Reducing Unnecessary Disturbance

As a general rule, reducing the amount of land disturbed during the construction of a project reduces the extent of visual impact.

Techniques that help reduce surface disturbance include:

• Colocating several projects within the same right-of-way.
• Placing underground utilities either along the edge or under the surface of an existing road.
• Placing several underground utilities within the same trench.
• Establishing limits of disturbance that reflect the minimum area required for construction.
• Consolidating development of a similar nature within a common structure.
• Planning projects so that they utilize existing infrastructure whenever possible.
• Maximizing slope when it is aesthetically and technically appropriate.
• Locating construction staging and administrative areas in less visually sensitive areas.
• Requiring restoration of disturbed areas no longer required after construction has been completed

Following are some examples of unnecessary disturbance and reduction of unnecessary disturbance:

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Downslope wasting of excess material dramatically increases the size of the visual scar.	The poor location of this gas well pad creates excessive disturbance and strong contrasts in this landscape. .	This pipeline location avoids the wooded area and minimizes disturbance.
Clearcutting on this prominent feature creates strong contrasts and attracts attention from this critical viewing point.	There is a notable difference in the disturbed areas for these two similar gas well developments.	Consolidation of communications facilities reduces the amount of visual sprawl.

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