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CHAPTERFOUR Environmental Consequences and Mitigation <br />The description of existing land uses, temporary and long-term impacts, and compliance with <br />existing land use plans is the same as the proposed action. <br />4.1.2 Grazing <br />No Action Alternative <br />There would be no effects to grazing under the no action alternative. <br />Proposed Action Alternative <br />All of the components of the proposed action combined will result in approximately 382 acres of <br />vegetation disturbance and lost livestock forage within BLM grazing allotments. At 20 acres per <br />animal unit month (AUM), approximately 19.1 AUMs would be lost. This is not expected to <br />result in any decrease in forage allocation within the allotments since the forage loss is such a <br />small portion (<0.002 percent) of the 9,928 active AUMs available on the allotments. <br />Livestock access to some water sources may be changed or denied. <br />Temporary Impacts <br />Temporary impacts such as fence crossings would occur to existing range improvements. <br />Permanent Impacts <br />The proposed project is expected to have a generally negative affect on Land Health due to <br />difficulties in reclaiming the soils. Disturbed lands are not likely to meet Land Health Standards <br />for at least 10 years following reclamation (Fowler 2007). <br />Mitigation Measures <br />Fence repair or rebuilding would be done as required. New water sources would be supplied. <br />Cattle guards may need to be installed to protect livestock from rail or vehicular traffic. <br />Alternatives Carried Forward for Further Consideration <br />Grade-Separated Crossing at CR M.8 <br />Impacts to grazing under this alternative would be the same as those documented for the <br />proposed action. <br />Four-Quadrant Traffic Control Devices <br />Impacts to grazing under this alternative would be the same as those documented for the <br />proposed action. <br />Transmission Line Alternative A <br />Impacts to grazing under this alternative would be the same as those documented for the <br />proposed action. <br />Transmission Line Alternative B <br />Impacts to grazing under this alternative would be the same as those documented for the <br />proposed action. <br />4-8 <br />DBMS 563 <br />