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 4-207 Sensitive Viewer Impacts Residences would view strong-moderate and moderate Project contrasts in the immediate foreground along the Wahluke slope agricultural area, typically causing high impacts (MP 5.6-6.0, 10.0-10.6, and 12.6-13.5). Some views of the route segment would be seen in the context of the existing Midway- Vantage/Shultz-Wautoma transmission line corridor in the middleground, and impacts would be low. Immediate foreground views would also occur northeast of Beverly (MP 22.4-22.9 and 23.3-24.0) causing high impacts. Immediate foreground and foreground views of strong contrasts would also occur from recreationists using the Columbia River corridor, causing high impacts. Motorists using SR-243 would also view the route segment for a short duration as it parallels and crosses the highway at MP 3.9. Impacts of the line on these viewers would be moderate to low to the north of the highway because the route segment would be viewed in the context of the Priest Rapids-Midway transmission line corridor. High impacts would occur south of the highway because the route segment, including the steel lattice river crossing structures, would be viewed against the Columbia River and Umtanum Ridge basalt cliffs (see Appendix C-4, KOP 5). The route segment crosses the Milwaukee Road Corridor (see Appendix C-3: KOP 9) at MP 21.3-21.4 causing high impacts. The route segment would also be in the middleground of recreationists using the Burkett Lake Recreation Area (see Appendix C-3: KOP 8), causing high impacts. The route segment would also be in the middleground view of the Saddle Mountains Hang Gliding Launch Area, where the route segment would be seen in the valley over 1,800 feet below causing moderate impacts. The route segment would also parallel and cross 24 SW Road west of Mattawa, causing high impacts for 0.9 mile (MP 11.1-12.0) and cross Lower Crab Creek Road at MP 21.1-21.2 causing high impacts. Moderate impacts would occur where the route segment crosses Beverly-Burke Road as it parallels the Hanford-Vantage No. 1 corridor. Moderate impacts would occur for a short distance where the route segment would be viewed from the Saddle Mountains Recreation Destination Route (R Road Extension), but typically would be low. Views from this road are typically from the inferior position and the route segment would be seen in the context of the existing Hanford-Vantage No. 1 500 kV corridor. On the north end of this road, views are more sensitive as it enters the high elevations of the Saddle Mountains Management Area. Impacts would be high for a short distance where the route segment is skylined and also crosses the road. Contrasts as seen from KOP 7, however, would generally be moderate because of the context of the existing transmission line and distribution infrastructure as seen from this vantage point (see Appendix C-4, KOP 7). Agency Management Compliance BLM Interim VRM Class III lands are crossed between MP 14.3 and MP 16.2, and MP 17.0-19.6. Project contrasts would be strong and strong-moderate for 1.4 miles of the 4.5 mile Interim VRM Class III crossing (MP 14.3-14.5, 16.0-16.1, 17.7-17.9, and 18.7-19.6). As seen from KOP 7, the route segment would be in compliance with the Interim VRM Class III designation because strong to strong-moderate contrasts are seen in the immediate foreground to background distance zone would be mitigated (see below) and because the route segment would be seen in the context of the existing Hanford-Vantage No. 1 500 kV transmission line and distribution transmission facilities servicing the communication infrastructure located on the Saddle Mountains. The route segment would also comply with the visual standards identified in the Grant County Comprehensive Plan, Grant County Public Utility District (PUD) 2010 Final Shoreline Management Plan and Benton County Comprehensive Land Use Plan.