ML12290A154

Letter from Daniel Saunders (Njhpo) to Jeffrey J. Pantazes (PSEG) W/ Comments on August 6, 2009 Submittal of Report of Phase I Archaeological Survey of Selected Portions of Two Access Road Alternatives, PSEG Early Site Permit Applications,

ML12290A154
Person / Time
Site:	Salem, Hope Creek, 05200043
Issue date:	10/06/2009
From:	Saunders D State of NJ, Dept of Environmental Protection, State of NJ, Historic Preservation Office
To:	Pantazes J Office of New Reactors, PSEG Power, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
ND-2012-0061, HPO-J2009-033, LOG# 09-0740-3 VM
Download: ML12290A154 (3)

Text

HPO- J2009-033 Log #09~0740-3 VM j&+/-Cth af ~efu W.er~.elJ DEPARTMENT OF .ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION JON S. CORZn'>!E NATURAL & HISTORIC RESOURCES, l-IlSTORlC PRESERVATION OFFICE MARK N. MAURIELLO Governor PO Box 404, Trenton, NJ 08625 Actillg CommiS8ionf!r TEL: (609) 984-0170 FAX: (609) 984*0578 www.stnle.nj.us!dep/hpo October 6, 2009 Mr. .Teffrey 1. Pantazes Nuclear Development PSE&G Power LLC Received " JJl /)

Nuclear Development 244 Chestnut Street OCT 092009W Salem, New Jersey 08079

Dear Mr. Pantazes:

As Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for New Jersey) in. aocordance with 36 CFR Part 800: Protection of Historic Properties) as published with amencl.ments in the Federal Register on 6 July 2004 (69 FR 40544-40555), I am providing Consultation Comments for the following lmdertalcing:

Salem County, Lower Alloways Creek Township Phase I Archaeological Survey Report Money Island Rd and Alloway Creek Neck Rd Access Alt.

Early Site Permit Application Hope CreeldSalem Nuclear Power Station Federal Energy Regulatory Com:n:Ussion 800.4 Identifying Historic Properties These consultation comments are in response to the follo'Wlllg submitted culturalreSQlll'Ce reports l'eceived at the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) on August 6,2009:

Brown, J. Emmett July 31) 2009 Report of Phase I Archaeological survey /01' