Appendix G

ASite and Impact

Checklist
Early in a project it is useful to set
data that will be required in order to guidedown a list of site
original and existing information. Such a list the collection of
should be short
at the beginning and lengthen as
evolves. Too many data should not understanding of the site
be gathered at first stages
not only to save energy for later investigations
avoid being drowned in partly irrelevant material. but also to
Having said that, we present a list of data that is far
too long for any project. At most, many of these
be handled sketchily. Use it as a checklist to topics would
data decide what
need not be collected, as well as those that
must.
It is customary to make an environmental
impact study
when project planning is complete, in the form of an in
dictment or a whitewash. We advocate that the impact study
commence with the first gathering of site data. The impact
analysis then develops as the design develops, and thus
guides and is guided by it. In its final form, then, like the
analysis of cost (which is what it is in a broader sense), it
will contain no nasty surprises.
Like the site analysis, it should also be concise and
pointed, covering the most critical subjects in depth, touching
briefly on those whose impact is negligible. Its content largely
overlaps the more general site analysis list since it is a sched
ule of information about those particular conditions whici1

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 will have a primary effect on the neighbors of a project. In
eachsubsection below, under the heading of "typical impact
questions," we list the issues most likely to be crucial in
environmental impact studies. Site and impact analysis
shouldproceedItogether, and both should focus on essentials.
Bothcontain negative and positive elements; neither deter-
minesa decision by themselves. Design, and then judgment,
must be applied.

Context
A.General Site
(1) Geographic. location, adjacent land use patterns, access
system, nearby destinations and facilities, stability or
change in development pattern.
(2) Political jurisdictions, social structure of the locality,
population change in surrounding areas.
(9) Ecological and hydrographic system of the region.
Natureeof the area economy, other proposals or projects
nearby and their effects on the site.
Typical Impact Questions:
Will important locations or resOurces become inaccessible to
the general public?
Willenergy, water, food, or other scarce resources be depleted
or degraded?
Wil! the health or safety of the surrounding population be
endangered?
Wil the project put an undue traffic load on its surrounings?
Willsurrounding political, social, or economic systems be
disrupted?
Will the project have a negative impact on existing businesses
or institutions?
Willits construction or maintenance lay undesirable financial
burdens on the surrounding community?
B. Physical Data, Site and Adjacent Land
(1) Geology and Soil:
a. Underlying geology,rock character and depth, fault
lines.
b. Soil types and depth, value as an engineering ma
terial and as aplant medium, presence of hazardous
chemicals or contaminants.
c. Areas of fAllor ledge, liability to slides or subsidence,
capability for mining.
Typical Impact Questions:
Are landslides, subsidence, or earthquakes likely to occur?
Will the soil be contaminated?

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 Can the soil absorb likely wastes without
damage?
Will the topsoil or its nutrient balance be los2
(2) Water:
a. Existing water bodies--variation and
b. Natural and man-made drainage purity.
capacity, purity.
c. Surface drainage
channels--flow,
pattern--amount,
blockages, flood zones, undrained
of continuing erosion.
di rect
depressions, io ns,
areas
d. Water table-elevation and
fluctuation, springs,
flow directions, presence of deep
e. aquifers.
Water supply--location, quantity and quality.
Typical Impact Questions:
Will the purity, oxygen level, turbidity, or
of surface waters be affected? temperature
Will siltation occur?
Can the drainage system accept the additional
Will lands be flooded, erosion be induced, or runof?
CAused to fluctuate?
water bodies
Will the water table rise or fall, affecting
ments, or foundations? vegetation, base.
Will groundwater be contaminated, or the
draw-down of aquifers be affected? recharge or
(3) Topography:
a. Contours.
b. Pattern of landforms--typology, slopes,
circulation
possibilities, access points, barriers, visibility.
c. Unique features.
Typical Impact Question:
Will unique or valued landforms be damaged?
(4) Climate:
a. Regional pattern of temperature, humidity, precip
itation, sun angles, cloudiness, wind direction and
speeds.
b. Local microclimates: warm and cool slopes, wind
deflection and local breeze, air drainage, shade, heat
reflection and storage, plant indicators.
c. Snowfall and snow drifting patterns.
d. Ambient air quality, dust, smells, sound levels.
Typical Impact Questions:
Will the project cause general climatic changes, such as
in regard to temperature, humidity, or wind speed?
Will local microclimates be affected adversely--by the
deflection or funneling of wind, the shading or reflection
of sunlight, the drying or humidifying of the air, the in

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 r the drifting
tensification
off diurnal temperature ranges, or
of
snow?

pollution
increase or dust or obnoxious odors be
air
increase or decrease disturbing noise
generated?

project
Willthe
levels?

cause any radiation or other toxic hazards?

