20241235 Ver 1_BP1-R023 Northampton No Archaeological Survey Required Form_20240917

Project Tracking No.
22-01-0016
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N O ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM
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only form pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this
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project. It is not valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must
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consult separately with the Historic Architecture and Landscapes Team.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No: BPI-RO23
WBS No: BP 1.R023.1
Federal Aid No: N/A
Federal Permit Required?
County: Northampton
Document: Federal CE
Funding: ® State ❑ Federal
® Yes ❑ No Permit Type: USACE (not specified)
Project Description: NCDOT's Division 1 proposes to replace Bridge No. 14 on Fire Tower Road (SR
1500) over Wiccacanee Swamp in Northampton County. Bridge No. 14 was built in 1957 and has been
selected to be replaced. Although Preliminary Design Plans have not been developed, an Area of Interest
was submitted in order to facilitate the environmental review process at this stage. The Area of Interest is
centered on the bridge structure and measures about 1,366 feet long and about 160 feet wide. As part of
the submittal_ no easements will be needed_ and no additional ROW will be reauired: therefore_ the Area
of Potential Effects (APE) is restricted to the existine ROW alone Fire Tower Road (SR 1500). Overall
though, the Area of Interest encompasses about 4.91 acres, inclusive of the existing roadway, 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 for review on Monday, January 10, 2022. A review of the databases
maintained by the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) was performed on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. No
archaeological surveys have been conducted within the vicinity of the proposed project, and no
archaeological sites have been recorded within one (1) mile of the project area. Digital copies of HPO's
maps (Galatia and Jackson Quadrangles) as well as the HPOWEB GIS Service
(http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/) were last reviewed on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. There are no known
historic architectural resources located within or adjacent to the APE 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 APE.
(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.)
Brief Explanation of why the available information provides a reliable basis for reasonably
predicting that there are no unidentified historic properties in the APE:
2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM `NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED" FORM
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Project Tracking No.
22-01-0016
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 not be necessary, nor will additional ROW be
required. Although an Area of Interest has been submitted for review, the Area of Potential Effects
(APE), based on the information provided, is restricted to the existing ROW (set at 60 feet,) along Fire
Tower Road (SR 1500). 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 (or Area of Interest) that would require our attention.
From an environmental perspective, the proposed project falls within a rather rural area in the Coastal
Plain physiographic region of northeastern North Carolina. The Area of Interest consists of four (4) soil
types: Goldsboro sandy loam, 0-2% slopes (GoA), Craven fine sandy loam, 14% slopes (CrB),
Wehadkee loam, 0-2% slopes, frequently flooded (Wh), and Bethera silt loam, 0-1% slopes (Be).
Roughly one-third of the Area of Interest consists of frequently flooded (Wh) and poorly drained (Be) soil
conditions. Such environmental conditions would not be ideal for stratigraphically intact archaeological
resources to be present. Although moderately well -drained soil conditions exist within the greater Area of
Interest, the APE is restricted to the existing ROW and would, thus, be considered disturbed.
The Office of State Archaeology (OSA) has not reviewed any projects within the vicinity of the proposed
project for environmental compliance. The widening of US 158 (TIP# R-2582/R-2584) happens to be the
closest project reviewed by OSA (ER 00-7745). An archaeological survey was conducted along the 32-
mile, 300-foot wide, US 158 corridor, the recommendation for which was based primarily on the sheer
length and width of the project, traversing various landforms with varying degrees of probability for intact
archeological resources to be present. Within five (5) miles of the Study Area, NCDOT's Archaeology
Team has reviewed only two (2) transportation -related projects for environmental compliance under the
Programmatic Agreement (PA) with the State Historic Preservation Office (NC-HPO). Similar to TIP#
R-2582/R-2584, an archaeological survey was recommended and conducted for upgrades along a 23-mile
stretch of NC 305 (PA 18-07-0008 [TIP# R-5757]), resulting in nine (9) archaeological sites being
recorded, none of which was deemed eligible for the NRHP. The other project did not require an
archaeological survey based on a variety of reasons (e.g., poor/disturbed soil conditions and/or
restrictive/constrained footprint within existing ROW). A review of various historic maps (e.g., 1925 Soil
Survey Map, 1938 and 1953 Public Works maps) and aerials (1950s, 1980s) did not reveal anything of
note in proximity to the APE (or Area of Interest) other than a large powerline easement cutting through
the project area as well as significant logging activity within the Northwest Quadrant of the bridge. From
a topographical perspective, LiDAR imagery also does not show anything of interest in proximity to the
proposed project, revealing no ideal landforms within the APE/Area of Interest.
Based on the current environmental/topographical conditions and the restrictive nature of the proposed
project (i.e., contained within the existing ROW), it is believed that the current APE is unlikely to contain
intact and significant archaeological resources. No archaeological survey is required for this project. If
design plans change (e.g., proposed activities/easements extending outside the existing ROW) 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 ofNCDOT's Archaeology Team.
SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: ® Map(s) ® Previous Survey Info ❑ Photos ❑Correspondence
Other:
2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM `NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED" FORM
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Project Tracking No.
22-01-0016
FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST: NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REOUIRED
NCDOT ARCHAF OGIST II
January 12, 2022
Date
Area of Interest
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y
Figure 1: (West) — Jackson, NC (USGS 1974); (East) — Galatia, NC (USGS 1975).
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