DOE/EIS-0332; McNary-John Day Transmission Line Project Draft ...

3
3-94
Affected Environment, Environmental
Consequences, and Mitigation
and Wildlife Viewing Area would have views of the new river crossing near the John
Day Dam looking north across the Columbia River.
Other Viewers
Agricultural workers who would have views of the proposed line would be located
primarily in Benton County, where most of the irrigated cropland along the project
corridor is located. Agricultural workers would be engaged in focused activities, but
their views could be of long duration. The relatively sparse vertical elements in the
viewscape would provide unobstructed views of the proposed line. The agricultural
workers in Sherman County, Oregon, would have partially obstructed views due to their
proximity to the network of transmission lines and towers leading into and out of the
John Day Substation.
Commercial workers along the corridor would have obstructed and unobstructed views of
the proposed line (depending on their location), and their activities would limit their
duration of views. Workers at Watts Brothers Frozen Foods would have views of the
corridor around corridor mile 13. Views would be most apparent from parking lots or
when the workers are outside of buildings. Humanmade elements in the viewscape
include existing transmission lines on wood poles and steel-lattice towers, buildings, and
fences.
Environmental Consequences—Short-Line Routing Alternatives
Table 3-19 summarizes the visual resources impacts associated with the short-line routing
alternatives.
Table 3-19: Impacts of Short-Line Routing Alternatives:
Visual Resources
Alternative Impacts
McNary Substation Alternatives
A. Relocate administration
building presently located
on north s ide of substation
adjacent to Wildlife Natural
Area
B. Cross Wildlife Natural
Area; circumvent
administration building on
north side
Recreationists at the Corps Wildlife Natural Area and travelers on
I-82 and US 730 would have partially obstructed or unobstructed
views of construction, depending on their location.
Recreationists at the Corps Wildlife Natural Area and travelers on
I-82 would potentially have obstructed views of the proposed line.
BPA McNary-John Day Transmission Project
Draft EIS
February 2002