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CRAPTERTHREE EnuironmeMal Canseuuences described in Section 2.2 of the Agency Preferred Alternative would bring the project into compliance with BLM land management policies and goals for the Ryan Gulch ACEC. The Wildlife Mitigation Plan (Appendix I) contains measures that would retain more valuable mule deer habitat within the mine panels and construction methods to facilitate mule deer movement within and through the well field. These measures aze expected to increase mule deer use in the area and, consequently, should increase the number of deer available for hunting. Effects to livestock grating would be the same as under the Proposed Action. Effects of the two alternative natural gas pipelines would also be the same as under the Proposed Action. Pipeline Corridor Effects to land use and recreation would be the same as those described for the Proposed Action. Parachute Site Effects to land use and recreation would be the same as those described for the Proposed Action. 3.12.2 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts Unavoidable impacts would generally be the same as for the Proposed Action except that there would be slightly less impact to mule deer habitat at the Piceance Site, thereby resulting in reduced impacts to hunting opportunities in that area. 3.13 VISUAL RESOURCES 3.13.1 Direct and Indirect Impacts Piceance Site The Agency Preferred Alternative would generally have the same impacts to visual resources as the Proposed Action. However, there may be a slight improvement in the scenic condition of the site due to mitigation measures contained in the Wildlife Mitigation Plan. This plan calls for the retention of higher density pinyon-juniper stands and for pinyon pine to be selectively planted to break up remnant linear disturbances and to more rapidly reestablish the continuity of the pinyon juniper vegetation. Although these actions aze designed primarily to improve mule deer habitat, they would also improve the natural appearance of the site. Pipeline Corridor The Agency Preferred Alternative would have the same impacts to visual resources as the Proposed Action. L J Visual Resources 3-21