The feasibility of exploitation of offshore deposits has been 

 established by the Corps of Engineers, but the technology appears to 

 need improvement [56]. However, the sand reserve beyond a depth of 

 30 to 50 feet is generally independent of the sand reserves of the beach 

 area, and therefore its removal should not upset the beach profile [60]. 



4.5 SITE PREPARATION - SUBPROJECT 5 



Site preparation includes clearing, grubbing, rough grading, and 

 other preliminary (or temporary) activities involved in the initial 

 preparation of the site for development. Important considerations are 

 the preservation of buffer areas and vital habitats, slopes (insofar 

 as drainage is concerned), runoff and erosion control provisions, and 

 surface water system protection. Properly controlled, site preparation 

 activities can have minimal impacts on fish and wildlife resources except 

 for the lands which are directly occupied by the development. 



4.5.1 Summary 



Site preparation activities will vary greatly according to local 

 circumstances. However, specific constraints are needed in regard to 

 project location, design and construction activity throughout the coastal 

 region. The development and implementation of strict performance 

 standards is required early in the site preparation phase to minimize 

 potential operational and long-term problems. 



Site preparation activities are numerous and each phase may produce 

 a different type of environmental effect. The main activities are 

 summarized as follows: (1) pre-site preparation activities, such as 

 survey borings and facility layout design; (2) access road construction; 

 (3) establishment of construction camps, and materials and heavy equipment 

 storage areas; (4) land clearing, including tree and brush cutting, stump 

 removal and rock removal; and (5) earth moving operations, such as rough 

 leveling and grading. This discussion is mainly concerned with site 

 clearing and grading activities. (Access roads are discussed in 

 Subproject 8.) 



Modification of the land area has a high potential for adverse 

 effects on estuarine systems by altering runoff patterns and thereby 

 reducing the capability of the land to store rainwater, to regularize its 

 release from the watershed, and to cleanse it enroute to coastal waters. 

 It is particularly important that barren soils be rapidly stabilized. 

 Grades should be designed to direct water flows along natural drainage 

 courses and through natural terrain where the existing vegetation can 

 cleanse runoff waters. Watercourses and wetlands (marshes, swamps, 

 bogs, creeks) should be exempt from alteration. 



112 



