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CHAPTERFOUR Environmental Consequences and Mitigation <br />Lease Area <br />Most of the activities taking place within the lease area would be underground. Some minimal <br />visual effects of subsidence (see Section 4.2.4 and Appendix C) could include swales, small <br />cracks in the ground surface, and rock falls. These would be visible only to observers actually in <br />the lease area. <br />Railroad <br />Railroad construction would result in the removal of vegetation and changes in the existing <br />topography by cutting and filling of soil. After construction the railroad ties would contrast with <br />the color of the surrounding landscape and be visible. Railroads create a linear contrast in the <br />landscape due to changes in vegetation patterns, addition of railroad tracks, and changes in <br />existing topography, which combine to create a visible change in the landscape, often visible <br />from long distances. Figure 4-2 is a visual simulation looking south at the proposed rail crossing <br />(with train) under SH 139, approximately 1.5 miles south of the KOP. Southbound travelers <br />would have a view as they approached the crossing. Due to the topography, northbound <br />travelers would probably not see the crossing until they were almost over it. <br />The railroad grade would be visible at various locations to local residents traveling on CR 10 and <br />CR M8. Visibility would be variable depending on the cuts and fills, distance from the roads, <br />and aspect of the railroad to the road (parallel vs. perpendicular). <br />A portion of the railroad alignment would be within 0.5 mile of Highline Lake State Park, and <br />would be visible from parts of the park, especially from some of the recreational facilities located <br />on higher ground around the lake. Due to the park's distance from the mine site (approximately <br />7 miles), it is unlikely that mine facilities would be visible. <br />Water Pipeline <br />Temporary visual impacts would result from surface disturbance associated with construction of <br />the water pipeline. There will be no permanent impacts to visual resources, as the water pipeline <br />would be buried parallel to the railroad grade. <br />Transmission Line <br />The proposed transmission line is adjacent to 95 parcels of private land south of the Highline <br />Canal. The line would be constructed along county roads, in some places replacing existing <br />lines. The transmission line and the underbuild distribution line would have the same <br />configuration and appearance as existing lines in the project area (see Figure 2-10 for examples <br />of existing structures). <br />North of the Highline Canal, the transmission line would cross six trails in the North Fruita <br />Desert SRMA. Transmission line and associated access road construction would result in the <br />removal of vegetation along the transmission line ROW. After construction the transmission <br />lines would create a linear contrast with the surrounding natural landscape. The linear ROW <br />with poles and conductors would result in indirect visual impacts in some areas, affecting the <br />natural landscape. The line would be visible to recreationists using these trails. <br />Temporary Impacts <br />Temporary visual impacts would result from surface disturbance associated with construction <br />prior to reclamation and revegetation. <br />4-37 <br />DBMS 592 <br />