4.6.3.2. Summary of Impacts by Alternative

Impacts to ROWs and corridors would result from management actions that limit, prohibit, or increase the potential for ROWs and include the management of ROW avoidance/mitigation and exclusion areas, ROW corridors, and resource specific restrictions and stipulations on surface-disturbing activities and ROW authorizations. ROW avoidance/mitigation and exclusion areas would both result in adverse impacts by prohibiting or limiting the development of ROWs and potentially resulting in additional constraints, mitigation, and other stipulations. ROW avoidance/mitigation and exclusion areas are the greatest under Alternative B (2,943,367 acres), followed by Alternative D (2,551,205 acres), Alternative C (1,182,097 acres), and Alternative A (1,003,194 acres). Alternative A includes the most area allocated for ROW corridors (788,275 acres) which would reduce the potential for resource conflict and additional mitigation or modification of ROW facilities, followed by Alternative C (133,284 acres) and D (132,219 acres), with Alternative B allocating the least (90,458 acres). Restrictions on surface-disturbing activities resulting from management of resources and special designations would be greatest under Alternative B. Overall, Alternative C has the lowest level of constraints applied to ROW authorizations and may result in the greatest number of new ROWs and communication sites. Alternative B includes the most constraints that would limit or prohibit ROW authorizations and would result in the least number of new ROWs and communication sites.