20210209 Ver 2_Structure 430237 RESUBMIT 2 Haywood No Archaeological Survey Required Form_20211102

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N O 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 Team.

PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No: Str. 430237 (Resubmit #2) County: Haywood
WBS No: 17BP.14.PE.177 Document: MCC
Federal Aid No: N/A Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE (Not Specified)

Project Description: NCDOT’s Division 14 proposes to replace Bridge No. 237 on SR 1129 (Little East
Fork Road) over Sorrell Creek in Haywood County. Bridge No. 237 was built in 1961 and is considered
to be structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. When this project was originally submitted for
review in February 2016, the Study Area for the project was centered on the bridge and measured 75 feet
to either side of the centerline and about 300 feet from either end of the bridge. Overall, the Study Area
encompassed about 88,732 square feet (2.04 acres), inclusive of the existing roadway and structure to be
replaced. This project was first reviewed in March 2016 and later surveyed in June 2016. The
development of Preliminary Design Plans in January 2019 necessitated a second review of the
project for which a survey was not recommended. Since then, additional design changes have
occurred, prompting changes in the size and shape of the APE previously reviewed. The newly
generated APE now encompasses an additional 0.20 acre, beyond what was considered and
surveyed. This PA Form shall serve as an addendum to all previous PA Forms.

SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:

The resubmittal for this project was accepted on Thursday, August 19, 2021. Based on the previous
review and survey results for this project, an extensive review of the databases maintained by the Office
of State Archaeology (OSA) was not necessary. As a result of the March 2016 review, an archaeological
survey was conducted around Bridge No. 237; however, no archaeological sites were recorded as part of
those investigations. Digital copies of HPO’s maps (Waynesville Quadrangle) as well as the HPOWEB
GIS Service (http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/) were once more reviewed on Thursday, August 19, 2021.
Although there is now a known historic architectural resource located within or adjacent to the APE
(Little East Fork Creek Stone Silos [HW0658]), intact archaeological deposits associated with this
resource are not anticipated within the footprint of the proposed project, based on the results of the initial
archaeological survey. 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
APE.

(This project falls within a North Carolina County in which the following federally recognized tribes have
expressed an interest: Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, United Keetoowah Band of
Cherokee Indians, Catawba Indian Nation, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. We recommend that you
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ensure that this documentation is forwarded to these tribes using the process described in the current
NCDOT Tribal Protocol and PA Procedures Manual.)
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 still a State-funded project for which a Federal permit is anticipated. As part of the project’s
submittal, permanent/temporary drainage and/or utility easements will be necessary as well as additional
ROW. The size and shape of the APE have been drawn in a way to capture any possible ground-
disturbing activities beyond the NCDOT’s existing ROW associated with the project (i.e. the APE has
now been expanded to include the entirety of an already present man-made farm pond). If there were no
Federal nexus for this project, please know that we would be in compliance with NC GS 121-12a, since
there are no eligible (i.e. National Register-listed) archaeological resources located within the APE that
would require our attention. As before, a review was undertaken for NC GS 113A (North Carolina
Environmental Policy Act [SEPA]) since every State agency is to include an environmental statement on
any action involving a significant expenditure of public moneys or use of public land for projects and
programs significantly affecting the quality of the environment of the State. Based on the statute’s
definition of a “significant expenditure of public moneys” (i.e. $10 million) and “use of public land” (i.e.
not over 10 acres and less than 2 acres of public land), the proposed undertaking is still to be considered
an exempt action; therefore, an archaeological survey would not be deemed necessary under State law.

Environmentally, the APE essentially has not changed; it is still located within the relatively level
floodplain of Sorrell Creek near its confluence with Little East Fork Pigeon River and is composed of two
(2) soil types: Dellwood cobbly sandy loam, 0-3% slopes, occasionally flooded (DeA) and Saunook loam,
2-8% slopes (ScB). Consisting of moderately well-drained and well-drained soils, the APE is situated
within a valley-like setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains physiographic province, along which various
archaeological sites would be anticipated. Utilizing Bass’ (1977) prehistoric settlement study of the Great
Smoky Mountains as a comparison, the project area is located in what would be called the Valley Zone
(i.e. the valley floor). Bass’ spatial analysis indicated that archaeological sites within the Valley Zone
tended to occur within: 1) floodplains (fluvial landforms), or 2) the upper valley area (valley fringe,
slopes, and knolls). With the APE located at the confluence of two drainages, certain sections of the APE
could be considered favorable for containing intact archaeological resources. However, as a result of the
survey for the bridge project in June 2016 (conducted by New South Associates), no archaeological sites
were documented so there is no indication that archaeological materials would be recovered from the
portions of the reconfigured APE that fall outside what was originally surveyed.

The Office of State Archaeology (OSA) has reviewed a handful of projects within the vicinity of the APE
for environmental compliance, most of which were for large timber sale tracts on Cold Mountain Game
Land (GS 20-0378) and Sorrels Meadow (ER 16-1951) for which surveys were not recommended
because of the absence of ground-disturbing activities and the steeply sloping topography. A nearby cell
tower (CT 13-2780) on School House Branch Road was also reviewed for which OSA did not require an
archaeological survey. Within five (5) miles of the APE, NCDOT’s Archaeology Team has reviewed at
least four (4) transportation-related projects for environmental compliance under the Programmatic
Agreement (PA) with the State Historic Preservation Office (NC-HPO), one of which is located within a
mile a proposed project. Similar to OSA, archaeological surveys were not recommended for most of
these projects based on various factors (e.g. poor soil conditions, limited footprint, sloping topography).
A survey, however, was recommended and conducted for the replacement of Bridge No. 246 on Steel
Bridge Road over the West Fork Pigeon River (PA 16-01-0123 [TIP# B-5920]), which resulted in the
documentation of no archaeological sites.

Based on the results of previous review and survey work for this bridge project, it is believed that the
newly generated APE, as depicted, is unlikely to contain intact and significant archaeological resources.
No additional archaeological survey is required for this project. If design plans change again or are made
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available prior to construction, then additional consultation regarding archaeology may 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 Team.

SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Other:

FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST: NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED

August 19, 2021
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST II Date

Figure 1: Waynesville, NC (USGS 1941 [PR79]).
RED = Original Study Area
NAVY = APE #1
PURPLE = APE #2
ScB
DeA
SdD
TrF
EwF
EvE
SdC
LIT
T
L
E E
A
S
T F
O
R
K

R
D
P E A R S O N P L
SHINING ROCK DRS
orrell CreekLittle East Fork Pigeon RiverSource: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GISUser Community
RESUBMITTAL #2PA 16-02-0082Repalce Bridge No. 237 onSR 1129 (Little East Fork Road)over Sorrell Creek inHaywood County, NC
Original Study Area
Area of Potential Effects (APE)
NEW APE 2021
HYARUT
Named_streams
Streets
Soils_All
Haywood_Parcels ¹0 40 80 120 16020Feet
Expanded 2021 APE