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SECTIONTHREE Scoping Results • Mack and western part of Mesa County already contain an interstate, the main rail line, power lines and county roads. Running power lines along a rail spur will not drastically affect the look and feel of the azea. • Landscaping is often used to screen off sights or sounds -such could be employed here to both the benefit of the residents and as a demonstration of goodwill on the part of the mining company in investing in both the community and their transportation infrastructure. • There is great concern over where Grand Valley Power will place their power lines. • Visual impacts associated with project facilities and activities may affect the visual chazacter and scenic resources of an area, including aesthetic and/or functional quality of recreational experiences. • The EIS should evaluate visual impacts based on aspects such as: can the surrounding landscape integrate visual changes without attracting attention, how faz from or visible to sensitive viewing areas and/or roadways are the activities, how much disturbance will occur, etc. A detailed mitigation plan should be provided in the EIS that will minimize impacts. • The EIS should address the issue of light pollution. Some questions that arose and that will be addressed: • What will be done at 10 Road crossing to improve visibility? • What are the other options proposed for transporting the electricity to the mine, which does not disturb the scenic quality and experience in this location? 3.5 NOISE • Noise pollution will be degrading to life quality. • For the distance between Highline Canal and 10 Road, (approx. 1 mile) Mack Mesa functions as a megaphone by reflecting noise back to the north. Noise expected from the train's engines, the rumble and squeal of the cazs, the horns and the attendant 10 Road crossing signals will be excessive and disruptive to an otherwise quiet area. • Regulations require a train horn, but the decibel levels also change depending on the time of day or whether the train is arriving in the evening when people are sleeping. • Motorized vehicles, including trucks, cars, trains, and helicopters, mining and seismic exploration activities, construction activities, explosions, and any other activity that may create excessive noise associated with the proposed project may have ill effects on animal species. • The BLM must analyze the impacts that noise may have on Endangered, Threatened, Sensitive and other Special Status Species. To mitigate the effect that mining disturbances may have on wildlife and Special Status Species in the azea, the BLM must take steps to reduce habitat fragmentation, ensure that excessive noise pollution occurs only at certain times of the yeaz, require helicopters to fly at appropriate heights, J LJ ~~I t..J ~! 3-12 '