How should federal agencies consider the likely nature and location of historic properties within the area of potential effects?
The identification effort is based on what might be found and where it is likely to be located. In other words, the APE is the geographic area where identification occurs, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that the entire APE must be subject to archaeological scrutiny. Generally, the level of effort would be expected to be more intensive if there is potential for the APE to contain an archaeological site of national significance or value to a living community.