when previously mined sites are more suitable because of the presence of 

 access roads, airstrips, removed overburden, and existing unused stock- 

 piled mater i a I . 



A preliminary site visit is appropriate to provide input to the follow- 

 i ng dec i s i ons. 



1. Decision I - Technical Characteristics of Alternative Sites 



Two initial steps are important in the site identification process. 



a. Determine that the area can provide material meeting the 

 technical and volumetric requirements of the project. These 

 requirements must be obtainable within suitable buffers (refer 

 to buffer recommendations in Section V A 3 and Appendix A). 



b. Determine if more than one specific site that meets these 

 requirements exists in the area 



Failure to determine availability of suitable material can result 

 in unnecessary economic cost and environmental damage if initial 

 mining activities show a site to be unsuitable. It is desirable to 

 identify alternative sites in an area of interest because not all 

 sites will be acceptable. 



2. Decision 2 - Areas or Species of Special Concern 



The alternative sites identified in Decision I should be evaluated 

 relative to their disturbance of the features listed below. A site 

 affecting these areas should be modified, or in some cases dis- 

 carded, to minimize or eliminate any effect. 



a. Threatened or endangered species and their habitats that are 

 deemed essential to the survival or recovery of these species 

 that are recognized by Federal and State governments. A cur- 

 rent listing of species and information as to their distri- 



12 I. IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE SITES 



