ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

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METHODS FOR ASSESSING IMPACTS

Impact analyses and conclusions are based on the review of existing literature and park studies, information provided by park staff, professional judgments and insights of other agencies and officials, and input from interested local tribes and the public. Definitions used to evaluate the context, intensity, duration, and cumulative nature of impacts associated with project alternatives are discussed below. Environmental consequences are evaluated based on the adoption of the mitigation measures outlined in the “Alternatives” section of this document.

Context is the setting within which impacts are analyzed such as the affected region, society as a whole, the affected interests, and/or a locality. In this environmental assessment, the intensity of impacts are evaluated within a local (i.e., project area) context, while the intensity of the contribution of effects to cumulative impacts are evaluated in a regional context.

Duration is the time period for which the impacts are evident. Short-term impacts are those that are noticeable during the project and six months thereafter. Long-term impacts are those that are evident for periods longer than one year after the project has been completed.

For this analysis, impact intensity or severity is defined as follows: