dergrounding transmission lines is a major goal but it should be recognized that undergrounding will not eliminate all of the visual and physical intrusions of transmission lines since such construction still requires clearance of rights-of-way, access roads, etc.

There is much that can be done to minimize the impact of overhead transmission lines. The area around the plant site should be analyzed and various possible locations for the transmission lines should be identified in terms of their impact on the natural beauty and other values of the lands they will cross.

the erection of large steel towers which so change the natural character of the landscape that scenic and other resources are destroyed. However, much of the adverse impact on other resources can be eliminated through careful design of facilities and maintenance roads, although this usually increases costs considerably. The following are some commonly encountered locational situations with some suggestions for treating rights-of-way in such areas:

(a) Scenic and recreation areas.-Insofar as possible rights-of-way should be located away from scenic and recreation areas. In any case careful consideration should be given to placement of facilities so as to hide them from view as much as possible. Undergrounding, screening and architectural design techniques should be considered on all rights-of-way within these areas.

(b) Transportation routes.-Although it traditionally has been the practice to locate linear rights-ofway adjacent to established transportation routes, this practice does little to preserve the natural beauty attributes of the surrounding environment. Where such transportation routes pass through scenic areas every effort should be made to place as much of the rightof-way out of sight as possible. Natural topographic features such as valleys, canyons, and draws can be used to screen transmission lines from view, but ridgetops where transmission lines and towers have the sky as a backdrop should be avoided. An occasional view of a segment, or even a long stretch of transmission line, can provide a pleasing change of scenery in deserts and open plains where surrounding views tend to become monotonous. All avenues of transportation must be carefully evaluated to determine where rights-ofway should be excluded or hidden from view and where their presence might enhance the visual impression of the landscape.

(c) Road crossings.—Transmission line rights-ofway crossing highways should avoid high points in the road so that the towers cannot be seen from a great distance. Where possible, such crossing points should be located between two high points, at a dip, or on a curve in the road.

(d) Access and maintenance roads.-Access and maintenance roads, when visible from a highway, tend to emphasize the intrusion of rights-of-way. This is especially true in mountainous areas where their impact on the landscape is often harsh. Whenever possible such roads should be located to as to take advantage of the topography to screen them from view of highways, recreation and residential areas. More extensive use of helicopters in facility construction and main. tenance will allow freedom to locate rights-of-way in more remote and inaccessible areas and should be encouraged.

(e) Appearance of rights-of-way.-The visual impact of certain rights-of-way on the natural landscape is often very unpleasant. Transmission lines, together with their access and maintenance roads, cut wide swaths through forested areas that can be seen for miles from the road or air. The frequent and sometimes indiscriminate use of herbicides to control regeneration of vegetation within rights-of-way perpetuates this impact on the environment. Proper appearance planning in the design of facilities and more sensitive maintenance techniques can do much to soften the severity of cleared rights-of-way in forested areas.

Where transmission lines rights-of-way must be located in or near scenic areas where they will be exposed to public view, removal of vegetation and construction of access and maintenance roads should be carefully planned. Whenever technically feasible and the cost is not prohibitive transmisison lines should be placed underground when passing through areas of high scenic value. All efforts should be based on an acre by acre determination of conditions.

All rights-of-way should be designed so as to create the impression that they were not cut out of the countryside, but were planted into it. Insofar as possible clearing should be done on a selective basis, leaving as much of the natural vegetation within the rights-of-way as possible. Where transmission lines swing across deep valleys or canyons full grown trees can be left within the rights-of-way, while still maintaining clearance requirements. Bare scars left by access road construction should be cleanly shaped and planted with locally indigenous plant materials to minimize the presence of the road. All roads should be planned with a minimum of cuts and fills.

Extensive use of indigenous shrubs and low growing tree species, randomly placed, within cleared transmission rights-of-way will do much to reduce their impact upon the environment. Insofar as possible geometric forms, especially straight lines, should be avoided. To reduce the straight cut out appearance of rights-of-way their edges should be ruffled or feathered through the use of selective cutting and planting tech. niques. On major roadway crossings selective cutting of vegetation along rights-of-way, leaving random nongeometric groups of trees will screen and distract the viewer from the facilities. Where there is no natural vegetation at crossings, random plantings of native trees and shrubs will serve the same purpose.

