20210992 Ver 1_Structure 870063 Transylvania No Archaeological Survey Required Form_20210812

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007/2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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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: Structure 870063 County: Transylvania
WBS No: 17BP.14.R.183 Document: MCC
F.A. No: N/A Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP3/14, 401 Cert., TVA

Project Description: The NCDOT proposes to replace Bridge No. 63 on SR 1309 (Silversteen Road)
over West Fork French Broad River in Transylvania County. Bridge No. 63 was built in 1963, and is
considered to be structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) for
the project will be centered on the bridge and measure 75 feet to either side of the centerline and about
300 feet from either end of the bridge. Overall, the APE will encompass about 97,580 square feet (2.24
acres), inclusive of the existing roadway and structure to be replaced.

SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES 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 Thursday,
February 11, 2016. An archaeological survey has been conducted in the vicinity of Bridge No. 63 for the
Richland Creek Timber Sale (see Biblio# 3540 [Noel and Snedecker 1994]), and three (3) archaeological
sites have been recorded within one-half (1/2) mile of the proposed project. Digital copies of HPO’s
maps (Lake Toxaway Quadrangle) as well as the HPOWEB GIS Service (http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/)
were last reviewed on Monday, February 22, 2016. There are no known historic architectural resources
located within or adjacent to the 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 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 archaeological APE.

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 State-funded project that will require several Federal permits. Permanent utility and drainage
easements may be required; however, the overall dimensions of the APE will capture any necessary
easements. 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 Area of Potential Effects
(APE) that would require our attention. Based on the size of the APE, activities may take place beyond
the NCDOT’s existing ROW. From an environmental perspective, the APE falls within the heavily
wooded and rugged terrain typical of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge physiographic province, and is
composed of three (3) soil types: Dellwood-Reddies complex, 0-3% slopes, occasionally flooded (map
code - 14), Cullasaja-Tuckasegee complex, 15-30% slopes, very stony (map code – 101D), and Porters-
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007/2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Unaka complex, 30-50% slopes, very rocky (map code – 761E). Although soil conditions are well-
drained to moderately well-drained, the entire APE consists of steeply sloping topography on either side
of a very narrow river drainage. Running parallel to the river, the existing road has been cut into the side
of two mountains on opposite sides of the drainage, essentially making two 90-degree turns in order to
cross the river. Preservation of intact archaeological resources within such an area would be unlikely.
Unfortunately, the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) has reviewed only one (1) project within the
vicinity of Bridge No. 63 for environmental compliance, that being a proposed timber sale by the National
Forest Service (NFS). A Heritage Resources Survey was conducted by NFS archaeologists, resulting in
the documentation of six (6) archaeological sites, one of which (31TV680) is located about 750 feet west
of Bridge No. 63 on a small ridgetoe. Regardless of its location, Site 31TV680 consisted of only three (3)
examples of lithic debitage (shatter and bifacial thinning flakes). All six of the archaeological sites were
rated Class III by the NFS, and are not considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP). In addition, please take note that the proposed project falls entirely within the Pisgah National
Forest, and is thus owned by the Federal government. Based on the constricted nature of the proposed
project, current soil conditions and topography, and previous survey work, it is believed that the current
APE, 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 State-funded project requires a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) 26(a) permit. A copy of this
form is being provided to TVA for their use in their Section 106 compliance including Tribal
consultations as appropriate. Copies of this form are also being provided to The Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians, The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee
Indians.

SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other:

FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED

February 22, 2016
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007/2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Figure 1: Lake Toxaway, NC (USGS 1946 [PR1969]).
Bridge No. 63 on SR 1309
over West Fork French
Broad River
14
393D
101D
761E
101E
793E
393E
393E
793E
393E
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V
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R
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West Fork French Broad River
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid,IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community
PA 16-02-0099Replace Bridge No. 63 onSR 1309 (Silversteen Road)over West Fork French Broad Riverin Transylvania County, NC
Area of Potential Effects (APE)
GF Cemetery
NCHPOpoints
Contour_004
HYARUT
Named_streams
Streets
Local_District_Boundaries
NCHPO_NR_SL_DOE_Boundaries
Transylvania Soils
Transylvania_Parcels
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