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SUMMARY (Continued) . Cultural resources Under the no-action alternative, no unit-related cultural resources effects would occur. Construction of the powerlines under the recom- mended plan would only slightly affect the four sites in the unit area which are eligible for the National Register for Historic Places, and no known cultural resource features or structures would be damaged. However, since the four eligible sites do contain subsurface remains in some areas, a professional archeologist would monitor construction of the powerlines through these areas and sensitive site areas would be marked for avoid- ance. If unknown subsurface remains were detected by this monitoring, work would stop and the procedures outlined in 36 CFR 800 for construc- tion discoveries would be followed, including Section 106 consultation with the Utah State Historic Preservation Officer (USHPO) and the Advi- sory Council on Historic Preservation. The USHPO concurs in these findings of eligibility and no adverse effect. Although four sites potentially eligible for the National Register were found, only minimal impacts to these cultural resources are pre- dicted. The four sites would remain substantially intact after the end of construction. No paleontological studies were conducted. If, during construction, fossils or similar resources were unearthed, construction would be stopped until the finds were preserved or properly documented. . Recreation Under the no-action alternative, no unit-related effects would occur. Under the recommended plan, a 2.75-cfs flow reduction in either the Dirty Devil River or Muddy Creek would not adversely affect river recreation because this reduction is small compared to the larger flows used for rafting and innertubing. Recreation might be improved because of better access, though public access to approximately 25 acres would be restricted because of unit facilities. Reclamation concluded, in coordination with the BLM, that no significant adverse effects on recreation would occur nor would the unit affect any of the BLM-proposed wilderness areas. Short- and long-term environmental effects The table on the following page shows the short-term and long-term effects of the unit on various resources. The short-term effects would last for the 3 years of construction; the long-term effects would be for the projected life of the unit, 50 years. Basis for Plan Selection . The deep-well injection alternative was selected as the recommended plan for the following reasons: (1) it is the only plan passing the four tests of viability, (2) it is acceptable to the public, (3) it would reduce salinity in the Colorado River by 20,900 tons annually at a cost- effective rate of $97 per ton of salt removed, and (4) it would have no net significant adverse environmental effects on the area. The cost S-20 002328