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San Joaquin County Community Environmental Setting,Impacts,and Mitigation Measures Development Department Aesthetics limited number of residents in the area, and that there are no bike paths or pedestrian trails,the number of recreationists is anticipated to be small. Recreationists are likely to be moderately sensitive to visual changes at the project site. They are more likely to regard the natural and built surroundings as a holistic visual experience. However,because of the interchange with I-5 and _ busy nature of SR 132,they are likely to be focused on roadway and traffic conditions. In addition, they are somewhat accustomed to the conversion of agricultural fields to quarry through presence of several operational quarries nearby. — Roadway Users Viewers who frequently travel 1-5,1-580, SR 132,and Vernalis,Koster, and — Blewett Roads generally possess low visual sensitivity to their surroundings. The segment of 1-580 from the Alameda/San Joaquin County border to the I- 5801-5 interchange and the segment of I-5 from the I-580/1-5 interchange to the Stanislaus County line are officially designated as state scenic highways. Both of these state scenic highway segments are located approximately 3 miles southwest — of the project area. The portion of I-5 that is located west of the project site is not designated as a state scenic highway. This portion of I-5 is elevated above local roadways and has views looking east and down gradient towards the site. — Travelers on this portion of 1-5 would have direct views of the site(Figure 3.A-3, Photo 4),but they would be traveling at high rates of speed, averaging 70-80 miles per hour. There are also three existing quarries,two to the east and one to the west of I-5,which are located closer to I-5 than the proposed project site. The presence of a new quarry in this area of the County would not introduce unfamiliar visual elements into this landscape. The passing landscape becomes familiar for roadway users and their attention is typically not focused on the passing views. At standard roadway speeds, views are of short duration and roadway users are fleetingly aware of surrounding traffic, road signs,their immediate surroundings within the automobile, and other visual features. — Depending on traffic,these viewers have low to moderate sensitivity to their surroundings because their focus is concentrated on turning off of or onto highways and local streets. — Regulatory Setting — Federal There are no roadways within or near the project area that are designated in federal plans as a scenic highway worthy of protection for maintaining and enhancing scenic viewsheds. Therefore, federal guidelines do not apply. — DeSilva Gates Quarry Project Draft Environmental Impact Report 3.A-6 As 05105.05