Compensatory Mitigation Have Agency Policy to follow 1

Compensatory Mitigation Have Agency Policy to follow 1 NEPA • 40 CFR 1508. 20 - “Mitigation” includes: “(e) Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources or environments. ” 2 Scenery Protection Management Plan Standards • Forest Aesthetic Management Standards/Guidelines 3 - “S 9: Design management activities to meet the Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs) shown on the Scenic Integrity Objectives Map” - “The Scenery Management System (SMS) is a tool for integrating the benefits, values, desires, and preferences regarding aesthetics and scenery for all levels of land resource management planning. ” 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation When a Project results in significant effect 1 2 3 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation 1 Does project meet Scenic Integrity (SI) Objectives? NO, what to do? • • Redesign project to meet SI Objectives Internally initiated – Drop project Externally initiated – Deny application for project Allow a “project specific” amendment to the LMP – However, it would not make up for the resource impact(s), unless you 2 3 Assess Compensatory Mitigation 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Put it in writing… ] 1 Scenery Compensation Mitigation Measure example for an EIR/EIS • Compensation for failure to meet Scenic Integrity Objectives requiring a project specific Plan Amendment 2 - All reasonable efforts shall be made to meet the Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs) shown on the SIO Map in the Forest Land Management Plan. In areas where the Objectives cannot be met by the (Name of Approved Project), an impact analysis will be conducted using the Forest Scenery Compensation Method provided. The results of the analysis will provide the baseline for what is a commensurate amount of Scenery compensation to be provided by (Name of Proponent) to make up for the Project’s impacts to the landscape character and scenery quality on the (Forest Name) National Forest. 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 3 4

Compensatory Mitigation Angeles National Forest SIO Map 1 2 3 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Determine number of impacted acres 1 Use GIS or best available tool to accomplish the following: • After identifying the project feature(s) that does not meet Plan Management Scenic Integrity Objectives, map that feature(s), its dimensions (height above surface), and location(s) over an agency map layer NOTE: Even in the case of clear-cuts, a three-dimensional geometric area can be established where the void is, amongst the trees • From that feature(s), conduct a Seen Area/Visibility study, using GIS or best available technology 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 2 3 4

Compensatory Mitigation What’s a Seen Area/Visibility Study? 1 2 Seen/Visible Areas 3 Areas Hidden by Terrain 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study–Powerline Upgrades 1 2 3 4 Existing Towers Replaced by 2016 River Management Symposium & B i g g e r T o w e r s – M a j o r i. Nt ayt i So nkayl l Oi n u ted d oor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study–Powerline Upgrades 2 1 2 3 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study–Old Structure Viewshed 1 2 3 4 96, 698 Acres 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study–New Structure Viewshed 1 2 3 4 102, 355 Acres 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study–New Tower Impacts 1 2 3 4 5, 657 Acres 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study–Marker Balls 1 2 3 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study–Marker Balls– 1 Mile Buffer 1 2 3 FAA MARKER BALLS DESIGNED TO BE VISIBLE MINIMUM 1 MILE 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 4

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study–Marker Ball Impacts 1 2 3 4 5, 187 Seen Area Acres (Nothing to Subtract) 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Determine VRM Class/SIO Acres 1 Use GIS or best available tool to accomplish the following: • Based on their location identified in the Seen Area/Visibility Study, determine and quantify the number of acres that appear on agency land identified as having Very High, Moderate SIOs • Consider omitting private land/inholdings from the equation as well as any land outside the Agency boundary unless it is pertinent to the Project analysis and impacts. 2 3 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Angeles National Forest SIO Map 2 1 2 3 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Determine Distance Zones Acres 1 Use GIS or best available tool to accomplish the following: • From the final mapped acres, also break the acres down by their respective distance zones from the non-conforming feature(s) (Foreground, Middleground, and Background) 2 3 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Distance Zones 1 Forest Service Scenery Management System Distance Zones 2 Background 4 miles to Horizon Middleground 1/2 mile to 4 miles 3 Foreground 0 -1/2 mile 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Distance Zones - Scrutiny 1 Rule of Thumb… • Landscapes seen close-up are more visually sensitive than those seen in muted detail from greater distances 2 - Based on this general rule you will see that when calculating the value of the identified final acreage, those acres that fall within Foreground views are generally given a higher value than those that fall within Middleground and Background views However… • When people view landscapes at Middleground/Background distances, they can view them more coherently and in better context with their surroundings than they do Foreground. 3 - In some cases non-compliant human activities that dominate natural form , line, or texture can contrast strongly enough to make the case for some acreages in Middleground and Background areas to have a higher value than some Foreground landscapes. So if the case is strong enough, then consider adjusting the values accordingly from what’s shown in Tables A and B. 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Sorted Impact Acres – Table A New Scenic Impacts Based on Seen Area Analysis TABLE A 1 Very High SIO - Typically Wilderness Areas (Special Classified Areas & Distinctive Features, i. e. , Wild & Scenic Rivers, PCT, etc. , can also be included under this column) High SIO Moderate SIO Low SIO 2 Foreground From non-conforming feature out to ½ mi # of Very High SIO acres in Foreground # of Moderate SIO acres in Foreground # of Low SIO acres in Foreground Impacted Acres 3 Middleground ½ to 4 miles # of Very High SIO acres in Middleground # of Moderate SIO acres in Middleground # of Low SIO acres in Middleground # of Very High SIO acres in Background # of Moderate SIO acres in Background # of Low SIO acres in Background Impacted Acres Background 4 miles to Horizon (CONSIDER A LIMIT) Impacted Acres 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 4

