ML19030A466
| ML19030A466 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinch River |
| Issue date: | 01/18/2019 |
| From: | James Shea Tennessee Valley Authority |
| To: | Office of New Reactors |
| Fetter A | |
| References | |
| TVACLINCHRIVERESP, TVACLINCHRIVERESP.SUBMISSION.6, CRN.P.PART03, CRN.P.PART03.2 | |
| Download: ML19030A466 (12) | |
Text
Tennessee Valley Authority , 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902 April 2, 2015 Mr. E. Patrick Mcintyre, Jr.
Executive Director Tennessee Historical Commission 2941 Lebanon Road Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0442
Dear Mr. Mcintyre:
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA) , CLINCH RIVER SMALL MODULAR REACTORS PROJECT, PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, ROANE COUNTY , TENNESSEE TVA initiated consultation with your office on August 26, 2011 regarding the above-named project, a proposal to develop up to six small modular nuclear generating reactors at the former Clinch River Breeder Reactor Site in Roane County, Tennessee (and seek a construction and operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the project) . TVA's findings are documented in the final report titled Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Clinch River Small Modular Reactors Project (SMR), Roane County, Tennessee. Your concurrence with our findings and determinations was received September 19, 2011 . Our offices have agreed that 12 archaeological sites so far identified in the AP E are potentially eligible for the NRHP. We also agree that if TVA develops plans that could affect any of those sites, TVA will conduct additional investigations in order to determine eligibility.
TVA placed this project on hold in 2012 due to funding issues. TVA is now resuming the development of project designs and the consideration of environmental impacts, including possible impacts to historic properties . TVA also has changed its focus from seeking a construction and operating license, to seeking an early site permit license. Once the early site permit application is approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission , TVA will begin preparing a combined construction and operating license application .
In addition to the APE that was under consideration in 2011 , TVA is now considering possible development of two areas located outside that APE. TVA may propose infrastructure changes in these two areas to facilitate plant construction . These areas are located near the mouth of Grassy Creek and on Department of Energy (DOE) property between Grassy Creek and the State Route 58 bridge over the Clinch River. Therefore, TVA has enlarged the APE for archaeology as shown in Figure 1, below. This area comprises approximately 138 acres of land , most of which is owned by DOE. All other areas of the APE have been surveyed previously and were included in our previous consultation .
TVA contracted with AMEC Foster Wheeler (AMEC) for a Phase I archaeological survey of the expanded portion of the APE . The survey included all parts of this APE save one area that was included within a recent DOE survey, and which contains a portion of previously recorded site 40RE233 (Happy Valley Workers' Camp). The DOE survey recommended 40RE233 as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. The current survey included 110.5 acres. Enclosed are two bound copies of the draft report titled Phase I Archaeological Survey, TVA Clinch River SMR, Roane County, Tennessee along with two CDs containing digital copies of the report.
Background research conducted by AMEC prior to the survey ind icated that four archaeo logical sites (40RE135, 40RE138, 40RE139 , and 40RE202) have been recorded previously within the APE. These sites were revisited during the current survey. Based on the findings , AMEC recommends that 40RE135 and 40RE202 have been destroyed by construction, and that the area where 40RE1 39 is A-35
Mr. E. Patrick Mcintyre, Jr.
Page Two April 2, 2015 shown on the Tennessee Division of Archaeology (TDOA) site form contains no archaeological deposits.
AMEC suggests that 40RE139 may have been mapped incorrectly when it was recorded . AMEC recommends further that 40RE138 may contain intact deposits that could be eligible for the NRHP, but that the site's NRHP eligibility is undetermined ; a large part of the site was inaccessible with shovel testing because construction fill has been placed over the site. A more intensive field study would be needed in order to access any deposits that may lie beneath the fill.
The survey identified no previously unrecorded archaeological sites. The survey identified one isolated find and one non-site locale. AMEC recommends both ineligible for the NRHP .
TVA has reviewed the enclosed report and agrees with the findings and recommendations of the authors.
Based on the information provided in this report, TVA determines that the isolated find , non-site locale, and sites 40RE135 and 40RE202 are ineligible for listing in the NRHP . TVA finds that no archaeological deposits associated with 40RE139 are located in the APE. Based on currently available information , TVA cannot fully evaluate the NRHP eligibility of site 40RE138.
TVA's current plans for the project do not include any actions that would affect 40RE138 or 40RE233 . If such plans are developed in future , TVA will consult further with your office.
Pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800.4(d)(1 ), we are seeking your concurrence with TVA's determinations concerning 40RE135 , 40RE138 , 40RE139 , 40RE202 , and the isolated find .
Pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800 .3(f)(2) , TVA is consulting with federally recognized Ind ian tribes regarding historic properties within the proposed project's APE that may be of religious and cultural sig nificance and are eligible for the NRHP .
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Richard Yarnell at 865/632-3463 or wryarnell@tva .gov.
