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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-263 4.11.4.8 Route Segment 3a Route Segment 3a is a very short route segment (only 0.1 mile long) that would connect to the existing Vantage Substation. The area surrounding the Vantage Substation and near Wanapum Dam has been extensively investigated by archaeologists and there are over 150 previously recorded cultural resources within one mile of Route Segment 3a. Physical Impacts Short-term and long-term ground disturbance along this route segment would total 1.2 acres. All of the land within 75 feet of the centerline of Route Segment 3a has been surveyed for cultural resources. Two archaeological resources and one architectural resource, the Vantage Substation, have been previously recorded. The substation has been determined eligible to the National Register, but the tie-in of a new transmission line would not have an impact on this existing facility. Of the two archaeological sites, both prehistoric lithic scatters, one has been determined not eligible to the National Register and one is unevaluated. Therefore, physical impacts of Route Segment 3a would potentially be high only at the unevaluated archaeological site. The remainder of the route segment would have low physical impacts. Visual Impacts All of the land within 250 feet of the centerline of Route Segment 3a has been surveyed for cultural resources. In addition to the two archaeological resources mentioned above, the Vantage Substation, the Midway to Vantage No. 1 Transmission Line, and the Vantage to Columbia No. 1 Transmission Line have been recorded as cultural resources in this area. All three of these architectural resources have been determined eligible to the National Register by the Washington DAHP, but none of them would be visually impacted by the presence of this new transmission line route segment. The one unevaluated archaeological site in the vicinity does not have characteristics that would make it sensitive to changes in visual setting. Therefore, visual impacts of Route Segment 3a on cultural resources would be low. Native American Concerns The YNCRP has not identified any resources of special concern along Route Segment 3a (Lally and Camuso 2011). Impacts are expected to be low. 4.11.4.9 Route Segment 3b Route Segment 3b is 21.7 miles long and for most of its distance runs along the abandoned railroad ROW corridor next to or near (west of) the Columbia River. Much of the land within one mile and west of the route segment centerline is on JBLM YTC. The proportion of land surveyed for cultural resources is higher than most other segments, but it is still relatively small. Even without intensive surveys, there have been hundreds of cultural resources identified over the years within one mile of this route segment centerline, especially near the river. These include lithic scatters, village sites, burials, rock shelters, rock features of various sizes and shapes, petroglyphs and pictographs as well as many historic sites. Far fewer cultural resources have been recorded in the higher, more rugged terrain on JBLM YTC within one mile of the route segment centerline, with more than half being lithic scatters. Physical Impacts Short-term and long-term ground disturbance along this route segment would total 107.9 acres. In all, 12 percent of the land within 75 feet of the centerline of Route Segment 3b has been surveyed by archaeologists and cultural resources have also been recorded in locations not subject to intensive survey. There are 44 known archaeological resources within 75 feet of the route segment centerline. These include a prehistoric archaeological district; prehistoric lithic scatters, cairns and rock features,