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III. Environmental Setting, Impacts,and Mitigations B. Aesthetics Short-Range Viewpoints Short-range views of the project site(views from vantage points closer than one mile to the site) are available from Austin Road and Newcastle Road. Approaching the project site southbound on Austin Road,the views are dominated by expanses of grassland,with utility poles and transmission lines appearing in the foreground along the roadway(see Figure III.B.3). The landfill area,appearing as a broad,low-rising hill,initially enters the field of vision on the right side of the roadway,occupying approximately a 15-degree segment of horizontal field-of-view. Cultural features including the power station and transmission lines bordering on the landfill access road gradually become more visible. Bypassing the Austin Road entrance to the landfill facility,Little Johns Creek is momentarily visible from the roadway(see Figure III.B.4). Proceeding northbound on Austin Road toward the project site,distant views of the landfill site are momentarily dominated in the foreground by scattered mature and young oak trees that flank the roadway. Continuing northbound,another existing landfill facility,Forward, Inc.Landfill, appears on the left side of the roadway at the southeast boundary of the proposed project expansion area. The highest mound at the Forward,Inc.Landfill is currently 84.2 feet MSL,but is screened from view by a berm with a row of oleander bushes planted at its base. Bypassing the entrance to Forward,Inc.Landfill,the Austin Road Landfill facility reemerges into view(see Figure III.B.5). Approximately 460 feet north of the Forward,Inc.Landfill is the landscaped one-story private residence on the Brocchini property. From this viewpoint,the soil excavation equipment and activities on the"borrow" area of the existing Austin Road Landfill facility are clearly visible(see Figure III.B.6). Although Newcastle Road is not a general thoroughfare,approximately nine residents on the west side of this street have a view of the elevated active landfill areas at an oblique angle through the chain link fencing surrounding the Northern California Youth Center. The power station,utility poles,transmission lines,storage shed,trailer home, and landfill operation vehicles become more visible upon closer approach to the end of Newcastle Road(see Figure III.B.7). Litter and debris are generally well-contained and shielded from direct view under current landfill operation practices. III.B.11