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Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 4 230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Environmental Consequences PAGE 4-264 pictographs, rockshelters, and talus pits; and historic trash scatters, the Hanford Grade of the C, M, SP, & P Railroad, railroad camps, irrigation features, and the remains of a ranch. Some of the prehistoric sites may also qualify as TCPs, including the archaeological district. There are no architectural resources within 75 feet of Route Segment 3b. There would be no direct physical impacts to architectural resources. Many of the archaeological sites have been vandalized in the past. Construction of the proposed transmission line along Route Segment 3b would require improvements along the former railroad grade to allow access by construction equipment, because access by land is currently very limited. Construction of Route Segment 3b could lead to increased public access to the area and vandalism of archaeological sites. Because of the density of archaeological sites, the potential for direct and indirect physical impacts on cultural resources by Route Segment 3b is high. Visual Impacts Approximately 13 percent of the land within 250 feet of the centerline of Route Segment 3b has been previously surveyed by archaeologists. Eighty archaeological resources, including the 44 resources mentioned above, are within 250 feet of the centerline of Route Segment 3b. There is one architectural resource within the 250 feet of Route Segment 3b, the Midway to Vantage No. 1 Transmission Line, which would not be visually impacted by the presence of another transmission line. Many of the archaeological sites near the Columbia River contain the kinds of features (e.g., petroglyphs, burials, talus pits, rock features) that can be considered potentially sensitive to changes in the visual setting. The sites located farther up the hills and farther from the Columbia River tend to be smaller and less diverse; nearly half of them are prehistoric lithic scatters with no other features. It is likely that most, but not all, cultural resources farther from the river on JBLM YTC would not be visually sensitive. Overall, Route Segment 3b would have high visual impacts on some cultural resources. Native American Concerns The YNCRP has reported that there are numerous resources of special concern to Native Americans along Route Segment 3b (Lally and Camuso 2011). There are several major sites of spiritual or historical importance to the Yakama and Wanapum within three miles of this route segment. In addition, resolutions have been passed by the Yakama Nation Tribal Council Lands Committee (CA# 102 2011-5; and CA# 048 2010-10) expressing opposition to what is now known as Route Segment 3b because of its proximity to sensitive tribal resources. Impacts to resources of special concern to Native Americans caused by Route Segment 3b would be high. 4.11.4.10 Route Segment 3c Route Segment 3c is 25.2 miles long. It would run for a short distance along the south and north sides of the Columbia River and then would turn north to cross cultivated land, usually paralleling existing roads. Farther north it would cross the Wahluke Slope, the Saddle Mountains and lower Crab Creek before approaching the Vantage Substation area. Of the total distance, nearly nine miles (35 percent) would cross through cultivated land. For about four miles through the Saddle Mountain area, Route Segment 3c would parallel the existing Midway to Vantage No. 1 Transmission Line. The private, cultivated land has not been previously surveyed for cultural resources, but it is likely that few cultural resources exist there. However, in the Saddle Mountain area, the route segment crosses an area in which hundreds of cultural resources have been recorded within one mile of the centerline of Route Segment 3c. In this one square mile section, a total of 105 cultural resources have been recorded, all but a few being prehistoric. These include 53 isolated stone flakes or tools (which are assumed for this