More extensive areas may be excavated, if an archaeological site is being studied in greater detail or if a geologic section is being mapped. Excavations are backfilled and, in most cases, the vegetative layer is replaced atop the excavation. Most of the anticipated excavation probably would occur in the central portion of the planning area. Ground activities encompasses such benign activities as small groups of scientists hiking across the land and small groups of recreationists floating along a river. Given the small numbers of such users and the scattered and benign nature of their activity, no impacts are expected from this travel.
Impacts are possible from camps.
Camps vary from those associated with an aircraft onsite to those with no more supplies than can be carried in a backpack. Backpack camps have even fewer supplies and most commonly are moved daily. Larger camps most likely would be placed at the Inigok airstrip, the abandoned Ikpikpuk well site in Sec. 13, T.11S., R.17W., Umiat Meridian. Fuel facilities would be associated with each of these camps and, at some of these sites, a fuel cache might be established without a camp.