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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 <br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences <br /> PAGE 4-256 <br />widening access roads; preparing and using pulling and tensioning sites, staging areas, and other <br />temporary use areas; geotechnical drilling; and implementing restoration and re-vegetation measures. <br />Ground disturbance could disturb archaeological sites and TCPs. Architectural resources could also be <br />subject to physical disturbance, but no buildings and structures have been identified in areas of potential <br />ground disturbance for the proposed Project. <br />For construction of overhead transmission line route segments, direct visual impacts could result when <br />single-pole and H-frame structures are installed near visually sensitive TCPs and architectural resources <br />that have retained their integrity of setting. <br />New and improved access along proposed Project route segments may lead to increased vandalism at <br />archaeological sites, architectural resources, and TCPs unless access is otherwise restricted, such as at the <br />Joint Base Lewis-McChord Yakima Training Center (JBLM YTC). <br />For construction of underground transmission line route segments, direct physical impacts could result <br />from ground disturbing activities associated with trenching; grading or widening access roads; staging <br />areas and other temporary use areas; geotechnical drilling; and implementing restoration and re- <br />vegetation measures. Ground disturbance could disturb archaeological sites and TCPs. Architectural <br />resources could also be subject to physical disturbance, but no buildings and structures have been <br />identified in areas of potential ground disturbance for the proposed Project. <br />For construction of underground transmission line route segments, direct visual impacts could result in <br />areas that have been cleared of vegetation, changing the setting of visually sensitive cultural resources <br />nearby. <br />For this analysis, it is assumed that cultural resources within 75 feet of the centerline of a route segment <br />would potentially be subject to both physical and visual impacts. It is assumed that cultural resources <br />more than 75 feet from the centerline could potentially be subject to visual impacts and indirect physical <br />impacts (i.e., vandalism), but not direct physical impacts. Overall, the amount of ground disturbance <br />would likely be much greater for an underground transmission line route segment than for an overhead <br />transmission line route segment. However, the likelihood of there being changes in visual setting would <br />be less for an underground transmission line route segment, in which clearance of vegetation would be the <br />most visible evidence, than for an overhead transmission line route segment, in which there would be <br />cleared right-of-way (ROW) corridor, tall structures, and conductors visible from nearby cultural <br />resources. <br />4.11.2 Impact Levels (High, Moderate, Low, No Identifiable Impact) <br />The impact levels for the cultural resource impact assessment are defined as follows: <br />High - A high level of impact to cultural resources would result if the construction, operation, or <br />maintenance of the proposed Project has the potential to cause a substantial ground disturbance or adverse <br />visual change to known cultural resources that are listed in or eligible for the National Register, to cultural <br />resources that have not been evaluated for National Register eligibility, and on land with a high potential <br />for containing cultural resources that has not been surveyed for cultural resources. <br />Moderate - A moderate impact to cultural resources would result if the construction, operation, or <br />maintenance of the proposed Project would cause ground disturbance or visual changes on land with a <br />moderate potential for containing cultural resources that has not been surveyed for cultural resources.