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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 <br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences <br /> PAGE 4-202 <br />strong/moderate to moderate, creating high impacts. Some of these residences have views of the Moxee <br />Valley and Mount Adams, which would be affected by the presence of the route segment (see Appendix <br />C-3: KOP 3). The Project may obstruct the line of sight to Mount Adams (MP 10.2-10.7). <br />High visual impacts on residences would be reduced to moderate impacts in the middleground for <br />approximately 2.5 miles if the existing fire break road was utilized for route segment access and <br />construction because new road grading and clearing would not be necessary, resulting in reduced <br />landscape contrasts. <br />Agency Management Compliance <br />There is no federal land crossed by this route segment. The route segment would comply with the visual <br />standards identified in the Yakima County Comprehensive Plan. The route segment crosses one mile of <br />DNR state trust land. The DNR does not have goals, policies, or standards regarding the management of <br />visual resources. <br />4.8.5.4 Route Segment 2a <br />Visual Contrasts <br />Structure contrast would be strong along this entire route segment as no existing transmission line <br />infrastructure or other substantial development is located within this corridor. Some new road <br />construction would be necessary along this route segment resulting in the removal of grassland or other <br />herbaceous ground cover; therefore, landscape contrasts would be moderate to weak, depending on the <br />slope. Overall, Project contrasts would be strong/moderate and in limited areas, strong. <br />Scenic Quality Impacts and Development Character <br />Scenic quality impacts would be moderate for this route segment, with the vertical H-frame structures and <br />linear features of the conductors would contrast with the simple rolling, undulating, and horizontally <br />flowing lines of the landforms of the Yakima Ridge. <br />Sensitive Viewer Impacts <br />The nearest sensitive viewers are residences located at the east end of Postma Road, who would have <br />middleground views of typically strong-moderate Project contrasts. Residual impacts on viewers would <br />be low. Impacts on residences would typically be moderate and high in a limited area (MP 0.7-0.8) where <br />strong contrasts occur. <br />Agency Management Compliance <br />There are no federal or state lands crossed by this route segment. The route segment would comply with <br />the visual standards identified in the Yakima County Comprehensive Plan. <br />4.8.5.5 Route Segment 2b <br />Visual Contrasts <br />Structure contrast would also be strong along this entire route segment because no existing or related <br />transmission lines currently exist in this corridor. Landscape contrast varies due to the presence of <br />intermittent two-track roads and variable vegetation. New road construction would create visual contrasts <br />in slopes of up to 30 percent and work pad construction would require grading and vegetation removal. <br />Most of this route segment would create strong to strong-moderate visual contrasts. The use of JBLM <br />YTC fire access roads would somewhat reduce visual contrasts by reducing the extent of necessary road <br />construction where the route segment is located adjacent to the base, but on private or BLM-owned land. <br />However, because this route segment is located in the background or seldom seen distance zone for high <br />and moderate sensitivity viewers because the route is located in a Class C landscape and because Project