4 research outputs found
Cultural Resources Survey of the Lone Star Express II Pipeline – Loop 3, in Eastland, Comanche, Erath, and Bosque Counties, Texas
Gray & Pape, Inc., of Houston, Texas, on behalf of Lone Star NGL Pipeline, LP, conducted an intensive pedestrian cultural resources survey within permitted areas of the 142.27-kilometer (88.4mile) long Lone Star Express II Pipeline Project – Loop 3, in Eastland, Comanche, Erath, and Bosque Counties, Texas. The lead agency for the project has been identified as the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District (Permit No. SWF-2019-00091). Thus, survey efforts concentrated on areas anticipated to be under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (permit areas). Within Loop 3, the total Area of Potential Effects within the permit areas measures approximately 209.9 hectares (518.6 acres). This area encapsulates approximately 52.8 kilometers (32.8 miles) of proposed project alignment. The procedures to be followed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to fulfill the requirements set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act, other applicable historic preservation laws, and Presidential directives as they relate to the regulatory program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (33 CFR Parts 320-334) are articulated in the Regulatory Program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Part 325 - Processing of Department of the Army Permits, Appendix C - Procedures for the Protection of Historic Properties.
All fieldwork and reporting activities were completed according to a scope of work submitted to the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Historical Commission and accepted standards set forth by the Texas Historical Commission and the Council of Texas Archeologists and in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
A records and literature review of the project location prior to survey identified 13 previously recorded archaeological sites, four historic markers, five cemeteries, and five previously conducted surveys within a 0.8-kilometer (0.5-mile) radius of Loop 3. Of those, the mapped locations for one recorded archaeological site and three previous surveys intersect the project corridor. An additional three archaeological sites are located within 91 meters (300 feet) of the project’s Areas of Potential Effects. Fieldwork on Loop 3 was conducted in the Spring of 2019 with supplemental survey in August, October, and November of 2019 and required approximately 3,680-person hours to complete. Survey involved archaeological reconnaissance and shovel testing throughout anticipated permit areas within the project corridor. In total, approximately 901 shovel tests were excavated within permit areas, of which four were positive for cultural material.
No portions of previously recorded resources: 41ER48, 41ER49, 41ER50, or 41ER56, were re-identified; however, two new previously unrecorded resources, 41BQ358 and 41BQ359, and one isolate, BQ-07-ISO-01, were discovered. The newly recorded resources consist of sparse Prehistoric lithic scatters, consisting mainly of debitage and lacking temporally or culturally diagnostic artifacts. The lone diagnostic artifact, Isolate BQ-07-ISO-01, consists of an Ellis or Godley type projectile point dating to the Late to Transitional Archaic. The resource areas within the pipeline corridor showed clear disturbance from the adjacent pipeline right-of-way. Indications of soil deflation, erosion, and past land modifications such as agriculture or terracing were also observed. Further, Resource 41BQ358 and Isolate BQ-07-ISO-01 are located on very spatially limited topographic settings surrounded by slopes of 30 degrees or greater. The workspace at the location of 41BQ359 has been revised to avoid the site thus removing it from permitting. The workspace where it passes the site will be marked by orange fencing.
Shovel test results at nearly all permit areas identified subsoils, cemented soils, or bedrock. Alarm Creek in Erath County, Permit Area Number 65, was targeted for deep testing based on geomorphological data, and field results and discussions with the field archaeologist. Deep test results indicated a lack of deeply buried A horizon soils and showed no potential for deeply buried cultural material or paleosols. No cultural features or historic-age standing resources were encountered in the field. No artifacts were collected as a result of survey.
It is the opinion of Gray & Pape Inc. that none of the recorded resources retain the potential to provide significant research value and are thus recommended not eligible for the National Register, under Evaluation Criterion D. In addition, the resources are recommended not eligible for State Antiquities Landmark status. Gray & Pape, Inc. recommends no additional archaeological work for these resources or surveyed portions of the project. However, Gray & Pape, Inc. recommends that an unanticipated discoveries plan be put into place in the event that such discoveries take place during construction
Cultural Resources Intensive Pedestrian Survey within the Dayton Loop Pipeline Project, Harris and Liberty Counties, Texas
Gray & Pape, Inc., of Houston, Texas, conducted an intensive pedestrian cultural resources survey of jurisdictional portions of survey corridor within a proposed pipeline alignment measuring a total of approximately 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) located in Harris and Liberty Counties, Texas. The pipeline route is on privately-owned property; therefore, a Texas Antiquities Permit was not required prior to survey. In total, the surveyed property totals approximately 2.8 hectares (7 acres) which defines the Area of Potential Effects. The goals of the survey were to establish whether or not previously unidentified archaeological resources were located within the project area, also defined as the project’s Area of Potential Effects, and whether the pipeline alignment would affect any previously identified cultural resources. The lead agency for the project has been identified as the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District. The procedures to be followed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to fulfill the requirements set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act, other applicable historic preservation laws, and Presidential directives as they relate to the regulatory program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (33 CFR Parts 320-334) are articulated in the Regulatory Program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Part 325 -Processing of Department of the Army Permits, Appendix C -Procedures for the Protection of Historic Properties. All fieldwork and reporting activities were completed following accepted standards set forth by the Texas Historical Commission and the Council of Texas Archeologists and in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Fieldwork took place in March 2019 and required 32 work hours to complete. Field investigation consisted of intensive pedestrian inspection, subsurface shovel testing, photographic documentation, and mapping. A total of 20 shovel tests were excavated, of which none were positive for buried cultural materials. No historic structures were identified as a result of survey.
