"This Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared as a tiered document in response to the Bureau of Land management's (BLM) receipt of Midas Joint Venture's Plan of Operations Modification submitted in February 1998, and in coordination wit the original EA which was completed in June 1996. This Plan of Modification covers an expanded project area and proposes drilling and reclamation activities similar to those authorized in the 1996 EA . . . Exploration activities detailed in this tiered EA would consist of road construction, exploration drilling, and reclamation associated with exploration. Exploration activities have been conducted previously on three contiguous Project areas and one noncontiguous Project area situated within approximately 2.5 miles north and east of the town of Midas, nevada, and located about 60 miles northwest of the city of Elko in Elko County, Nevada. Extended exploration activities are planned to further delineate the precious metal deposit within the Project area"--Page 1-1.