HomeMy WebLinkAbout20201640 Ver 1_Archaeological ADVERSE EFFECT_20201202 Project Tracking No.:
Archaeology Group ADVERSE EFFECTS DETERMINATION form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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15-12-0009
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
ADVERSE EFFECT DETERMINATION FORM
This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project.
It is not valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult
separately with the Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No: SR 2735 Pipe County: Guilford
WBS No: 17BP.7.C.17 Document: MCC
F.A. No: N/A Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP3/NWP14
Project Description: The NCDOT’s Division 7 proposes to replace a non-inventory pipe (#40 2112)
carrying the waters of an unnamed tributary of Reedy Fork underneath SR 2735 (Sockwell Road) in
Guilford County. An off-site detour will be utilized. It was noted that an existing arch structure
constructed of flat rocks and terracotta blocks is present. Proposed ROW width measures about 50
feet from centerline. Project length is an exaggerated 0.2 mile (1,056 feet); however, the Area of
Potential Effects (APE) will be centered on the actual pipe location and encompass about 0.08 acre,
inclusive of the existing roadway.
SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
A map review and site file search was conducted at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on Friday,
January 8, 2016. A reconnaissance of the project location was also conducted on Wednesday, January 13,
2016. A comprehensive archaeological survey has never been conducted along this particular stretch of
SR 2735 (Sockwell Road), and no archaeological sites have been documented within one-half (1/2) mile
of the proposed project. Digital copies of HPO’s maps (Ossipee Quadrangle) as well as the HPOWEB
GIS Service (http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/) were reviewed on Tuesday, January 26, 2016. There are no
known historic architectural resources located within or adjacent to the Area of Potential Effects (APE)
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 historic
orthophotography 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 archaeological
APE.
The Survey Required Form states that “this is a State-funded project for which a Federal permit will be
required. Temporary and/or permanent easements will not be necessary. 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 APE that would require our attention. Although the property on
either side of SR 2735 (Sockwell Road) is not owned by the State of North Carolina, the property on the
north side of the road is under the protection of the State as a Conservation Area as noted by current
signage. A State Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) permit should not be required;
Project Tracking No.:
Archaeology Group ADVERSE EFFECTS DETERMINATION form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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15-12-0009
however, if the project area were to be extended to the north for whatever reason, a State ARPA permit
may become necessary as well as coordination with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to fully
understand the terms of the conservation agreement on the property. From an environmental perspective,
the APE consists of the rolling terrain typical of North Carolina’s north-central Piedmont, and is
composed entirely of Enon clay loam, 10-15% slopes, eroded (EoD2). The eroded and moderately steep
soil conditions within the APE are not favorable for containing intact archaeological sites/resources.
Preservation of archaeological materials within such soil types is likely to be poor.”
However, an existing arched structure constructed of flat rocks and terracotta blocks is present. Upon
further inspection on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, it was observed that “hollow-tile” ceramic blocks
manufactured by the Pomona Terra-Cotta Company have been utilized in the construction of this culvert.
A similar structure in Randolph County was evaluated in 2010 by NCDOT’s Archaeology and Historic
Architecture Groups (see Mohler et al. 2010 [OSA Biblio #6665]) prior to its removal, and was
recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) per Criteria C and D.
There are two distinct differences between the Randolph County culvert and the one underneath SR 2735
(Sockwell Road): 1) the “Pomona 84” stamp, and 2) the use of rectangular hollow-tile segment blocks.
The “Pomona 84” stamp represents the type of segment block used to construct an 84-inch (diameter)
culvert; the Randolph County example utilized “Pomona 48” blocks. It should also be noted that 84-inch
segment blocks were the largest manufactured by the Pomona company. In addition, rectangular, hollow-
tile segment blocks were used to construct both foundation walls of the Sockwell Road culvert whereas
the foundation walls of the Randolph County example were constructed of stone and mortar. Overall
construction technique also differed in the use of head-walls instead of wing-walls in the embankment on
either side of the culvert.
