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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-133 The presence of new transmission line components in this route segment would permanently disrupt active farming operations in nearby areas, by dividing or fragmenting agricultural fields, and disrupting the operation of farm equipment. In some instances, maneuvering harvesting equipment around H-frame or single pole structures may be difficult. The level of difficulty would depend on the type of crop. Row crops that are perpendicular or diagonal to the new transmission line structures, rather than parallel, would be more difficult for large equipment maneuvering, such as field cultivators, combines, or other wide equipment. Equipment operators may have to make additional passes, additional maneuvers or otherwise modify seeding, irrigation or harvesting practices because of structure obstruction. Potential secondary effects include restrictions on nighttime operations (due to the potential for accidents), restrictions on normal crop rotations because of operational considerations, and increased difficulty in leasing fields with new transmission line structures. New transmission line structures would also increase the need for weed and pest control activities around H-frame or single pole structure foundations. Agricultural lands that utilize certain types of irrigation systems may also be impacted by the placement of H-frame or single pole structures on cropland. Aerial spraying (e.g., crop dusting) is used to fertilize crops and control insects, weeds, and diseases that may affect crops in the Study area. Aerial spraying occurs in those areas actively cultivated with field crops. Transmission lines and H-frame or single pole structures present a substantial obstacle to be avoided, and require additional attention from the pilots. In addition, the presence of a new transmission line could affect spray coverage. Spray is applied at a downward angle to reduce over-spray and, as a result, areas immediately adjacent to the new transmission structures could receive less spray than desired. Section 4.16.9 discusses aerial spraying in more detail. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are used in a wide range of activities including several important agricultural activities such as monitoring pivot irrigation, tracking wheeled and equipment movements during farming operations, and checking the orientation of aerial spraying aircraft. Concerns have been expressed about the potential for interference to GPS systems from electrical fields from the new transmission line. Due to the frequencies used by these devices and the modulation and processing techniques used, interference effects with GPS units are unlikely (Silva and Olsen 2002). Section 4.16.8 discusses GPS systems and studies that have been conducted to address whether transmission lines affect GPS systems operation and accuracy. This route segment would potentially disturb 0.3 acre of irrigated agricultural land located north of and along Mieras Road. The wheel line operations in 0.1 acre of irrigated pasture land and 0.2 acre of apple crop operations will be affected in the long-term between MP 9.5 and MP 10.5, causing high impacts for 0.9 mile. A wheel line irrigation system located between MP 9.9 and MP 10.1 would be adversely affected because the route segment runs diagonally across the field, potentially creating impacts if the wheel line needs to be separated and moved around the structures when the irrigation system traverses the field. This would cause additional costs to the land owner. Long-term impacts would occur to 0.2 acre of sprinkler irrigation areas and 0.2 acre of wheel line irrigation. Short-term impacts would total 1.0 acre and 1.1 acre, respectively. Agricultural land along this route segment is not Prime Farmland. Non-irrigated pasture and fallow land would also be affected by this route segment between MP 9.5 and MP 10.2. Long-term dryland agriculture impacts total 1.5 acres and short-term impacts total 0.4 acre for this route segment. This route segment also crosses a short segment of land classified as Farmland of Unique Importance, causing 0.1 acre of long-term disturbance. However, this is non-agricultural land and no farmland conversion would occur.