Sincerely,
~~----(-
Clinton E. Jones , Manager CJ Biological & Cultural Compliance Safety, River Management and Environment WT11B-K SCC:CSD Enclosures cc (Enclosures):
Ms. Jennifer Barnett Tennessee Division of Archaeology 1216 Foster Avenue , Cole Bldg. #3 Nashville, Tennessee 37210 A-36
Figure 1. Clinch River SMR Project, APE Expansion area. Base map: Elverton and Bethel Valley, TN 7.5-min quadrangles.
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Phase I Archaeological Survey, TVA Clinch River SMR, Roane County, Tennessee March 2015 A-38
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE 2941 LEBANON ROAD NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243-0442 OFFICE: (615) 532-1550 www.tnhistoricalcommission.org April 7, 2015 Mr. Clinton Jones Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 RE: TVA, ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, CLINCH R. SMALL MODULAR REACTORS ,
UNINCORPORATED, ROANE COUNTY, TN
Dear Mr. Jones:
At your request, our office has reviewed the above-referenced archaeological survey report in accordance with regulations codified at 36 CFR 800 (Federal Register, December 12, 2000, 77698-77739). Based on the information provided , we concur with the following determinations.
- 1. Sites 40RE 135 and 40RE202 are not eligible for inclusion in the National Register.
- 2. Current plans will not affect eligible site 40RE233 and unevaluated site 40RE 138.
- 3. Site 40RE139 is not located within the undertaking's area of potential effect.
If project plans are changed or archaeological remains are discovered during construction ,
please contact this office to determine what further action. if any, will be necessary to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Your cooperation is appreciated .
Sincerely, E. Patrick Mcintyre, Jr.
Executive Director and State Historic Preservation Officer EPM/jmb A-39
Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902 April 2, 2015 To Those Listed :
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA) , CLINCH RIVER SMALL MODULAR REACTORS PROJECT , PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, ROANE COUNTY , TENNESSEE (LATITUD E
35.916944 , LONGITUDE -84.391389)
TVA initiated consultation with your office on August 26, 2011 regarding the above-named project, a
proposal to develop up to six small modular nuclear generating reactors at the former Clinch River Breeder Reactor Site in Roane County, Tennessee (and seek a construction and operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the project) . TVA's findings are documented in the final report titled Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Clinch River Small Modular Reactors Project (SMR) , Roane County, Tennessee. TVA and the State Historic Preservation Officer have agreed that 12 archaeological sites so far identified in the APE are potentially eligible for the NRHP. If TVA develops plans that could affect any of those sites, TVA will conduct additional investigations in order to determine eligibility.
TVA placed this project on hold in 2012 due to funding issues. TVA is now resuming the development of project designs and the consideration of environmental impacts, including possible impacts to historic properties . TVA also has changed its focus from seeking a construction and operating license, to seeking an early site permit license. Once the early site permit application is approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission , TVA will begin preparing a combined constructio n
and operating license application .
In addition to the APE that was under consideration in 2011 , TVA is now considering possible development of two areas located outside that APE. TVA may propose infrastructure changes in these two areas to facilitate plant construction . These areas are located near the mouth of Grassy Creek and on Department of Energy (DOE) property between Grassy Creek and the State Route 58 bridge over the Clinch River. Therefore , TVA has enlarged the APE for archaeology as shown in Figure 1, below. This area comprises approximately 138 acres of land , most of which is owned by DOE . All other areas of the APE have been surveyed previously and were included in our previous consultation.
TVA contracted with AMEC Foster Wheeler (AMEC) for a Phase I archaeological survey of the expanded portion of the APE. The survey included all parts of this APE save one area that was included within a recent DOE survey, and which contains a portion of previously recorded site 40RE233 (Happy Valley Workers' Camp) . The DOE survey recommended 40RE233 as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. The current survey included 110.5 acres. Please find enclosed the resulting report titled Phase I Archaeological Survey, TVA Clinch River SMR, Roane County, Tennessee along with two CDs containing digital copies of the report.
Background research conducted by AMEC prior to the survey indicated that four archaeological sites (40RE135 , 40RE138 , 40RE139, and 40RE202) have been recorded previously within the study area . These sites were revisited during the current survey. Based on the findings , AMEC A-40
To Those Listed Page Two April 2, 2015 recommends that 40RE135 and 40RE202 have been destroyed by construction , and that the area where 40RE139 is shown on the Tennessee Division of Archaeology (TDOA) site form contains no archaeological deposits. AMEC suggests that 40RE139 may have been mapped incorrectly when it was recorded . AMEC recommends further that 40RE138 may contain intact deposits that could be eligible for the NRHP, but that the site's NRHP eligibility is undetermined; a large part of the site was inaccessible with shovel testing because construction fill has been placed over the site. A more intensive field study would be needed in order to access any deposits that may lie beneath the fill.
The survey identified no previously unrecorded archaeological sites. The survey identified one isolated find and one non-site locale. AMEC recommends both ineligible for the NRHP.
