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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211027 Ver 1_Bridge 560145 Madison Tribal Consultation_20211210 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ROY COOPER J. ERIC BOYETTE GOVERNOR SECRETARY June 23, 2021 Russell Townsend Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) 2077 Governors Island Road Bryson City, NC 28713 Whitney Warrior Tribal Historic Preservation Officer United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians PO Box 1245 Tahlequah, OK 74465 Elizabeth Toombs Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Cherokee Nation PO Box 948 Tahlequah, OK 74465 Dr. Wenonah Haire (via mail) Catawba Indian Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office 1536 Tom Steven Road Rock Hill, SC 29730 LeeAnne Wendt Muscogee (Creek) Nation P.O. Box 580 Okmulgee, OK 74447 Dear Sir/Madam, The NC Department of Transportation is conducting project development, environmental, and engineering studies for a proposed bridge replacement project in Madison County, NC. Bridge 145 is proposed for replacement due to structural deficiencies. The bridge will be replaced with a 3 sided box culvert on the existing alignments. The US Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). A Permit is anticipated under the Section 404 Process with the USACE. Project vicinity maps for the project are attached within the NCDOT Archaeological Reports. The coordinates of the projects are approximately 35.789271 N, -82.810967 W for Bridge 145. 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 State Environmental Documentation. 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 NHPA, we will maintain strict confidentiality about certain types of information regarding historic properties. If you have any comments or questions concerning this project or would like any additional information, please contact me at rdbryan@ncdot.gov or 828-250-3005. Please provide your comments by July 23rd for inclusion in the environmental documentation. Sincerely, Roger D. Bryan NCDOT Division 13 Environmental Supervisor cc: Matt Wilkerson, NCDOT Archaeology Team Leader Lori Beckwith, US Army Corps of Engineers Mailing Address: NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION THIRTEEN 55 ORANGE STREET ASHEVILLE, NC 28801-2340 Telephone: (828) 250-3000 Fax: (828) 251-6394 Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968 Website: www.ncdot.gov Location: 55 ORANGE STREET ASHEVILLE, NC 28801-2340 “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 6 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-5882 County: Madison WBS No: 48076.1.1 Document: PCE OR CE F.A. No: BRSTP-1151(12) Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: unknown Project Description: Replace Bridge 145 on SR 1151 over Big Pine Creek. Area of Potential Effects (A.P.E.) is approximately 305 meters (1,000 ft.) long and 61 meters (200 ft.) wide. No easement information provided. No design plans provided. SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: Review included examination of topographic map, aerial photograph, soil sur vey, and listings of previously recorded sites, previous archaeological surveys, and previous environmental reviews at the Office of State Archaeology. Topographic map (Spring Creek) shows the landforms within the A.P.E. have a low probability for archaeological sites. The A.P.E. is located along a small creek in a narrow, deep valley. There is little or no flat land near the A.P.E. The soil survey shows the soil in the A.P.E. is Ashe-Cleveland rock outcrop complex (50-95% slopes), very bouldery near the bridge and Tate loam (15-30% slopes) in the western part of the A.P.E. The bridge is oriented approximately east-west. The aerial photograph shows that the landform along the south side of the bridge and the west side of SR 1151 is a narrow strip of land between the road and creek. The landform north of the bridge and east of the road is also a narrow strip of land between the road and creek. The rest of the A.P.E. is wooded. There are no previously recorded archaeological sites near the A.P.E., the A.P.E. has not been previously surveyed for archaeological sites, and the A.P.E. has not been previously reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO). Brief Explanation of why the available information provides a reliable basis for reasonably predicting that there are no unidentified historic properties in the APE: The review indicates the project has little potential to impact any archaeological sites. The A.P.E. is located along a small creek in a narrow, deep valley, an area with a low to moderate potential for prehistoric archaeological sites. The soil in the A.P.E. is steep and stony and has little potential for archaeological sites. There are no previously recorded sites within or near the project. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other: aerial photograph; soil survey 13-03-0032 “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 6 FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED Caleb Smith 4/3/2013 NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST II Date “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 6 Figure 1: Location of Bridge 145. “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 4 of 6 Figure 2: Topographic map showing the location of Bridge 145. “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 5 of 6 Figure 3: Aerial map showing the Area of Potential Effects of Bridge 145. “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 6 of 6 Figure 4: Soil survey aerial photograph showing the location of Bridge 145.