HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211069 Ver 1_BP2.R018_NoArchSurveyReq_20211213Project Tracking No.
2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM
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21-07-0002
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: BP2-R018 County: Pitt
WBS No: BP1.R008.1 Document: Federal CE
Federal Aid No: N/A Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE, USCG
Project Description: NCDOT’s Division 2 proposes to replace Bridge No. 15 on South Grimesland
Bridge Road (SR 1565) over Chicod Creek in Pitt County. Bridge No. 15 was built in 1975 and is
functionally obsolete; therefore, it has been selected for replacement. Despite Preliminary Design Plans
having been developed, a Study Area was submitted for review. However, based on the Preliminary
Design Plans, it should be noted that permanent drainage/utility easements will be required beyond
NCDOT’s existing 60-foot ROW. Project length measures approximately 0.13 mile (686.4 feet).
Overall, the Study Area encompasses about 8.49 acres, inclusive of all existing roadways, the structure
itself, and any modern development.
SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
This project was accepted on Friday, July 16, 2021. A review of the databases maintained by the Office
of State Archaeology (OSA) was performed on Wednesday, July 14, and Thursday, July 15, 2021. An
archaeological survey (Phelps 1977 [OSA Bib #406]) of the Chicod Creek watershed has already been
conducted, covering much, if not all, of the Study Area. Seven (7) archaeological sites have been
recorded within one (1) mile of the project area, including one (31PT159) that is immediately adjacent to
the Northeast Quadrant of the Study Area. Digital copies of HPO’s maps (Grimesland Quadrangle) as
well as the HPOWEB GIS Service (http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/) were last reviewed on Friday, July 16,
2021. There are no known historic architectural resources located within or adjacent to the Study Area
for which intact and significant 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
Study Area.
(This project falls within a North Carolina County in which the following federally recognized tribes have
expressed an interest: 1) Catawba Indian Nation, and 2) Tuscarora Nation. We recommend that you ensure
that this documentation is forwarded to these tribes using the process described in the current NCDOT
Tribal Protocol and PA Procedures Manual.)
Project Tracking No.
2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM
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21-07-0002
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 for which a Federal permit is anticipated. As part of the project’s submittal,
permanent/temporary drainage and/or utility easements will be necessary; however, additional ROW
should not be required. The size and shape of the Study Area have been drawn in a way to capture any
potential ground-disturbing activities that may occur beyond the NCDOT’s existing 60-foot ROW. 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 Study Area that would require our attention.
From an environmental perspective, the Study Area falls within a rather rural area in the Coastal Plain
physiographic region of North Carolina. Five (5) soil types are present, three of which make up about
80% of the Study Area (Exum fine sandy loam, 1-6% slopes (ExB), Bibb complex (Bb), and Chipley
sand (Ch)), a third of which is classified as poorly drained (i.e. Bb soils). The preservation of intact
archaeological resources would not be anticipated under such environmental conditions. However, most
of the Study Area consists of moderately well-drained conditions, which would be ideal locations for
archaeological sites to be situated. As an example, most of the archaeological sites along the Chicod
Creek watershed (including nearby Site 31PT159) are positioned immediately along the edge of the first-
order terrace rather than within the flood zone area of the creek. Site 31PT159 is about 100 meters east of
SR 1565 on the north side of Chicod Creek, just outside the Study Area. However, cultural material was
collected from an area 150 meters East-West by 50 meters North-South, but there was no evidence of
stratified cultural materials, so no further work was recommended for the site according to the site form
on file with OSA.
The Office of State Archaeology (OSA) has reviewed only two (2) projects within the vicinity of the
Study Area for environmental compliance, both of which are utility improvements (ER 13-0441 and ER
14-0017). OSA did require an archaeological survey for these projects based on the sheer length of the
proposed transmissions lines and the variety of landscapes traversed by the proposed corridors. Within
five (5) miles of the Study Area, NCDOT’s Archaeology Team has reviewed at least eight (8)
transportation-related projects for environmental compliance under the Programmatic Agreement (PA)
with the State Historic Preservation Office (NC-HPO), none of which falls within a mile of the proposed
project. An archaeological survey was not recommended for any of these projects, based on heavily
disturbed and/or poorly drained contexts and/or the restrictive/constrained nature of each individual APE
(i.e. contained within existing ROW). A review of various historic maps and aerials revealed that this
particular road and crossing was in existence going back to at least the turn of the 20th century; however,
very little has occurred over time within the immediate vicinity of the Study Area since then.
Based on the Preliminary Design Plans, current environmental/topographical conditions, and the fact that
much, if not all, of the Study Area was previously surveyed, it is believed that the current Study Area, 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 Team.
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2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM
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SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Other:
FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST: NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED
July 16, 2021
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST II Date
Figure 1: Grimesland, NC (USGS 1979).
Project Tracking No.
2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM
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Figure 2: Preliminary Design Plans (25%).
Bb
ExB
Ch
Bb
ExA
CrB W
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GRIMESLAND BRIDGEChicod Creek
Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GISUser Community
TIP# BP2-R018 (PA 21-07-0002)Proposed Replacement of Bridge No. 15on S. Grimesland Bridge Rd. (SR 1565)over Chicod Creek inPitt County, NC
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