2012-09-06_REVISION - M2008070 (21)

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2. All on -site garbabe containers shall be bear - proof. Garbage will be hauled to an approved disposal site. Solid wastes shall be properly disposed of offsite in an approved facility. 3. Sewage will be regularly pumped from the port-o-johns and hauled to an approved disposal site. 4. Wastewater or any other potentially contaminated fluids shall be hauled in sealed containers for appropriate off -site disposal in accordance with an approved Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC). 3.3 VISUAL RESOURCES Affected Environment: The proposed action will occur on an elevated bench overlooking Hwy 64 and the White River. There is some potential for vehicular traffic on Hwy 64 to view portions of the proposed gravel pit, depending on the direction of travel and location on the highway. The County has no formal visual resource standard, so the BLM Visual Resource Management (VRM) system was used for this analysis. BLM lists this location as a VRM Class II area, which means the objective is to retain the existing character of the landscape, and that the level of changes should be low. Management activities may be seen, but should not attract the attention of the casual observer, and any changes should conform to the basic elements of form, line, color and texture found in the predominant natural features of the surrounding landscape. Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: Construction and operation of the gravel pit will cause a significant disturbance to the site itself, but several factors preclude significant visual resource impacts in this case. First, the gravel pit will be located on an elevated bench above the key observation points along Hwy 64, and will never remove or affect the northern edge of the bench, which is the portion that can be viewed from the highway. Second, since operations will necessarily involve excavation, pit operations will gradually fall below the remaining outer structure of the natural bench and be further shielded from the key observation points along Hwy 64. Third, the site is located at least % mile away from the key observation points along Highway 64, allowing the minor visual effects of pit operations to blend more easily into the much larger surrounding landscape. These three factors alone ensure potential visual impacts will be minimal. Mitigation: Though the potential for visual resource impacts are minimal, and buffering standards are not applicable as the project lies within an agricultural zone, the Proponent intends to implement the following practices to further minimize visual impacts. ❑ During initial construction of the pit site, topsoil will be removed and stockpiled along with subsoil overburden and both used to create a berm along the rim of the bench overlooking the highway and the river. This berm will effectively "raise" the bench - edge elevation and further screen any potential view of pit operations from both the highway and the river corridor. The berm will also serve as a noise buffer and be an integral part of the stormwater control features on the site as well. Environmental Solutions, Inc. Page 9 of 30 March 09