Vantage to Pomona FEIS Index 34 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-204 of strong contrasts would also occur, also cause moderate impacts. High impacts on residences would occur where strong contrasts are seen in the middleground. Impacts would otherwise typically be low on residences. Motorists using SR-24 would view the route segment in the foreground where weak Project contrasts would occur causing low impacts. Some of this route segment also would cause moderate impacts on motorists where they would view strong and strong-moderate contrasts in the background. Agency Management Compliance There are no federal or state lands crossed by this route segment. The route segment would comply with the visual standards identified in the Yakima County Comprehensive Plan. 4.8.5.7 Route Segment 2d Visual Contrasts Structure contrast would be strong along this entire route segment. Landscape contrast is generally strong to moderate due to the extent of access road construction and necessary sagebrush/rabbitbrush vegetation removal. Some areas would be accessible via overland travel and, therefore, no landscape contrasts would occur. Structure contrasts would remain, however. Typically, Project contrasts would be strong or strong- moderate. Helicopter placement of transmission line structures between MP 6.6 and 7.0 would reduce landscape contrasts by eliminating need for road construction and associated clearing and grading activities. Scenic Quality Impacts and Development Character Scenic quality impacts would be moderate to high. High impacts would occur in areas of Class B scenery and strong Project impacts, consisting of most of the route segment from MP 2.9 to 7.0. Moderate to low scenic quality impacts would occur from MP 0.0 to 2.9 in a Class C landscape. Sensitive Viewer Impacts Visibility of the route segment from the moderate sensitivity SR-24 corridor and high sensitivity residential viewpoints would be in the background or seldom seen distance zones, where strong contrasts would cause moderate and low impacts. As seen from the Columbia River recreation corridor and SR-243, the route segment would be skylined as it descends from the Umtanum Ridge (MP 6.14-6.2). The route segment would result in moderate impacts in this area. Agency Management Compliance BLM Interim VRM Class III lands are crossed between MP 1.0 and MP 2.0. Project contrasts would be strong to strong-moderate because of structures contrasts and access road improvements (Access Level 2) in areas with Group 3 vegetation cover. The route segment would be compliant with the Interim Class III from residences north of SR-24, the nearest viewpoint, because strong to strong-moderate contrasts are seen in the background or seldom-seen distance zone. The route segment is in the seldom seen and background distance zone from the nearest KOP (KOP 6) causing low impacts. The route segment would comply with the visual standards identified in the Yakima County Comprehensive Plan and Benton County Comprehensive Land Use Plan.