ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a method for identifying and describing the characteristics of the existing environment. The purpose of examining the existing environment is analytic; information about existing social organization and attitudes forms the basis for analyzing the likely social consequences of the proposed action and interpreting their importance. The chapter provides guidance sufficient for highly detailed or comprehensive assessments. It describes the steps involved in developing and documenting a description of the existing environment. There are several potential criteria for status or power in a community. These include: wealth, property ownership, a family name or family role of historical prominence, and role played in the community. Since community resources, social organization, and well-being are interrelated, one community characteristic may affect another. Data to document preproject labor force and unemployment characteristics are usually provided by the economic/demographic analyst. Unemployment figures can generally be obtained from state or local employment service offices.
