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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210345 Ver 1_B-4626_Tribal_Coordination_Letter_Catawba_12-06-2019_20210319 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ROY COOPER JAMES H. TROGDON, III GOVERNOR SECRETARY Mailing Address: NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STRUCTURES MANAGEMENT UNIT 1581 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH NC 27699 Telephone: (919) 707-6400 Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968 Website: www.ncdot.gov Location: 1000 BIRCH RIDGE DRIVE RALEIGH NC 27610 December 6, 2019 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 has started the project development, environmental, and engineering work for the replacement of Bridge No. 3 on NC 49 over Yadkin River and Winston Salem Southbound Railroad in Davidson, Rowan, and Stanly Counties as project B-4626. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is the lead federal agency and a permit is anticipated under the Section 404 process with the FHWA. A project vicinity map is attached. The coordinates of this project are approximately 35.505955, -80.183957. This project was reviewed/surveyed for cultural resources by NCDOT under the terms of the 2015 Amended Programmatic Agreement Among the Federal Highway Administration, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office for Minor Transportation Projects in North Carolina (PA). The results of that review/survey are attached. The environmental document for this undertaking was completed on May 10, 2018. Please find attached Archaeology Survey Reports. No Archaeological Survey was required for this project. Please respond by January 10, 2020 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 dstutts@ncdot.gov or (919) 707-6442. Thank you, David Stutts, P.E. NCDOT Project Engineer – PEF/Program Management cc: Matt Wilkerson, NCDOT Archaeology Team Leader Joe Geigle, PE, Div 5, 7 & 9 - FHWA DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F Sources: ESRI, NCDOT, HNTB North Carolina, PC. Credit: HNTB North Carolina PC, 2018 Replace Bridge 790003 ¯ 0 0.5 1 Miles Legend B-4626 Study Area ¾¾49 ¾¾8 ¾¾49 ¾¾8 Deck Preservation Bridge 790008 Project Location MapNCDOT STIP Project B-4626Replace Bridge 790003 and Apply Deck Preservation Treatment to Bridge 790008 Over Yadkin River and Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad. Rowan, Davidson, and Stanly Counties DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED 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-4626 County: Davidson, Rowan, Stanly WBS No: 38443.1.FS2 Document: PCE or CE F.A. No: BRNHP-0049(33) Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: ? Project Description: NCDOT intends to replace Bridge No. 3 on NC 49/NC 8 over the Yadkin River near the intersection of the Davidson, Rowan, and Stanly County lines. The original request for cultural resources review did not include preliminary design, but proposed a study area 1100 feet long and 300 feet wide. Based on updated mapping, a revised corridor roughly 6000 feet (1828.8 meters) long was subsequently established along with preliminary designs that reduce the project footprint to existing right-of-way (ROW) with the exception of two areas along the south side of the project, close to the bridge footings where additional ROW is anticipated. Additionally, a 25-foot easement for construction and utilities was added to that revised area of potential effects (APE). Based on further planning, an additional area along the south side of NC 49 in Stanly County (west of the Yadkin River) was added to the proposed APE to accommodate a proposed haul road for launching a work barge. and for construction equipment to reach the water's edge during the bridge replacement and construction along the bridge approaches. This revised APE is now estimated to encompass 27.5 acres (nearly 11.13 hectares). SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: The initial review of the site maps and files archived at the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology was conducted on March 5, 2015. While no previously identified archaeological sites are recorded within the proposed APE, some landforms within the project APE appear to retain potential for archaeological resources. Additionally, several known sites are documented in similar settings, outside the current APE, but in the general vicinity (i.e. 31Dv500, 31Dv501, 31Dv269, 31Dv490, 31Dv491, 31St97, 31St98). Soils documented in the area are consistent with expectations for steeply sloped, well-drained, areas in the Uwharries region. Some of these soils are not to dissimilar to those encountered in areas surrounding more significant archaeological sites identified to the south (i.e. Doerschuk). It was noted that portions of the proposed APE have clearly been modified by the construction of highway and bridge facilities, as well as nearby parking areas. An examination of the data presented on the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office HPOWEB GIS Service (http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/) reveals that historic property locations within .5-mile of the proposed project are the former location of the Stokes Ferry Bridge (RW0653) and the current Bridge No. 3 over the Yadkin River (RW2108). No previously documented cemeteries are located within the same .5-mile radius. An examination of soils in Davidson County presented on the National Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx) indicates the following soil types are mapped within the proposed APE: Georgeville silt loam, 4 to 15 percent slopes, extremely boulder (GmD); and Georgeville silt loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes, extremely boulder (GmF). For the portion of the “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 7 Project Tracking No.: 15-02-0049 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F Project Tracking No.: APE within Rowan County, the following soils are mapped: Badin channery silt loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes (BaD); and Uwharrie loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes, very stony (UhE). For the portion of the proposed APE that falls within Stanly County, the following soil types are mapped: Badin channery silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes (BaD); Goldston very channery silt loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes (GoF). The most recent additions to the proposed APE all fall within areas mapped as possessing GoF soils. The first (preliminary) APE for the project included a 300-foot wide corridor and, as a result, an archaeological reconnaissance to determine the scope for any further investigations seemed prudent. Archaeological Survey Required form was submitted on March 27, 2015. In 2017, the APE was revised (along with preliminary design) to reflect a much narrower project footprint that would largely remain within existing ROW. It was determined, at that time, to conduct the archaeological reconnaissance on the portions of the proposed project footprint that would extend outside the severely disturbed ROW. An archaeological reconnaissance, consisting largely of windshield survey with visual inspection in the areas added to accommodate a 25-foot easement for construction and utilities was conducted on March 10, 2017 by NCDOT archaeologists, Shane Petersen and Brian Overton. As expected, existing ROW areas are dominated by steep slopes, cut banks, and terracing. Exposed soils appear to suggest moderate to severe erosion in some areas. In other areas outside existing ROW, exposed and exfoliating bedrock is visible in areas that are not severely sloped. None of the APE investigated in 2017 was considered to have a reasonable potential for intact significant archaeological resources. On March 14, 2017, a No Archaeological Survey Required form was produced based on these results. On January 31, 2018, revised mapping was received based on information used to support NCDOT’s permit applications (United States Army Corps of Engineers and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permits) for the project. This mapping was used to revise the APE to its current dimensions and was used to guide further archaeological reconnaissance investigations along the south side of NC 40 in Stanly County. These reconnaissance investigations were conducted by NCDOT archaeologists, Shane Petersen and Brian Overton on April, 12, 2018. The archaeological reconnaissance was accomplished through the visual inspection (including walkover examination) of the entire portion of APE added in the January 2017 mapping. No further archaeological investigations are required for the project within the area established as the current APE. Should the project expand outside the archaeological APE, as defined herein, further consultation will be necessary. Brief Explanation of why the available information provides a reliable basis for reasonably predicting that there are no unidentified historic properties in the APE: As noted on the soil mapping for Stanly County, the portion of expanded APE still falls within the area mapped as Goldston very channery silt loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes. Nevertheless, topographic mapping of the area suggested that portions of this additional APE might exhibit far less slope than suggested by the soil mapping. While portions of the additional APE do exhibit little slope, the vast majority of the additional APE is steeply sloped from the existing highway facility shoulders. Aerial photographs taken in 1026, in advance of the creation of the Tuckertown Reservoir reveal that much of this area was cleared at one time and may have been used for agricultural purposes. Nevertheless, the portion of APE that stretches between the easement for NC 49 in Stanly County and the edge of Tuckertown Reservoir/Yadkin River, is very narrow (no more than 24 meters at its widest point; generally far more narrow). This area is still considered to be very unlikely to possess intact archaeological deposits that would be considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Other: soil map “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 7 15-02-0049 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED July 10, 2018 NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 7 Project Tracking No.: 15-02-0049 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F Aerial photograph illustrating the updated APE (orange lines) for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 3 over the Yadkin River on NC 49. “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 4 of 7 Project Tracking No.: 15-02-0049 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F Aerial photograph with 2-foot contours illustrating the western end of the proposed project, the original APE (yellow) and the updated APE (orange) accommodating temporary water access. “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 5 of 7 Project Tracking No.: 15-02-0049 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F Detail of the 1926 aerial photograph of the Tuckertown Reservoir vicinity along the Yadkin River at the Stokes Ferry location (https://library.digitalnc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ncimages/id/11874/rec/6). “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 6 of 7 Project Tracking No.: 15-02-0049 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F