Approach to Analysis Sample Clauses

Approach to Analysis. The cultural resources impact analysis addresses potential effects to historic properties (districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects that are listed in or considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places). The analysis also considers potential impacts to other kinds of resources that may not be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, including cultural practices, cemeteries, memorials, sacred sites, or medicinal plants. The Tinian and Pagan RTAs and their associated support facilities/infrastructure construction footprints (described in Chapter 2, Proposed Action and Alternatives) were examined in relation to locations of historic properties and resources of cultural importance using Geographic Information System to identify potential impacts due to construction and operations. Training area disturbance footprints were also accounted for to ensure that the full range of potential impacts was identified. Under the proposed action, impacts may be either direct or indirect and are distinguished as follows. Direct impacts occur at the same place and/or time as actions generated by proposed construction (e.g., ground-disturbing activities) and operations (e.g., range use). These impacts may include, but are not limited to, the following: • Physical destruction, damage, or alteration • Ground disturbances such as excavating, filling, grubbing (i.e., use of heavy equipment to remove vegetation), and vegetation maintenance (i.e., trimming vegetation, mowing grass, limbing trees) • Demolition Direct impacts from construction ground disturbance and operational vegetation clearing were assumed within all areas labeled as facility footprints in Chapter 2, Proposed Action and Alternatives, and as “Vegetation Maintenance” in Appendix F, Geology and Soils Technical Memo. Vegetation clearance, including grubbing, would occur in areas such as along roads, Convoy Course engagement areas, Tracked Vehicle Driver’s Course, objective areas, and target areas (Range Complex A). Indirect impacts are caused by or result from project- or operation-related activities, occur usually later in time or space, and are reasonably foreseeable. Potential causes of indirect impacts include, but are not limited to, the following: • Reducing public access to historic properties and resources of cultural importance • Changes in setting through visual or audible intrusions when these characteristics are important to the significance of the resou...