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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-30 ROW for Route Segment NNR-3 and are discussed in more detail for that route segment. Basalt daisy is known to occur within one mile of Route Segment NNR-2, where Route Segment NNR-3 crosses the Selah Creek Canyon. No known WNHP priority ecosystems would be disturbed through construction of Route Segment NNR-2. Approximately 88 percent (79.7 acres) of federal lands within this route segment were surveyed for special status plants (Table 3.2-3). As not all land within the route segment corridor was surveyed, impacts could occur to special status plant species. Long-term disturbance would occur to potential habitat for special status plants, including 0.7 acre of suitable, 1.8 acres of marginal and 1.4 acres unsuitable habitat (Table 4.2-5). RDFs described above for Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 would also be implemented during construction and maintenance of Route Segment NNR-2 to minimize impacts to special status. With the implementation of RDFs, impacts to special status plant species and potential suitable habitat are anticipated to include 1.5 miles of no identifiable impacts, 2.4 miles of low impacts, and 1.3 miles of moderate impacts. 4.2.4.12 Route Segment NNR-3 General Vegetation Long-term disturbance to approximately 45.3 acres of land (Table 4.2-4) would occur with the construction of Route Segment NNR-3. The majority, 39.8 acres, would occur in areas classified as sagebrush/perennial grassland. Construction would also result in the long-term disturbance of 0.2 acre of annual grassland and noxious weeds, 2.9 acres of perennial grassland, 0.4 acre of rock/basalt cliff, and 2.0 acres sagebrush annual grassland. Approximately 6.7 acres of vegetation would be temporarily disturbed. 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 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. Impact levels for Route Segment NNR-3 include 0.1 mile of no identifiable impacts, 2.2 miles of low, and 7.0 miles of moderate impacts. Special Status Species and Priority Ecosystem Approximately 0.9 mile of Route Segment NNR-3 would pass through the western edge of the BLM Yakima River Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which was designated for the preservation of basalt daisy and Hoover’s desert-parsley (BLM 1992b). No federally listed special status plant species or priority ecosystems are known to occur along Route Segment NNR-3 (Table 4.2-5). WNHP data indicate that Hoover’s tauschia is known to occur along Route Segment NNR-3. Special status plant surveys conducted for the proposed Project documented Hoover’s desert-parsley, pauper milkvetch, and snowball cactus within Route Segment NNR-3. In addition, WNHP data indicate that basalt daisy and Hoover’s tauschia occurrences intersect Route Segment NNR-3. Approximately 43 percent (33.6 acres) of federal lands within this route segment were surveyed for special status plants (Table 3.2-3). As not all land within the route segment corridors was surveyed, impacts could occur to special status plant species. Long-term disturbance would occur to potential habitat for special status plants, including 13.6 acres of suitable and 3.6 acres of marginal habitat. RDFs described above for Route Segment 1a/NNR-1 would also be implemented during construction and maintenance of Route Segment NNR-3 to minimize impacts to special status.