Photograph illustrating the location of additional ROW south of NC 49, facing east. Photograph of the base of the sloped easement east of the Yadkin River boat access, facing east. “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 7 of 7 Project Tracking No.: 15-02-0049 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F Soil Map—Davidson County, North Carolina, Rowan County, North Carolina, and Stanly County, North Carolina (Replacement of Bridge No. 3 over the Yadkin River) Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 7/10/2018 Page 1 of 43928900392910039293003929500392970039299003928900392910039293003929500392970039299003930100573100573300573500573700573900574100574300574500574700574900 573100 573300 573500 573700 573900 574100 574300 574500 574700 574900 35° 30' 41'' N 80° 11' 40'' W35° 30' 41'' N80° 10' 22'' W35° 30' 0'' N 80° 11' 40'' W35° 30' 0'' N 80° 10' 22'' WN Map projection: Web Mercator Corner coordinates: WGS84 Edge tics: UTM Zone 17N WGS84 0 400 800 1600 2400 Feet 0 100 200 400 600 Meters Map Scale: 1:9,030 if printed on A landscape (11" x 8.5") sheet. Soil Map may not be valid at this scale. DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F MAP LEGEND MAP INFORMATION Area of Interest (AOI) Area of Interest (AOI) Soils Soil Map Unit Polygons Soil Map Unit Lines Soil Map Unit Points Special Point Features Blowout Borrow Pit Clay Spot Closed Depression Gravel Pit Gravelly Spot Landfill Lava Flow Marsh or swamp Mine or Quarry Miscellaneous Water Perennial Water Rock Outcrop Saline Spot Sandy Spot Severely Eroded Spot Sinkhole Slide or Slip Sodic Spot Spoil Area Stony Spot Very Stony Spot Wet Spot Other Special Line Features Water Features Streams and Canals Transportation Rails Interstate Highways US Routes Major Roads Local Roads Background Aerial Photography The soil surveys that comprise your AOI were mapped at 1:24,000. Warning: Soil Map may not be valid at this scale. Enlargement of maps beyond the scale of mapping can cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping and accuracy of soil line placement. The maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a more detailed scale. Please rely on the bar scale on each map sheet for map measurements. Source of Map: Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey URL: Coordinate System: Web Mercator (EPSG:3857) Maps from the Web Soil Survey are based on the Web Mercator projection, which preserves direction and shape but distorts distance and area. A projection that preserves area, such as the Albers equal-area conic projection, should be used if more accurate calculations of distance or area are required. This product is generated from the USDA-NRCS certified data as of the version date(s) listed below. Soil Survey Area: Davidson County, North Carolina Survey Area Data: Version 18, Sep 26, 2017 Soil Survey Area: Rowan County, North Carolina Survey Area Data: Version 14, Oct 3, 2017 Soil Survey Area: Stanly County, North Carolina Survey Area Data: Version 19, Oct 3, 2017 Your area of interest (AOI) includes more than one soil survey area. These survey areas may have been mapped at different scales, with a different land use in mind, at different times, or at different levels of detail. This may result in map unit symbols, soil properties, and interpretations that do not completely agree across soil survey area boundaries. Soil map units are labeled (as space allows) for map scales 1:50,000 or larger. Soil Map—Davidson County, North Carolina, Rowan County, North Carolina, and Stanly County, North Carolina (Replacement of Bridge No. 3 over the Yadkin River) Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 7/10/2018 Page 2 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F MAP LEGEND MAP INFORMATION Date(s) aerial images were photographed: Jul 18, 2011—Oct 25, 2017 The orthophoto or other base map on which the soil lines were compiled and digitized probably differs from the background imagery displayed on these maps. As a result, some minor shifting of map unit boundaries may be evident. Soil Map—Davidson County, North Carolina, Rowan County, North Carolina, and Stanly County, North Carolina (Replacement of Bridge No. 3 over the Yadkin River) Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 7/10/2018 Page 3 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F Map Unit Legend Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Acres in AOI Percent of AOI GmD Georgeville silt loam, 4 to 15 percent slopes, extremely bouldery 6.4 23.2% GmF Georgeville silt loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes, extremely bouldery 5.9 21.5% W Water 1.6 5.9% Subtotals for Soil Survey Area 14.0 50.7% Totals for Area of Interest 27.5 100.0% Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Acres in AOI Percent of AOI BaD Badin channery silt loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes 1.5 5.5% UhE Uwharrie loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes, very stony 0.9 3.3% W Water 2.0 7.4% Subtotals for Soil Survey Area 4.4 16.2% Totals for Area of Interest 27.5 100.0% Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Acres in AOI Percent of AOI BaD Badin channery silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 1.2 4.2% GoF Goldston very channery silt loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes 7.1 25.9% W Water 0.8 3.0% Subtotals for Soil Survey Area 9.1 33.1% Totals for Area of Interest 27.5 100.0% Soil Map—Davidson County, North Carolina, Rowan County, North Carolina, and Stanly County, North Carolina Replacement of Bridge No. 3 over the Yadkin River Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 7/10/2018 Page 4 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 260508D9-3E03-48E7-9506-60A718CD0F4F