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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 <br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences <br /> PAGE 4-215 <br />Scenic Quality Impacts and Development Character <br />Overhead Design Option <br />Scenic quality in the area of Route Segment NNR-6o is influenced by the presence of the existing <br />Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV transmission line. Because Project contrasts are typically weak to moderate- <br />weak, scenic quality impacts would be moderate to low. <br />Underground Design Option <br />As with the Overhead Design Option, scenic quality in the area of Route Segment NNR-6u is influenced <br />by the presence of the existing Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV transmission line. However, because of the <br />presence of the overhead to underground transition stations and potentially large areas of cut and fill, low <br />to moderate scenic quality impacts would result from the route segment. <br />Sensitive Viewer Impacts <br />Overhead Design Option <br />Sensitive viewers, residences and John Wayne Pioneer Trail users, would typically see Project contrasts <br />in the seldom seen or background distance zone. On the west end of the route segment, the route segment <br />would be seen in the middleground by residences and on the east end in the middleground by John Wayne <br />Pioneer Trail users. Therefore, route segment impacts on sensitive viewers would be low. <br />Underground Design Option <br />As with the Overhead Design Option, sensitive viewers would typically see Project contrasts in the <br />seldom seen or background distance zone. Because the landscape contrasts would be greater for the <br />Underground Design Option (Route Segment NNR-6u) in steep terrain on the west end of the route <br />segment and ROW cut areas would be seen axially from residences, slightly higher impacts would result <br />as compared to the Overhead Design Option. High impacts on John Wayne Pioneer Trail users in the area <br />of the overhead to underground transition station would occur. <br />Agency Management Compliance <br />Overhead Design Option <br />Route Segment NNR-6o crosses land managed by JBLM YTC, who has no policies related to the <br />management of visual resources. <br />Underground Design Option <br />Route Segment NNR-6u crosses land managed by JBLM YTC, who has no policies related to the <br />management of visual resources. <br />4.8.5.16 Route Segment NNR-7 <br />Visual Contrasts <br />The western portion of Route Segment NNR-7 parallels the existing Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV; the <br />eastern portion parallels the existing Pomona-Wanapum 230 kV, Wanapum-Wind Ridge 230 kV, <br />Vantage-Schultz No.1 500 kV, and Schultz-Wautoma No.1 500 kV transmission lines. As a result, <br />structure contrast for Route Segment NNR-7 would be weak. Similar terrain and vegetation are crossed, <br />as well, resulting in typically weak landscape contrasts; some moderate landscape contrast would occur in <br />steeper areas dominated by Group 3 vegetation. Overall, Project contrasts would be weak along the entire <br />route segment.