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Home My WebLink About20210046 Ver 1_Catawba Ashe 355 notification_20210208 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ROY COOPER J. ERIC BOYETTE GOVERNOR SECRETARY Mailing Address: NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION 11 801 STATESVILLE HWY NORTH WILKESBORO, NC 28659 Telephone: (336)-903-9129 Fax: (336)-667-4549 Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968 Website: www.ncdot.gov January 5th, 2021 Dr. Wenonah Haire Catawba Indian Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office 1536 Tom Steven Road Rock Hill, SC 29730 Dear Dr. Haire, The North Carolina Department of Transportation is starting the project development, environmental, and engineering studies for the replacement of bridge #355 on SR 1181 (Hartzog Ford Road), over South Fork New River, Ashe County, North Carolina. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the lead federal agency for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and a Permit is anticipated under the Section 404 Process with the USACE. The coordinates of this project are approximately 36.317030, -81.423069. A project vicinity map is attached, as well as results from an archaeology survey completed in December of 2016. We would appreciate any information you might have that would be helpful in evaluating potential environmental impacts of the project including recommendation of alternates to be studied. Your comments may be used in the preparation of a NEPA/ State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Document. In accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA, we also request that you inform us of any historic properties of traditional religious or cultural importance that you are aware of that may be affected by the proposed project. Be assured that, in accordance with confidentiality and disclosure stipulations in Section 304 of the NHPA, we will maintain strict confidentiality about certain types of information regarding historic properties. Please respond by February 15th so that your comments can be used in the scoping of this project. If you have any questions concerning this project, or would like any additional information, please contact me at kjhining@ncdot.gov or 828-386-7202. Thank you, Kevin Hining Division Environmental Officer- NCDOT, Highway Division 11 Cc: Matt Wilkerson, NCDOT Archaeology Team Lead Cc: Lori Beckwith, USACE Regulatory Project Manager WILKESASHEUV16 UV163 ¯Legend County Boundary ESRI World Street Basemap WBS ELEMENT NO. 17BP.11.R.162REPLACE BRIDGE #040355ON SR 1181 (HARTZOG FORD ROAD)OVER SOUTH FORK NEW RIVERASHE COUNTY VICINITY MAP 1FIGURE WILKES ASHE ALLEGHANY SURRY WATAUGA N.T.S. BRIDGE#355 County: ASHE WBS: 17BP.11.R.162 Div: 11 Bridge #040355 Prepared By: TGS Date: 12/12/2018 0 0.5 10.25 Miles DocuSign Envelope ID: 54BC5755-1EF8-40F7-B304-DA8C8E68F51F Project Tracking No.: Page 1 of 16 16-01-0078 NO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT 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: B-5823 County: Ashe WBS No: 45776.1.1 Document: CE F.A. No: BRZ-1181(005) Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP 3 or 14 Project Description: The project calls for the replacement of Bridge No. 355 on SR 1181 (Hartzog Ford Road) over the South Fork New River in Ashe County. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the project is defined as a 14 acre parcel that runs along Hartzog Ford Road, Ellis Road, and two private drives. The APE measures approximately 1,400 feet (426.72 m) along Hartzog Road extending 700 feet (213.36 m) north and 700 feet south from the center of the bridge. The width of the APE varies but it is approximately 420 feet (128.02 m). It extends 100 feet (30.48 m) west and 320 feet (97.54 m) east from the center of Hartzog Road north of Bridge 355, and 100 feet (30.48 m) east and 320 to 380 feet (97.54 to 115.82 m) from the center of the road south of the bridge. The northern extent of the APE encompasses the first private drive found on the eastern bank of the South Fork New River, while the southern extent includes Ellis Road on the western bank. The APE also extends 360 feet (109.73 m) west along the second private drive from its intersection with Hartzog Road. This section of the APE is approximately 235 feet (71.63 m) wide extending 150 feet (45.72 m) north and 85 feet (25.91 m) south from the center line of the private drive. SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Archaeology Group reviewed the subject project and determined: There are no National Register listed or eligible ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES present within the project’s area of potential effects. (Attach any notes or documents as needed) No subsurface archaeological investigations were required for this project. Subsurface investigations did not reveal the presence of any archaeological resources. Subsurface investigations did not reveal the presence of any archaeological resources considered eligible for the National Register. All identified archaeological sites located within the APE have been considered and all compliance for archaeological resources with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and GS 121-12(a) has been completed for this project. DocuSign Envelope ID: 54BC5755-1EF8-40F7-B304-DA8C8E68F51F Project Tracking No.: Page 2 of 16 16-01-0078 RECOMMENDATION Archaeological Consultants of the Carolina, Inc. (ACC) conducted an archaeological survey and evaluation for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 355 on SR 1181 (Hartzog Ford Road) over the South Fork New River in Ashe County. The fieldwork was carried out in October 2016 by Luan Cao and Katherine Carter. No archaeological sites were identified during the course of this survey within the currently defined APE. As a result, ACC recommends no further archaeological investigations are needed for this project. I concur with this recommendation as the proposed bridge replacement project will not impact significant archaeological resources. If the project expands and impacts subsurface areas beyond the defined APE, further archaeological consultations will be necessary. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Other: Cultural Review Signed: 12/14/16 C. Damon Jones Date NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST DocuSign Envelope ID: 54BC5755-1EF8-40F7-B304-DA8C8E68F51F