What about the extension of the Highland Scenic Highway

 

The decision not to support the extension of the Highway to U.S. 250 was made primarily for the following reasons.

 a. The estimated costs for construction, land and easement acquisition, recreation development, and reclamation exceed the anticipated benefits. 

b. Although most adverse environmental impacts of construction could be successfully mitigated, some impacts, particularly to wildlife habitat, could not be avoided.

 C. Although development of the project could provide some environmental benefits through land use control and reclamation, it has not been demonstrated that the No-Action Alternative would necessarily result in sufficiently adverse impacts to justify the extension. 

In making this decision, it is recognized that extension of the Highway could provide some significant public benefits: 

a. Increased opportunity for the driving public to view outstanding scenery with minimal distractions from residential or commercial development. 

b. . Expanded opportunities for driving for pleasure and viewing outstanding scenery complementing the extensive and varied recreation opportunities and facilities, particularly in Pocahontas County.

 c. Stimulation to local and regional economies in the short run resulting from construction employment and in the long run from added tourism. 

d. Long-term environmental protection associated with public control of water quality, restrictions on development of presently undeveloped areas, and reclamation of areas disturbed by surface mining in past years. 

However, several detrimental aspects of the proposed extension support a recommendation that the Highway not be extended as proposed. a. It is most difficult to justify the expenditure of $55.8 to $61.3 million for construction of a recreational highway which would contribute little to local or regional transportation needs. 

b. Construction and use of the Highway would significantly impact wildlife habitat, particularly that for black bear and wild turkey. Impacts to black bear habitat, particularly in the Upper Shavers Fork watershed, could not practically be mitigated. 

C. The benefits of spectacular long-range views are diminished by frequent conditions of poor visibility and by the fact that several existing development in the area offer similar opportunities. 

d. Although most risks of impacts to water quality can be mitigated through road design, adequate construction specifications, and stringent supervision and enforcement, total avoidance of significant adverse impacts cannot be guaranteed.

 e. Construction of a highway for the primary purpose of recreational driving is not consistent with national goals to reduce oil consumption. This consideration would have less relevance for a road that also satisfied local or regional transportation needs, provided significant fuel economy, or met other significant local, regional, or national demands. 

In making this decision, the following assumptions have been made concerning the consequences of the No-Action Alternative: 

a. Present trends in land ownership and use within the study area will continue during the foreseeable future: Both deep and surface mining of coal under applicable state and federal regulations will proceed in and adjacent to the Shavers Fork Watershed until commercial reserves are exhausted; timber harvest will proceed on private land subject to voluntary compliance with Best Management Practices; corporately owned land in and near the Shavers Fork Watershed will remain in large tracts, but many of the private tracts outside that area will be subdivided and/or developed for residential, recreational, or tourist related purposes including considerable second home development and development of the Snowshoe Resort complex will continue. 

b. Habitat for turkey and black bear will generally be maintained where mining and timber harvest occur intermittently, but will deteriorate where continual human activity is prevalent. C. Some adverse impacts to water quality related to surface disturbance by mining and access road construction will continue to occur. However, existing environmental controls and the completion of mining and transportation system will result in a reduction of these impacts. The impacts of the No-Action Alternative are not anticipated to be sufficiently adverse to justify the considerable expense of the project. In fact, habitat for turkey and bear would be better under the No-Action Alternative except in areas of occupancy-type development, and some additional commercial activity which would be permitted will have local economic benefits. Adoption of the No-Action Alternative would not necessarily preclude extension of the Highland Scenic Highway under different legislative authoriza- tion. 

Three such possibilities have been identified during the course of this study, all of which fail to meet one or both legislative criteria of management for passenger cars only and terminating at U.S. 250 near Barton Knob as required by P.L. 93–87. 

These possibilities are: a. Designating U.S. 219 northward to some undetermined point as a part of the Highland Scenic Highway. b. Extending the Scenic Highway approximately 10-20 miles to connect to U.S. 219 somewhere between Linwood and the headwaters of the Tygart Valley River. 

C. Extending the Scenic Highway approximately 17 miles to connect to state routes in the vicinity of Cass. Detailed consideration of these possible routes is beyond the scope of this study due to the use and destination limitations of P.L. 93-87. However, certain advantages and disadvantages of each have been identified in a preliminary manner and are summarized on page. A separate study would be needed to determine the feasibility and desirability of these possible routes. Appropriate changes in legislation would be necessary before any decision to designate or construct one of these routes could be implemented.  

Source: Monongahela National Forest (N.F.), WV-150, Highland Scenic Highway extension : environmental impact statement., F. | HathiTrust Digital Library