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Visual Impact Assessment Griffith Energy Storage Project 6.0 IMPACT ANALYSIS 6.1 Scenic Vistas Would the proposed Project cause substantial,adverse effects on a scenic vista? Views of the Diablo Range from 1-580 and views of lands under agricultural production while driving on two-lane roads through rural portions of the county are identified as scenic vistas (San Joaquin County 2014).The Project would be barely visible, if at all,from 1-580,and would not block views for the Diablo Range from 1-580. No impacts to views of the Diablo Range from 1-580 are expected. The Project site is rural in character with a wide variety of visual encroachments, including scattered ranch structures,agricultural buildings and infrastructure,fencing, local electrical distribution lines and high-voltage transmission lines,and roadways.The Project would add energy storage facilities and infrastructure and reduce the amount of land under agricultural production.The Project facilities would have a consistent visual character with the existing local electrical distribution lines, high- voltage transmission lines,and the nearby Tesla Substation. Due to the surrounding terrain,views of the Project from Patterson Pass Road and Midway Road would be limited to a short distance. Due to the terrain and distance,there are no views of the Project from the Top of World Scenic Lookout. In addition,the Project will be separated from the roadways by lands under agricultural production. Therefore,the impacts are expected to be less than significant. Level of Significance: Less than significant impact. 6.2 Scenic Highways Would the proposed Project cause substantial damage to scenic resources,including but not limited to,trees,rock outcroppings,and historic buildings,within a state scenic highway? Corral Hollow Road, located five miles to the south of the Project site, is identified as a local scenic road (San Joaquin County 2014). Due to terrain and distance,the Project site is not visible from this roadway,therefore, no impact to this scenic roadway will occur. The officially designated state scenic highway segment of 1-580 located one mile to the northeast of the Project site.The eligible state scenic highway segment of 1-580 is located approximately 2.2 miles to the north of the Project site (Caltrans 2022). Due to terrain and structures,the Project is either not visible or barely visible(see Figures 4 and 9).The Project will not involve substantial damage to scenic resources,such as trees, rock outcroppings,and historic buildings.The Project facilities would appear as a continuation of the existing electrical distribution infrastructure. Based on general lack of visibility of the Project site, no significant impacts to a scenic highway are expected. Level of Significance: No significant impact. 6.3 Visual Character In non-urbanized areas,would the proposed Project substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings?(Public views are those that are experienced from publicly accessible vantage point.) OTETRA TECH 34 August 2023