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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-162 are not expected (see Section 4.11 - Cultural Resources). Hydrology and geological impacts will be low in this area of the route segment. 4.6.4.11 Route Segment NNR-2 Low impacts for 5.0 miles on the Yakima Hills IBA will occur as a result of the Project because there are no specific management requirements in place as part of the IBA status on JBLM YTC. JBLM YTC is recognized as an IBA based on the presence of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Approximately 3.7 miles of the 5.0 mile route segment crosses the highly developed cantonment area of JBLM YTC that does not provide Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. The general goal of the IBA program is to identify the most essential areas for birds, monitor those sites for changes to birds and habitat, and work with land owners and managers to conserve these areas for long-term protection. The construction, operation, and maintenance of the transmission line would generally not conflict with this goal. However, specific biological impacts to Greater Sage-Grouse are detailed in Section 4.3 - Wildlife and Special Status Wildlife Species. 4.6.4.12 Route Segment NNR-3 This Route Segment crosses the established and proposed expansion area of the Yakima River Cliffs and Umtanum Ridge ACECs. The established and proposed areas occupied by the ACEC possess qualities that make it special with regards to vegetation resources (basalt daisy [Erigeron basalticus], Hoover’s desert-parsley [Lomatium tuberosum], and pauper milkvetch [Astragalus misellus var. pauper]). Moderate impacts to these values and the ACEC would occur in the short-term due to potential relocation of plants that cannot be avoided during the construction of the Project. With the implementation of RDFs and the assumption that potential occurrences would be spanned and avoided, Project construction, operation, and maintenance activities could cause some change or stress to plant populations, but will not contribute a trend toward a change in agency (BLM or state) listing status. Therefore, short-term effects on these values may occur to established or proposed ACECs, causing moderate or low impacts, respectively. Approximately 0.7 mile of this route segment crosses lands recognized by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as an “environmental management buffer” managed primarily by WSDOT for the protection of basalt daisy. No specific goals, objectives, standards, and policies are in place for the management of this or any other resource, but the area has recognized value for habitat (WSDOT 2014). As required by WSDOT, preconstruction surveys will occur to protect the resource and RDFs will be implemented as part of the Project. These RDFs include: minimize disturbance to vegetation; minimizing the blading of native plant communities during construction, operation, and maintenance consistent with safe construction practices; utilizing existing public roads to the extent possible; and reseeding disturbed areas with certified weed-free native or other acceptable species as approved by the appropriate land management agency. Refer to Chapter 2, Section 2.3 for a complete list and description of RDFs. Because of the implementation of these RDFs and because the environmental management buffer is a non- regulatory designation with no specific management policies, impacts on the area will be low. 4.6.4.13 Route Segment NNR-4o/4u No identified impacts will occur along the private and WSDOT managed portion of this route segment. Low impacts would occur on the Yakima Hills IBA as a result of the Project because there are no specific management requirements in place as part of the IBA status on JBLM YTC. The construction, operation, and maintenance of either the Overhead Design Option or the Underground Design Option of the transmission line would generally not conflict with the goals of the IBA program. However, specific biological impacts to Greater Sage-Grouse will occur as a result of the implantation of either Design Option and are detailed in Section 4.3 - Wildlife and Special Status Wildlife Species. 4.6.4.14 Route Segment NNR-5 There are no SMAs associated with Route Segment NNR-5 and no impacts would occur.