3.2-3). As land within the route segment corridors was not surveyed, impacts could occur to special status plant species. Long-term disturbance would occur to 0.1 acre potential suitable habitat for special status plants. RDFs described above for Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 would also be implemented during construction and maintenance of Route Segment 3a to minimize impacts to special status plants. With the implementation of RDFs, impacts to special status plant species and potential suitable habitat are anticipated to include 0.2 mile of moderate impacts. 4.2.4.9 Route Segment 3b General Vegetation Long-term disturbance to approximately 28.9 acres of land would occur through the construction of Route Segment 3b (Table 4.2-4). Over three-quarters of the disturbance would occur in areas classified as sagebrush/perennial grassland (25.3 acres). The remaining disturbance would occur in annual (0.4 acre) and perennial (0.7 acre) grasslands, rabbitbrush/annual grassland (0.3 acre), sagebrush/annual grassland (0.4 acre), riparian/wetland (0.4 acre), trees (1.2 acres), and rock/basalt cliff (0.2 acre) cover types. Short- term disturbance would occur to approximately 13.1 acres of vegetation. General vegetation impacts are similar to those described above for Route Segment 1a/NNR-1. Disturbance would be minimized by RDFs described above that are designed to reduce impacts to vegetation resources. RDFs include using