From a historic perspective, the Sockwell Road tile culvert represents a surviving example of a short-lived
construction technique employed for such structures during the earliest decades of the 20th century, with
distinct ties to the now defunct Pomona Terra-Cotta Manufacturing Company (1886-1975) of Guilford
County. For these reasons and the context developed by Mohler et al. (2010) for this type of resource, the
Sockwell Road tile culvert, which has been recorded as Site 31GF561** with the Office of State
Archaeology (OSA), is recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) per
Criteria C and D for it embodies a distinctive method of construction and has yielded information
important to the industrial history of the region, similar to Site 31RD1470** (see Mohler et al. 2010). A
meeting was held on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, with Lawrence Abbott, Office of State Archaeology and
reviewer for Guilford County, to discuss the proposed eligibility of the tile culvert and any adverse effects
the project may have on it (see below). As a result of this meeting, OSA has verbally concurred that Site
31GF561** should be deemed eligible for the NRHP per Criteria C and D and that any adverse effects the
project may have should be mitigated through the suggested environmental commitments (see below).
SUMMARY OF ADVERSE EFFECTS
Archaeology Site Number: 31GF561** NRHP Criteria: C & D
Explanation of Adverse Effects:
The current structure is rated as poor, with notable scour issues, which raises questions regarding its
structural integrity. With the safety of the travelling public of upmost importance, keeping the structure
in place is not possible. All maintenance options for keeping the structure in service have been
exhausted. The culvert has reached the end of its life cycle, and must be replaced. One option was to
close the road and dead-end it on either side of the culvert location. This would impose connectivity
Project Tracking No.:
Archaeology Group ADVERSE EFFECTS DETERMINATION form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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issues for Fire/EMS services along with additional burdens for the Guilford County Public School
System. In addition, the culvert is located in the area of Reedy Fork Farm. Closing SR 2735 (Sockwell
Road) at the culvert location would split this farm and cause undue hardship. A second option was to
replace the culvert with a line of corrugated metal pipe. The second option was recommended in order to
avoid negative safety and economic impacts to the surrounding area. Therefore, NCDOT’s Division 7
intends to replace the existing culvert (i.e. Site 31GF561**) with a new structure of corrugated metal pipe
(66 feet in length) with headwalls on both ends, on same location, while maintaining traffic on existing
roads around the project area by means of an off-site detour. In applying the Criteria of Effects, the
proposed undertaking will result in the physical removal/destruction of the tile culvert thus creating an
adverse effect on the NRHP-eligible resource.
List of Environmental Commitments:
As part of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), mitigation efforts should include extensive
photodocumentation of the tile culvert, the curation of representative segment block samples taken during
its removal, and, if feasible, terrestrial LiDAR scans of both profiles and its interior to generate 3D-
renderings of the culvert’s construction and as-built drawings per HABS/HAER standards.
SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
Map(s) Previous Survey Info. Photos Correspondence Design Plans
Mohler, Paul J., Penne Sandbeck, and Vanessa Patrick
2010 Creative Mitigation at Site 31RD1470**: Removal of Pomona Terra-Cotta Tile Culvert
along Unnamed Tributary of Polecat Creek under SR 2116 (New Salem Road) in
Randolph County, North Carolina. NCDOT Archaeology Group, Raleigh, North
Carolina. Manuscript on file with the Office of State Archaeology, Raleigh, North
Carolina (Biblio #6665).
April 14, 2016
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST DATE
Project Tracking No.:
Archaeology Group ADVERSE EFFECTS DETERMINATION form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Photo 1: North Profile of Sockwell Road Tile Culvert, looking south.
Photo 2: South Profile of Sockwell Road Tile Culvert, looking north.
Project Tracking No.:
Archaeology Group ADVERSE EFFECTS DETERMINATION form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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15-12-0009
Photo 3: Representative Photograph of “Pomona 84” Stamp.
Photo 4: West Headwall along North Profile of Sockwell Road Tile Culvert, looking south.
Site 31GF561**
TEAGUE, GEORGE Y
TEAGUE, GEORGE Y
TEAGUE, GEORGE Y
HOLY COW FARM LLC
TEAGUE, GEORGE Y
TEAGUE, GEORGE Y ; TEAGUE, CHERRY W
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PA 15-12-0009Replace Pipe# 40 2112 under SR 2735 (Sockwell Rd)Guilford County, NC
Site 31GF561**
Area of Potential Effects (APE)
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