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<br /> <br />5 <br />for Evaluation (36 CFR 560.4). For archaeological resources, eligibility is <br />typically recommended under Criterion d, on the basis of the information <br />potential of surface artifacts and features, and intact sub-surface cultural <br />deposits. Historical resources may be evaluated under any of the four Criteria <br />on the basis of information potential or significant historic associations. <br />To meet these objectives, a combination of archival research followed by <br />an intensive (1007) inventory of the proposed drill hole locations was conducted. <br />Archival research of the proposed exploration area was pursued at the Office of <br />Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Denver and at the BLM, Little Snake <br />River Resource Area. This research and the overviews of the area indicated that <br />both historic and prehistoric resources could be expected in the area with site <br />_ density being generally low. Expected prehistoric resources were open campsites <br />and lithic scatters while expected historic resources included those associated <br />with agriculture and mining. <br />-Sites were defined as five or more artifacts or a feature, structure or <br />trail, or any combination of these resources meeting OAHP criteria in a discrete <br />location that is believed to represent the locus of patterned human activity. <br />Isolated finds were defined as four or less artifacts without evidence or <br />expectation of additional cultural materials in the immediate vicinity, and that <br />do not represent the locus of patterned human activity. <br />FIELD METHODS <br />An intensive pedestrian survey methodology was used in the conduct of this <br />investigation. Survey blocks of various sizes around the staked drill hole <br />locations utilized a series of parallel pedestrian transects walked at <br />approximately 15 meter intervals. Portions of access corridors that will require <br />upgrading before, during or after drilling operations were inspected using <br />parallel pedestrian transects on each side of the flagged centerline. Each side <br />of the centerline received total coverage amounting to 15 m (50 feet), for a <br />total of 30 m (100 feet) survey corridor width. Special attention was paid to <br />areas of enhanced subsurface visibility, such as eroded areas, rodent backdirt <br />piles, road cuts and animal trails. <br />If cultural material was located, the area was examined closely until all <br />surface manifestations had been identified and the resource adequately defined. <br />Appropriate IMACS forms and other documentation were then completed, including <br />plotting the resource on the proper USGS quadrangle map. Sketch maps were <br />prepared using a Brunton Pocket Transit and pacing for distances. Black and <br />white photographs were taken of all the sites. Datums are white PVC pipe with <br />a metal site tag embossed with the temporary site number. <br />The size of the blocks around the drill hole locations was dictated by the <br />anticipated size of the impacted area plus a 50 foot buffer. For drill pads <br />PEDS-1, 9, 10 & 25 a block 300' on a side was surveyed centered on the staked <br />drill location. This resulted in roughly two acres of land being inventoried for <br />each of these locations. <br />