Based on the results of the survey, Gray & Pape, Inc. recommends that no further cultural resources work be required and that the project be cleared to proceed as currently planned
Cultural Resources Survey of the Lone Star Express II Pipeline Project - Loop 1, in Midland, Martin, Howard, Mitchell, and Nolan Counties, Texas
Gray & Pape, Inc., of Houston, Texas, on behalf of Lone Star NGL Pipeline, LP, conducted an intensive pedestrian cultural resources survey within permitted areas of the 174.36-kilometer (108.34-mile) long Lone Star Express II Pipeline Project – Loop 1, in Midland, Martin, Howard, Mitchell, and Nolan Counties, Texas. The lead agency for the project has been identified as the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District (Permit No. SWG-2019-00091). Thus, survey efforts concentrated on areas anticipated to be under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (permit areas). Within Loop 1, the total Area of Potential Effects within the permit areas measures approximately 125.6 hectares (310.3 acres). This area encapsulates approximately 29.6 kilometers (18.4 miles) of proposed project alignment. In addition, approximately 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) or 8.9 hectares (21.9 acres) of the proposed route are controlled by the City of Colorado City and thus required the issuance of a Texas Antiquities Code Permit. Permit number 8896 was issued for the project. The procedures to be followed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to fulfill the requirements set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act, other applicable historic preservation laws, and Presidential directives as they relate to the regulatory program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (33 CFR Parts 320-334) are articulated in the Regulatory Program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Part 325 - Processing of Department of the Army Permits, Appendix C - Procedures for the Protection of Historic Properties.
All fieldwork and reporting activities were completed according to a scope of work submitted to the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Historical Commission and accepted standards set forth by the Texas Historical Commission and the Council of Texas Archeologists and in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Gray & Pape, Inc. submitted project records to the Center of Archaeological Studies at Texas State University.
A records and literature review of the project location prior to survey identified 62 previously recorded archaeological resources, one cemetery, one historic marker, and 22 previously conducted surveys within a 0.8-kilometer (0.5-mile) radius of the Loop 1 segment. Of those, 10 recorded archaeological resources and six previous surveys intersect anticipated permit areas. Fieldwork on Loop 1 was conducted in the Spring of 2019 with supplemental survey in July, August, and September 2019. Survey of Loop 1 required approximately 1,200 Gray & Pape, Inc. person-hours to complete and involved archaeological reconnaissance and shovel testing throughout anticipated permit areas within the project corridor. In total, approximately 664 shovel tests were excavated within permit areas, 25 of which were positive for cultural materials. An additional 122 shovel tests were conducted as part of resource delineation efforts. Field effort also included the excavation of a total of 13 deep tests.