Compensatory Mitigation Compensation % Factor - Table B Compensation % Multipliers/Factors TABLE B 1 Very High SIO - Typically Wilderness Areas (Special Classified Areas & Distinctive Features, i. e. , Wild & Scenic Rivers, PCT, etc. , can also be included under this column) High SIO Moderate SIO Low SIO 2 Foreground From non-conforming feature out to ½ mi Impacted Acres Middleground ½ to 4 miles 100% or Highest % of Very High SIO acres in Foreground from Table A HIGHEST PRIORITY LANDSCAPE % of High SIO acres in Foreground from Table A % of Moderate SIO acres in Foreground from Table A % of Low SIO acres in Foreground from Table A 3 % of Very High SIO acres in Middleground from Table A % of Moderate SIO acres in Middleground from Table A % of Low SIO acres in Middleground from Table A Impacted Acres Background 4 miles to Horizon (CONSIDER A LIMIT) Impacted Acres % of Very High SIO acres in Background from Table A % of Moderate SIO acres in Background from Table A 5%-1% or Lowest % of Low SIO acres in Background from Table A LOWEST PRIORITY LANDSCAPE 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 4

Compensatory Mitigation Distribute % Factors Evenly Compensation % Multipliers/Factors TABLE B 1 Very High SIO - Typically Wilderness Areas (Special Classified Areas & Distinctive Features, i. e. , Wild & Scenic Rivers, PCT, etc. , can also be included under this column) High SIO Moderate SIO Low SIO 2 Foreground From non-conforming feature out to ½ mi Impacted Acres Middleground ½ to 4 miles 100% or Highest % of Very High SIO acres in Foreground from Table A HIGHEST PRIORITY LANDSCAPE % of High SIO acres in Foreground from Table A % of Moderate SIO acres in Foreground from Table A % of Low SIO acres in Foreground from Table A 3 % of Very High SIO acres in Middleground from Table A % of Moderate SIO acres in Middleground from Table A % of Low SIO acres in Middleground from Table A Impacted Acres Background 4 miles to Horizon (CONSIDER A LIMIT) Impacted Acres % of Very High SIO acres in Background from Table A % of Moderate SIO acres in Background from Table A 5%-1% or Lowest % of Low SIO acres in Background from Table A LOWEST PRIORITY LANDSCAPE 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 4

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study – Powerline Project %’s Compensation % Multipliers/Factors TABLE B 1 Very High SIO - Typically Wilderness Areas (VRM Class I) (Special Classified Areas & Distinctive Features, i. e. , Wild & Scenic Rivers, PCT, etc. , can also be included under this column) High SIO (VRM Class II) Moderate SIO (VRM Class III) Low SIO (This SIO level is not an ANF Management Goal) (VRM Class IV) 2 Foreground From non-conforming feature out to ½ mi 100% of Very High SIO acres in Foreground from Table A 50% of High SIO acres in Foreground from Table A 25% of Moderate SIO acres in Foreground from Table A N/A Impacted Acres 3 Middleground ½ to 4 miles 50% of Very High SIO acres in Middleground from Table A 25% of High SIO acres in Middleground from Table A 12. 5% of Moderate SIO acres in Middleground from Table A 25% of Very High SIO acres in Background from Table A 12. 5% of High SIO acres in Background from Table A 6. 25% of Moderate SIO acres in Background from Table A N/A Impacted Acres Background 4 miles to Horizon (CONSIDER A LIMIT) Impacted Acres N/A 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 4

