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compelling evidence exists that the overall impact to businesses and the City's tax base would be positive. There were no indications that an alternate route would be destructive to the economic health of the City of Pequot Lakes, and substantial evidence to the contrary..' The Study also found that the direct costs that the City would incur during the project would be substantially less for the alternate route than for the through -city alternative. 2. Numerous comments .suggested constructing Highway 371 as a four -lane divided highway on the existing alignment would f n-ther divide the Pequot Lakes business district. Response: The preferred alternative does not include expansion of the existing alignment through the Pequot Lakes business district. Environmental /Natural Resource (3 Comments) 1. One comment, including pictures, claimed the presence of -a pond (not identified in the SFEIS) that maybe affected by the proposed project. Response: MnIDOT was not granted access to the - property to verb the size and/or features of the pond noted in this comment. However, based on a review of the photos provided by the commenter, the basin appears to be approximately 0. 05 acre in size and vegetated with mostly watercress, red canary grass and some tussock sedge, although species identification is very difficult from a picture: MWDOT will inventory and map the location of wetlands /water bodies on this property to determine impacts and explore avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures when access to this property can be- obtained. 2. One comment claimed the presence of Blanding's Turtle, a Threatened Species in Minnesota, on their property. Response: Blanding's turtles are a state Threatened Species. MWDOT was not granted access to the prop erty'to verify the presence of Blanding's turtles. Some areas of the State have been designated as priority protection areas where large populations exist. This project is not in or near a priority area The MnDNR guidelines and recommendations to protect turtles during construction will be followed 3. One comment identified potential impacts to management activities on forested and open space land that would be bisected by the proposed bypass. Response: The proposed bypass will bisect a few forested parcels. Based on available information, large tracts of managed forest land would not be affected. Some of the land is currently in young plantation, agricultural or equestrian uses. Issues related to access to bisected properties will be addressed through the right of way acquisition process. Costs (3 Comments) Several comments questioned the cost effectiveness of the preferred alternative. Response,_ Mn/DOT assesses project cost effectiveness through a benefit -cost ratio analysis process, where a benefit -cost ratio of 1.0 indicates a `break -even' point, and values greater than 1.0 indicating greater benefits. The SMS (Section 1.7 and Appendix R) included the results of the benefit -cost analysis for Alternative 3MOD, indicating a positive benefit -cost ratio of 3. S for the entire corridor from Nisswa to Pine River. TH 371 Adequacy Determination Nisswa to Pine River 18 October 2010 -N