TVA has reviewed the enclosed report and agrees with the findings and recommendations of the authors. Based on the information provided in this report, TVA determines that the isolated find, non-site locale, and sites 40RE135 and 40RE202 are ineligible for listing in the NRHP. TVA finds that no archaeological deposits associated with 40RE139 are located in the APE. Based on currently available information, TVA cannot fully evaluate the NRHP eligibility of site 40RE138.
TVA's current plans for the project do not include any actions that would affect 40RE138 or 40RE233. If such plans are developed in future , TVA will consult further with your office.
Pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800.3(f)(2) , TVA is consulting with the following federally recognized Indian tribes regarding properties within the proposed project's area of potential effects that may be of religious and cultural significance to them and eligible for listing in the NRHP: Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma , Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Alabama Quassarte Tribal Town , Kialegee Tribal Town , Thlopthlocco Tribal Town , Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, and Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.
By this letter, TVA is providing notification of these eligibility determinations and is seeking your comments regarding this undertaking and any properties that may be of religious and cultural significance and may be eligible for listing in the NRHP pursuant to 36CFR §§§ 800.2 (c)(2)(ii) , 800.3 (f)(2), and 800.4 (a)(4)(b) .
Please respond by May 02 , 2015, if you have any comments on the proposed undertaking. If you have any questions, please contact me at (865) 632-6461 or by email at pbezzell@tva.gov.
Patricia Bernard Ezzell Tribal Liaison and Corporate Historian Communications WT 70-K SCC :PBE:CSD A-41
Phase I Archaeological Survey, TVA Clinch River SMR, Roane County, Tennessee March 2015 A-42
IDENTICAL LETTER MAILED TO THE FOLLOWING ON APRIL 2, 2015 :
Dr. Richard Allen Policy Analyst Cherokee Nation Post Office Box 948 Tahlequah , Oklahoma 74465 Mr. Joseph Blanchard Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 2025 S. Gordon Cooper Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801 Mr. Ace Buckner Cultural Resources Director Kialegee Tribal Town Post Office Box 332 Wetumka , Oklahoma 74883 cc: Ms. Kara Gann Assistant Cultural Resources Director Kialegee Tribal Town Post Office Box 332 Wetumka , Oklahoma 74883 Mr. Bryant Celestine Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas 571 State Park Rd . 56 Livingston , Texas 77351 Mr. Charles Coleman NAGPRA Representative Thlopthlocco Tribal Town Route 1, Box 190-A Weleetka , Oklahoma 74880 Ms. Robin Dushane Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 127 West Oneida Seneca , Missouri 64865 Ms. Dee Gardner NAGPRA/Cell Tower Coordinator Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 127 West Oneida Seneca, Missouri 64865 A-43
Mr. Tyler Howe Historic Preservation Specialist Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Post Office Box 45 Cherokee, North Carolina 28719 cc: Mr. Russell Townsend Tribal Historic Preservation Office Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Post Office Box 455 Cherokee, North Carolina 28719 Ms. Miranda Panther NAGPRA Coordinator Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Post Office Box 455 Cherokee, North Carolina 28719 Ms. Johnnie Jacobs Manager Cultural Preservation Department Muscogee (Creek) Nation P.O. Box 580 Okmulgee, Oklahoma 7444 7 cc: Mr. Jeff Fife Secretary of Department of Interior Affairs Muscogee (Creek) Nation P.O. Box 580 Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 Ms. Odette Freeman Assistant Manager Muscogee (Creek) Nation P.O. Box 580 Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 Ms. Johnnie Wesley Secretary Cultural Preservation Department Muscogee (Creek) Nation Post Office Box 580 Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 Mr. David Proctor Traditional Cultural Advisor Cultural Preservation Department Muscogee (Creek) Nation Post Office Box 580 Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 A-44
Ms. Lee Anne Wendt Tribal Archaeologist Cultural Preservation Department Muscogee (Creek) Nation Post Office Box 580 Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 Mr. Tim Thompson Traditional Cultural Advisor Cultural Preservation Department Muscogee (Creek) Nation Post Office Box 580 Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 Ms. Kim Jumper Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Shawnee Tribe Post Office Box 189 Miami, Oklahoma 74355 cc: Jodi Hayes NAGPRA Representative Shawnee Tribe PO Box 189 Miami, OK 74355 Mr. Steven Landsberry Administrative Assistant Alabama Quassarte Tribal Town Post Office Box 187 Wetumka, Oklahoma 74883 Mrs. Lisa C. LaRue-Baker Acting Tribal Historic Preservation Officer United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma Post Office Box 746 Tahlequah , Oklahoma 74464 Mr. Emman Spain Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Cultural Preservation Department Muscogee (Creek) Nation Post Office Box 580 Okmulgee, Oklahoma 74447 A-45
Figure 1. Clinch River SMR Project, APE Expansion area . Base map Elverton and Bethel Valley TN 7 5-min quadrangles.
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