Compensatory Mitigation Final Acreage Total Formula 1 Acreage Value Formula: 2 (# of Sorted Impact Acres in Table A) MULTIPLIED BY (Respective Compensation % Factor in Case Study Table B) 3 = Final Compensation Acres 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study Final Acreage 1 Acreage Value Formula: 10, 844 of total Sorted Impact Acres in Case Study Table A( Not included) 2 (5, 657 New Tower Impact Acres + 5, 187 Marker Ball Impact Acres) MULTIPLIED BY 3 (Respective Compensation % Factor in Case Study Table B) = 2, 995 Final Compensation Acres (Roughly 27% of total Impact Acres) 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 4

Compensatory Mitigation Case Study – Final Acreage 1 B 2 3 4 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference

Compensatory Mitigation Total Acres equal Monetary Value ] 1 The Cost of Scenery… • A Handbook for Scenery Management - “The benefits of high-quality scenery are numerous despite the fact that a dollar value is seldom assigned to it except in regard to real estate appraisals and areas with major tourism influences. ” 2 Use Agency Land Values if available • Based on the already mapped impacted area, determine the AVERAGE price of the Agency’s land in that area. Use available tools to assess land values (i. e. an assessor, RO land surveys, recent land purchases, etc. Multiply the Final Compensation Acres Total by the Average Cost of the Agency’s land in the mapped impact area, and you now have a ballpark compensation dollar amount for the Project impact(s), as well as an acreage total. Both totals can be used as a compensation measuring tool (Acreage total and/or $ value) 2016 River Management Symposium & National Outdoor Recreation Conference 3 4

Compensatory Mitigation Acres/$ Baseline – Compensation Option(s) Monetary Compensation Fund Agency Landscape Architect Position(s) Rehabilitate/Restore a commensurate amount of disturbed acreage in Landscapes that do not meet current SIO levels Improve Conditions at Special Classified Areas/Distinctive Features and Rec Sites within Project Impacted Viewsheds Purchase Private Land that does not meet current SIO levels and Convert/Maintain to Natural Conditions that meet established SI levels for that area Purchase Private Land that meets current SIO levels Compensation Options Description of Option Monetary compensation would be paid to the Agency through a collection/cost recovery agreement that shall be established for implementation of scenic/recreation improvements on the Agency Lands within the project scenery impact areas. 1 Direct Benefits a. Monetary compensation to the Agency would provide an unobstructed avenue to fund federal scenery/recreation improvement projects, independent of Congressional authorizations (which may increase/decrease annually). b. This provides funding to make necessary improvements to areas that don’t meet the Desired LMP Scenery Objectives or Desired Landscape Character Conditions. Provide funds for additional Landscape Architect position(s) to increase capacity, which in turn would allow more Agency participation in more projects that have the potential to impact Scenic Integrity Objectives. a. Provides more L. A. staffing to cover more scenery assessments and scenery management for projects affecting Agency lands. b. Provides more L. A. staffing for improvement projects on Agency lands. As directed by the Agency, rehabilitate and/or restore landscape character and scenic integrity of landscapes and viewsheds (Foreground, Middleground, Background) within the ANF. Landscape character shall be improved and moved toward Desired Condition and Scenic Integrity Objectives as originally identified and described in the Management Plan. a. Makes a tangible improvement to landscapes and viewsheds within the same Agency where landscapes and viewsheds were impacted by the Project. b. Provides necessary improvements to areas that don’t meet the Desired Management Plan Scenery Objectives or Desired Landscape Character Conditions. 2 3 As directed by the Agency, provide funding/resources for designs, a. Makes a tangible and direct improvement to popular/valued environmental analysis, construction documents, and Agency use areas that were impacted by the Project. implementation of site improvements in special classified areas/distinctive features/recreation areas whose viewshed is impacted by the Project. Within the Congressional boundary of the National Forest, purchase private land restore that land to a sustainable natural condition that meets the Forest’s established SIO levels for that surrounding area. a. Increases Agency land base. b. Creates more public open space. c. By purchasing in-holding land, it could resolve illegal landuse/trespass issues. d. Improves Scenic Integrity 4 Within the Congressional boundary of the impacted Federal Land, a. Increases Agency land base. as directed by the Agency, purchase private land that meets the b. Creates more public open space. LMP established SIO levels for that surrounding area. c. By purchasing in-holding land, it could resolve illegal land 2 0 1 use/trespass 6 R i v e rissues. Management Symposium & d. Preserves existing Scenic Integrity National Outdoor Recreation Conference