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4. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 4.12 VISUAL RESOURCES • Substantially damage scenic resources,including but not limited to,trees,rock _ outcroppings,and historic buildings within a state scenic highway; • Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings; — • Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area; and, _ • Conflict with relevant adopted visual resource plans or policies. The evaluation of aesthetic effects is ultimately a subjective analysis. There are no adopted standards or guidelines applicable to the Proposed Project that will ultimately determine the scenic quality and value of the Project Site. However,in the absence of any applicable standards for determining visual quality of the Project Site the significance criteria for aesthetic impacts incorporates the scenic quality evaluation criteria in the BLM visual resource management rating system. — Impact 4.12.1: Implementation of the Proposed Project has the potential to adversely impact scenic views of the Coastal Range Mountains and San Joaquin Valley. This is a less- than-significant impact. Construction and operation of an aggregate mining facility at the proposed location is likely to further degrade the visual character of the surrounding area. According to the BLM's visual resource management criteria,the Proposed Project site itself contains average or below-average visual resources. However,the site deserves an above-average rating for adjacent scenery—the nearby views of the Coastal Range foothills and San Joaquin Valley floor are dramatic and impressive. Views of this adjacent scenery are already negatively impacted by the DSS Engineering Contactors aggregate mining facility,located just west of the Proposed Project site. The Proposed Project will be highly visible to at least four homes,three located on the Northern _ side of Blewitt Road immediately east of the plant location,and one west of the mining area across the Delta Mendota Canal. The new facilities will be particularly damaging to views of the Coastal Range from the homes located on Blewitt Road. The proposed plant will be located in the foreground of the existing mountain views from these homes. Portions of the processing plant will reach approximately 100 feet above ground level and will be visible from the nearby homes and to travelers along local roads(Blewitt, Koster, South Costa Ranch Road, Chrisman and — Gaffery Roads and State Routes 132 and 33)and designated State and County Scenic Highway 1-5. As a condition of approval for the Proposed Project, a landscaping plan has been submitted to San Joaquin County for approval. This plan must be consistent with County landscaping regulations as laid forth in Chapter 9-1020 of the San Joaquin County Development Title, including those standards for vegetation composition and water efficiency,earthen berms,erosion control and landscaping maintenance. RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Pmlect 4.12-12 ESA/203015 Administrative Draft Exit Match 2004