Recreational use of transmission rights-ofway. The use of transmission rights-of-way for wildlife purposes has been considered extensively, particularly for game management through habitat improvement. Recently, however, similar consideration has been given to forms of outdoor recreation-particularly trails for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and motorcycling. The Department of the Interior has recognized the potential use of rights-of-way for trails and has noted this value, particularly within or near urban areas.

Outdoor Recreation for America, the report of the President and to Congress prepared by the ORRRC (January 1962) suggests that the existing rights-of-way for high tension lines could be made into a "connector" network of attractive walkways. Recently enacted legislation recognizes the potential value of rights-of-way for trails (sec. 5 of Public Law 90-543, the "Natural Trails System Act").

Power lines are not favored on recreation lands. However, making the best use of existing power lines where it is not practical to bury or screen them would appear to be good policy. It certainly can enhance recreation opportunities.

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To date no State plans have advocated the use of power lines for recreation purposes. There have been no applications submitted for the land and water conservation fund money that directly endorsed the use of power lines for recreation, but the trail plan developed by the county of Arlington, Va., proposed the use of a portion of a power line right-of-way. The power line right-of-way was not included in the trail as it was finally constructed.

Power line rights-of-way also could serve a beneficial use for parking purposes. Such use would not only meet a prime need, but also thus free additional land for recreation use.

Power line rights-of-way do serve an important recreation need at the present time as access to back country and privately "locked in" tracts of public lands. Again, these rights-ofway are not only important for access but other purposes as well, such as parking.

A new steam power station is a very large industrial plant-among the largest in the Nation. It can profoundly affect both the surrounding environment and the local economy. This is especially true if the plant is located in rural America. There are special opportunities and advantages in siting plants in the rural areas but there are also special responsibilities. The fact that open spaces, clean air and clear water are still available are compelling reasons why new plants should be planned and built to preserve the quality of the environment. Rural America is not a place of refuge from environmental controls but it does offer opportunities for economic power plant sites that will contribute to the full development of the nation. Benefits to Rural Areas Flowing From Con

struction of Power Generating Stations If properly planned and located, a rural power generating station frequently enhances the recreation potential of its area. Impounded waters controlled by many stations form lakes of which full recreational use is made. Also, increasing numbers of power systems employ rights-of-way management practices designed to improve recreational possibilities on and around the land over which utility lines leave the power station. Examples are manmade wildlife ponds on rights-of-way with accompanying plantings of low-growing shrubs for wildlife food. The resulting dense shrub cover has the

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added benefit of resisting future tree invasion, increasing aesthetic values and eliminating broadcast herbicide spraying.

An abundant supply of power can be a controlling factor in site selections by industries with high power requirements, appreciably advancing the rural areas development effort. For example, in 1966 the availability of dependable power at reasonable rates was decisive in the location at a rural site in Kentucky of a large aluminum rolling mill. An aluminum reduction plant and continuous process rod mill, 35 percent of whose operating costs will be for power, is also locating nearby for the same reasons. Together, the two stations will provide employment for more than 1,000 rural people.

Generating stations themselves, as well as other industries attracted to the area by power availability, are industrial developments contributing to the local rural economy. Reclaiming and processing of waste products such as fly ash and sulfur may afford opportunities for local employment, and produce materials which can be utilized by nearby industries. Development of rural industries and expansion of employment opportunities increase the local tax base and help make possible needed schools, roads and other community facilities. Service requirements of the industries and their employees increase the business volume of existing stores and service enterprises and attract more such firms.

An upward spiral of a local community's economy can be set in motion by even one new industry, especially if it is a power plant which itself represents an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Protection of Environmental Quality

One of the major advantages of life in small town and rural America is its relative freedom from air and water pollution. Ongoing efforts to bring better economic opportunities and a higher standard of living for rural people through local industrial development should be planned to assure that the countryside's unspoiled characteristics will be preserved. And sites for generating plants are no exception. Successful rural areas development, and the health and welfare of rural people, require that

the same considerations in protecting environmental quality be applied in rural areas as in urban areas. In addition, there are some considerations which have particular significance in rural areas.

An important part of the rural development effort under way across small town and country America involves utilizing superb potential for recreational uses, especially fishing and water sports. Care is required that rivers, lakes and rural streams retain their natural attractions for such uses. The potential for heat pollution from a steam generation station, both fossil fuel and nuclear, is a major concern. The heat added to the water should be controlled to avoid harm to fish and other aquatic life, otherwise the proposed generating station could seriously affect the economic welfare of the rural area through damaging its recreational potential.