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Home My WebLink About20191387 Ver 1_ARCH_no_survey_20191011Project TrackingXa.: 19-06-0022 NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM �A This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not Ylipvalid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the sr<... �i Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group. PROJECT INFORMATION Project No: Structure 010120 County: Alexander WBS No: DF15712.2002800 Document: Federal CE F.A. No: None Assigned Funding. ❑ State ® Federal Federal Permit Required? ® Yes ❑ No Permit Type: USACE (anticipated) Project Description: On behalf of NCDOT's Division 12, the Design Build/Priority Projects Unit proposes to replace Bridge No. 120 on Herman Road (SR 1121) over Spring Creek in Alexander County. Bridge No. 120 was built in 1960 and has recently been washed out; thus, the emergency request for replacement. The existing cross-section consisted of a 24-foot wide two-lane structure, measuring 30 feet long. Existing ROW appears to measure about 60 feet whereas Proposed ROW is to be 90 feet. Since Preliminary Designs Plans have not been developed yet, a Study Area has been generated in order to facilitate environmental planning purposes at this stage. The Study Area is centered on the bridge location and measures about 394 feet long by about 90 feet wide, encompassing roughly 0.77 acre, inclusive of the existing roadway and any modern development. SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: This project was accepted on Friday, June 21. A map review and site file search at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) was conducted on Thursday, June 20, 2019. No archaeological surveys have been conducted at this particular bridge location and no archaeological sites have been recorded within one (1) mile of the proposed project. Digital copies of HPO's maps (Taylorsville Quadrangle) as well as the HPOWEB GIS Service (http://gis.neder.gov/hpoweb/) were last reviewed on Friday, June 21, 2019. There are no known historic architectural resources located within or adjacent to the Study Area for which intact archaeological deposits would be anticipated within the footprint of the proposed project. In addition, topographic maps, historic maps (NCMaps website), USDA soil survey maps, and aerial photographs were utilized and inspected to gauge environmental factors that may have contributed to historic or prehistoric settlement within the project limits, and to assess the level of modern, slope, agricultural, hydrological, and other erosive -type disturbances within and surrounding the Study Area. Brief Explanation of why the available information provides a reliable basis for reasonably predicting that there are no unidentified historic properties in the APE: This is a federally funded project for which a Federal permit may be needed. Permanent/temporary easements will be necessary as well as additional ROW. Nevertheless, the size and shape of the Study Area have been drawn in a way to capture any possible ground -disturbing activities associated with this project beyond NCDOT's existing ROW. At this time, we are in compliance with NC GS 121-12a, since there are no eligible (i.e. National Register -listed) archaeological resources located within the project's Study Area that would require our attention. Based on the description of the proposed project, activities may take place beyond the NCDOT's existing ROW. From an environmental perspective, the Study Area "No ARCHAEOLOGYSURYEY REQUIRED "form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 200712015 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 3 Project Tracking No.: 19-06-0022 falls within a rather rural environmental/agricultural setting and is composed of two (2) soil types (Pacolet sandy clay loam, 8-15% slopes, eroded [PcC] and Chewacla loam, 0-2% slopes, frequently flooded [ChA]), both of which are either clearly eroded and poorly drained/frequently flooded. As such, the Study Area would not be considered favorable for intact archaeological resources to be present. In the vicinity, the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) has reviewed several projects for environmental compliance, including utility improvements (ERs CH 85-0974 and ER 87-7045), permits for chicken farms (ERs 08-3090, 10-0975, and 13-2096), and transportation improvements (ER 90-7957 [for TIP# B- 2102]). Citing a low probability for intact archaeological resources to be impacted, OSA did not recommend an archaeological survey for any of these projects. Within five (5) miles of the Study Area, NCDOT's Archaeology Group has reviewed at least five (5) transportation -related projects for environmental compliance under the Programmatic Agreement (PA) with the State Historic Preservation Office (NC-HPO), none of which is within a mile of the proposed project. An archaeological survey was recommended for only one (1) of those projects (PA 13-03-0070 [TIP# B-5391]), based on the presence of favorable soil conditions and topography with the potential for archaeological components to be present ; however, no archaeological sites were documented as a result of those investigations. Based on the information above (poor soil conditions and recent wash-out/flooding/erosion), there is a low probability for significant prehistoric and/or historic archaeological materials to be present. Therefore, it is believed that the current Study Area, as depicted, is unlikely to contain intact and significant archaeological resources. No archaeological survey is required for this project. If design plans change or are made available prior to construction, then additional consultation regarding archaeology will be required. At this time, no further archaeological work is recommended. If archaeological materials are uncovered during project activities, then such resources will be dealt with according to the procedures set forth for "unanticipated discoveries," to include notification of NCDOT's Archaeology Group. "This project falls within a North Carolina County in which the following federally recognized Tribe(s) has expressed an interest: Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. It is recommended that you contact each federal agency involved with your project to determine their Section 106 Tribal consultation requirements. Please know that no State -recognized tribes have expressed interest in activities within this county. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: ® Map(s) ® Previous Survey Info ❑ Photocopy of County Survey Notes FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST NO ARCH,4EOL OGY SUR VEY REO UIRED NCDOT ❑ Photos []Correspondence Other: June 21, 2019 Date "No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED "form forMinor Transportation Projecls as Qualified in the 200712015 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of3 Project Tracking No.: 19-06-0022 0 47 W �.; xr Figure 1: Taylorsville, NC (USGS 1970). "No ARCHAEOLOGYSURVEYREQUIRED " form forMinor Transportation Projects as Quaked in lire 2007i2015 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of3