project area area must have been quantitatively described within the 

 past 5 years using accepted sampling and analytical procedures, and 

 boundaries between community types must be known. Record information 

 on DATA FORM 1.* In either case, PROCEED TO Section F if there is 

 evidence of recent significant vegetation alteration due to human 

 activities or natural events. Otherwise, PROCEED TO STEP 6. 



• STEP 6 - Summarize Available Information on Area Soils. Examine 

 available information and describe the area soils. Consider the 

 following: 



a. County soil surveys. Determine the soil series present and 

 extract characteristics for each. CAUTION: Soil mapping units 

 sometimes include more than one soil series. 



b. Unpublished county soil maps. Contact the local SCS office and 

 determine whether soil maps are available for the area. Deter- 

 mine the soil series of the area, and obtain any available 

 information about possible hydric soil indicators (paragraph 44 

 or 45) for each soil series. 



c. Published EIAs, EISs, or GDMs that include soils information. 

 Extract any pertinent information. 



d. Federal, State, and/or local government documents that contain 

 descriptions of the area soils. Summarize these data. 



e. Published scientific studies that include area soils data. 

 Summarize these data. 



f. Previous wetland determinations for the area. Extract any 

 pertinent soils data. 



When the above have been considered, PROCEED TO STEP 7. 



• STEP 7 - Determine Whether Soils of the Project Area Have Been Ade- 

 quately Characterized. Examine the summarized soils data and determine 

 whether the soils have been adequately characterized. For routine 

 determinations, the soil series must be known. For comprehensive 

 determinations, both the soil series and the boundary of each soil 

 series must be known. Record information on DATA FORM 1. In either 

 case, if there is evidence of recent significant soils alteration due 

 to human activities or natural events, PROCEED TO Section F. Other- 

 wise, PROCEED TO STEP 8. 



• STEP 8 - Summarize Available Hydrology Data. Examine available in- 

 formation and describe the area hydrology. Consider the following: 



* A separate DATA FORM 1 must be used for each plant community type, 



48 



