a) Visual Impacts

In reviewing the comparisons of the long-term effects for Alternatives 2 and 5 in Section D.4 of the Final EIR/EIS, Alternative 5 offers advantages in terms of visual resources on ANF lands. However, effects on visual resources are also important considerations on non-ANF lands, but these effects are considered more significant on ANF lands due the Scenic Integrity Objectives of the 2005 ANF Forest Management Plan (Forest Plan). Alternative 2 substantially mitigates the visual impact on ANF lands by placing the transmission line in a mid-slope location. Alternative 5 has very little conflict with the Forest Plan because it largely avoids ANF lands. While this may make Alternative 5 seem superior to Alternative 2 from a visual resources standpoint, Alternative 5 also has certain disadvantages compared to Alternative 2. Specifically, Alternative 5 would introduce a new transmission line into an 18.8-mile-long corridor where no transmission lines currently exist. This added visual element would not be welcomed by viewers along the route of Alternative 5, including adjacent homeowners, and it would be more visible to a greater number of residents and travelers than Alternative 2. Therefore, both alternatives would have substantial adverse visual impacts.