West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

3.7 CULTURAL RESOURCES3.7.1 Archaeological, Historical, Paleontological and Ethnographic Resources3.7.1.1 Area of EffectEffects to cultural resources would be generated by specific implementing actions, suchas fence construction, structure and debris removal, and route designation. Because specificlocations for some actions have not yet been identified, it is not possible at this time to fullyidentify the entire area of potential effect (APE). Decisions that result in actions that disturb theground surface or items on the surface would define the actual area of potential effect for mostcultural resources. For these actions, all work areas, including parking for equipment, loadingand unloading areas, would also fall within the APE. In some cases, actions may affect largerareas, such as landscapes that have cultural, traditional, or sacred values. For route designation,which is the action being considered by the West Mojave Plan with greatest potential to affectcultural resources, the area of effect is the actual routes under consideration plus the 600-footwidecorridor along open routes that is available for pulling off, parking, and camping, plus areasnear or adjacent to routes that may be subject to effects related to use of the route. Such effectsinclude access to historic and prehistoric sites in the area that may be subject to vandalism,artifact theft, removal of wood for campfires, and other similar types of effects. In some cases,presence of vehicle access may have effects on traditional landscapes that extend well beyondthe route and 600-foot corridor of use.3.7.1.2 Existing DatabaseThe existing cultural resources database consists of inventory reports, archaeological siterecords, and related information maintained by BLM in each field office and a databasemaintained by the State of California Office of Historic Preservation (SOHP). To a large degreethese databases overlap through sharing of information over the years. The state database hasbeen maintained by individual Information Centers around the state and until recently was, likethe BLM database, a hard copy system of maps, site records, inventory reports, and photographs.For the past several years a cooperative effort between BLM and the SOHP has been underwayto digitize the database and make it available to qualified users in an electronic format that wouldallow more refined manipulation of the data. This electronic system, the California HistoricalResources Information System (CHRIS) is still under development. Currently, a static version ofdata that has been entered into the CHRIS system has been provided to each BLM field office ona compact disk (CD).In 1966 the National Historic Preservation Act was passed, which requires that federalagencies take into consideration the effects of decisions on cultural resources. By the mid-1970sBLM archaeologists were surveying project areas for Bureau-initiated and non-Bureau-initiatedproposed actions. Similar requirements of state law apply to development of private lands.Since then, the overwhelming bulk of archaeological inventory carried out within the planningarea has been generated by the need to meet legal compliance requirements. Since location ofinventory has been almost wholly determined by where development was planned, the availableChapter 3 3-279