Will theproject
(5)Ecology:
animnal communities--their lo-
planttand
relative stability, self-regulation, and
Dominant
a. and
cation

cove, quality of wooded

vulnerability.
pattern of plant
hGeneral firmness, regeneration potential.
areas, wind el-
location, spread, species,
trees-their
Specimen
endangered,
c.
Pvation at base, whether unique or
support system needed.

Typical Impact Questions:

be dis
and animal communities
wil! imporant plant relocate or to re-
rupted?
Willit be difficult for them to
generate themselves?

destroyed or pest species

Wil rare or endangered species be
of water bodies or
increase?
eutrophication
Will the project cause
algal blooms?
agricultural uses or make
Willthe plan remove significant
reestablished in the future?
it dificult for them to be
(6) Man-Made Structures
elevations,
Existing buildings: location, outline, floor
a. use.
current
type, condition, sewers,
Networks: roads, paths, rails, transit lines,
b.
telephone, steam-their
water lines, gas,electricity, condition.
location,elevations, capacity,
human modifications to
c. Fences, walls, decks, other
the landscape.
Iypical Impact Questions:
and utilities serve the
Willpresent and planned roads adjacent areas?
site without adverse impacts on investment in sur
Willthe project require a substantial
rOunding roads and utilities? maintained and
Can these new facilities be adequately
operated?
damage existing ones?
Wll new structures conflict with or
() Sensory qualities:
a. Character and relationship of visual spaces and
sequences.

423
 points.
b. Viewpoints, vistas, focal smell
c. Quality and variation of light, sound,
Typical Impact Questions:
Is the new landscape in character with the existing one?
Are existing views and focal points conserved aw
enhanced?
Are the new buildings compatible in character with the
retained?
existing structures to be
Adjacent Land
C. Cultural Data, Site and
(1) Resident and using population: change.
a. Number, composition, pattern of
institutions.
b.Social structure, ties, and
c. Economic status and role.

d. Organization, leadership, political participation.

Typical Impact Questions:
relocated?
Will any of the existing population be
Will any segment of this population be disadvantaged?
Will present disadvantaged groups be aided?
How will existing jobs and businesses be affected?
Willthe plan modify current lifestyles or cultural practices
in undesirable ways?
Willexisting institutions or social ties be disrupted?
(2) Behavior settings: nature, location, participants,
rhythm, stability, conflicts.
Typical Impact Questions:
Will the plan destroy important patterns of use without
replacing them?
Will new uses conflict with old ones or endanger safety?
ls future change and expansion provided for?
(3) Site values, rights, restraints:
a. Ownerships, easements and other rights.
b. Zoning and other regulations that influence site use
and character.
c. Economic value and how it varies across the site.
d. Accepted "territories."
e. Political jurisdictions.
Typical Impact Questions:
Will the economic values of the site or its surroundings
be depreciated or enhanced?
Will ownerships or customary "territories" be significantly
disrupted?
(4) Past and future:
a. History of the site and its visible traces.
b. Public and private intentions for future use of site,
conflicts.

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 Typical Impact Questions:

structures conserved?
Are historic
archaeological sites and information conserved and
Are
developed?

Ds the plan disrupt or facilitate current change?

Ds it conflict with any existing plans for the future?
character and images:
(5)Site l individual|identification with aspects of
a. Group and
the site.
h How the site is organized in people's minds.
c Meanings attached to the site, symbolic associations.
d. Hopes, fears, wishes, preferences.
Typical Impact Questions:
Does the plan destroy or enhance group and individual
identification with the site?
Does it disrupt or reinforce existing ways of mentaly
organizing the site?
Does it take account of the popular meanings and values
of the site?
s it in accord with the hopes, fears, and preferences of
the users?

D. Correlation of Data
(1) Subdivisions of the site: areas of consistent structure,
character, problems.
(2) ldentification of key points, axes, areas best left un
developed, areas where intensive development is
possible.
3) Ongoing changes, and those likely to occur without
intervention--the dynamic aspect of the site.
(4) Ties to context-current and possible
linkages, areas
where consistent uses are desirable, patterns of move
ment to be preserved.
5) Summary of significant problems and
cluding a summary of the key positive potentials, in
and negative
impacts of the proposal.

425