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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-29 Hairy Bugseed Hairy bugseed is a Washington Sensitive Species. This species is found in Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, most Canadian provinces, and Grant County, Washington (NatureServe 2015). At the regional level, three populations occupying approximately 1,267 acres are known to occur. Threats are not documented but are presumed to be similar to sensitive species in sandy habitats, including OHV use, increased weed invasions, changes in sand deposition, and agricultural conversion. WNHP indicates that hairy bugseed occurrences intersect a 0.6- mile section of Route Segment 3c. These locations include large buffers, so it is difficult to accurately determine whether these occurrences truly intersect the ROW corridor. For the proposed Project, direct and indirect impacts to hairy bugseed are similar to those described above for Nuttall’s sandwort. Nearly all potential habitat on federal and state lands was surveyed, so it is unlikely hairy bugseed occurs within Route Segment 3c. With the implementation of RDFs described above and the assumption that occurrences would 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. Hoover’s Desert-Parsley Refer to Route Segment 3b for information on Hoover’s desert-parsley. WNHP and BLM GeoBOB data indicates that Hoover’s desert-parsley may intersect Route Segment 3c for 2.1 miles. These locations include large buffers; therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine whether these occurrences truly intersect the ROW corridor. Impacts from the proposed Project are similar to those described above for Route Segment 3b. Nearly all potential habitat on federal and state lands was surveyed, so it is unlikely Hoover’s desert-parsley occurs in Route Segment 3c. With the implementation of RDFs described above and the assumption that potential occurrences would 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. 4.2.4.11 Route Segment NNR-2 General Vegetation Route Segment NNR-2 parallels an existing JBLM YTC fire break road, existing roads, and an existing transmission line. Construction of Route Segment NNR-2 would result in long-term disturbance of approximately 8.7 acres of vegetation. Disturbance would occur in 1.0 acre of annual grasses and noxious weeds, 0.4 acre of perennial grassland, 0.3 acre of rabbitbrush annual grassland, 2.4 acres of sagebrush annual grassland, 4.4 acres of sagebrush perennial grassland, and 0.2 acre of trees (Table 4.2-4). Short- term disturbance would occur to approximately 9.2 acres of vegetation. General vegetation impacts are similar to those described above for Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 and Impacts Common for All Route Segments (Section 4.2.3). Disturbance would be minimized by RDFs 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. With the implementation of RDFs, long-term impact levels for Route Segment NNR-2 include 1.5 miles of no identifiable, 2.4 miles of low, and 1.3 miles of moderate impacts. Special Status Species and Priority Ecosystem WNHP data indicate that basalt daisy (Erigeron basalticus), Hoover’s desert-parsley, and pauper milkvetch (Astragalus misellus var. pauper) are known to occur within one mile of Route Segment NNR- 2 (Table 4.2-5). None of these species were documented during the special status plant surveys for Route Segment NNR-2; however, Hoover’s desert-parsley and Pauper milkvetch were documented within the