Nine previously recorded resources: 41NL6, 41NL313, 41NL314, 41NL315, 41NL316, 41NL320, 41NL321, 41NL323, and 41NL326; eight new previously unrecorded resources: 41HW142, 41MH128, 41MH130, 41NL377, 41NL378, 41NL379, 41NL380, and 41NL392; and four isolate finds were identified within Loop 1 permit areas. An additional 10 previously recorded resources: 41MD41, 41HW8, 41HW104, 41HW105, 41HW106, 41NL310, 41NL312, 41NL322, 41NL324, and 41NL325; and one newly identified resource, 41MH129, were identified within the Area of Potential Effects but outside of jurisdictional areas. These sites largely exhibited surface scatters of lithics which are typical for the area and were consistent with the resources identified within jurisdictional permit areas
Cultural Resources Survey of the Lone Star Express II Pipeline Project - Loop 2, in Nolan, Taylor, Callahan, and Eastland Counties, Texas
Gray & Pape, Inc., of Houston, Texas, on behalf of Lonestar NGL Pipeline, LP, conducted an intensive pedestrian cultural resources survey within permitted areas of the 117.85-kilometer (73.23-mile) long Lone Star Express II Pipeline Project – Loop 2, in Nolan, Taylor, Callahan, and Eastland Counties, Texas. The lead agency for the project has been identified as the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District (Permit No. SWF-2019-00234). Thus, survey efforts concentrated on areas anticipated to be under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (permit areas). Within Loop 2, the total Area of Potential Effects within the permit areas measures approximately 125.9 hectares (311 acres). This area encapsulates approximately 29 kilometers (18 miles) of the proposed project alignment. The procedures to be followed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to fulfill the requirements set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act, other applicable historic preservation laws, and Presidential directives as they relate to the regulatory program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (33 CFR Parts 320-334) are articulated in the Regulatory Program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Part 325 - Processing of Department of the Army Permits, Appendix C - Procedures for the Protection of Historic Properties. All fieldwork and reporting activities were completed according to a scope of work submitted to the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Historical Commission and accepted standards set forth by the Texas Historical Commission and the Council of Texas Archeologists and in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. A records and literature review of the project location prior to the survey identified 17 previously recorded archaeological resources, one cemetery, one historic marker, and 17 previously conducted surveys within a 0.8-kilometer (0.5-mile) radius of the Loop 2 segment. Of those, six recorded archaeological resources are within 91 meters (300 feet) of the project corridor and four previous surveys intersect the project alignment. Fieldwork on Loop 2 was initially conducted in Spring 2019, with supplemental investigations taking place in August, October, and November of 2019. Survey of Loop 2 required approximately 2,320 person-hours to complete and involved archaeological reconnaissance and shovel testing throughout anticipated permit areas within the project corridor. In total, approximately 677 shovel tests were excavated within permit areas and beyond in cases of site delineation, of which six within the APE were positive for cultural materials. A total of 14 mechanical auger tests were conducted within Permit Area 6 at Mulberry Creek. All were negative for cultural materials. Five previously recorded resources: 41NL318, 41TA353, 41TA354, 41TA314, and 41CA27; six new resources: 41TA396, 41TA397, 41TA398, 41TA399, 41CA42, and 41CA43; and two isolate finds were identified within Loop 2 permit areas. Materials were identified adjacent to one additional previously identified resource, 41TA371, located outside of Project Permit Areas. The material consisted of only two artifacts found on the surface in a disturbed context. Thus, the site was not expanded into the current Area of Potential Effects. Four resources are of a historic age or have a historic component: 41NL318, 41TA396, 41TA397, and 41TA399. Historic components generally consist of early to mid-twentieth century and twentieth-century materials representative of trash dumps. Site 41NL318 contains a remnant of a private drive/road and associated wooden bridge. The remainder of the resources are prehistoric. Prehistoric site contents consist nearly entirely of surface scatters of artifacts, with artifact classes largely the same across each, consisting mainly of debitage, with varying numbers of cores and bifaces. On very few occasions, a preform or utilized flake were also observed. In general, the resources appear to represent raw material procurement areas due to the abundant chert deposits available in the rocky soil. Activities are believed to have been largely limited to the procurement and testing of cobbles and expedient manufacture of bifaces. It appears that more refined tool manufacture was taking place elsewhere. Resources 41NL318, 41TA353/354, 41TA396, and 41TA314 contained the only diagnostic prehistoric artifacts identified during survey. Site 41TA353/354 contained Elam and Carrollton type projectile points and Site 41NL318 contained a Clear Fork Uniface, all of which can date to the middle to transitional Archaic. Sites 41TA396 and 41TA314 each contained a likely Marshall dart point which dates to the Late Middle Archaic. No artifacts were collected. No cultural features or historic-age standing resources were encountered in the field. The resource areas identified within the pipeline survey corridor have been previously disturbed by adjacent pipeline construction. Shovel test results at nearly all permit areas identified subsoils, cemented soils, or bedrock and gave indications of soil deflation or truncating, erosion, and past land modifications such as terracing and grading. Mulberry Creek in Taylor County, Permit Area Number 6, was targeted for deep testing based on geomorphological data, and field results and discussions with the Field Archaeologist. Deep test results indicated a lack of A horizon soils and showed no potential for deeply buried cultural material or paleosols within the anticipated depth of impacts at the location. Based on the overall lack of soil deposition, few diagnostics, and lack of integrity, it is the opinion of Gray & Pape, Inc. that the portions of recorded resources that are located within the proposed right-of- way do not retain the potential to provide significant research value and are thus recommended not eligible for the National Register, under Evaluation Criterion D or for State Antiquities Landmark status. Gray & Pape, Inc. recommends no additional archaeological work for these resources or surveyed permit areas of the project. However, Gray & Pape, Inc. recommends that an unanticipated discoveries plan be put into place in the event that such discoveries take place during construction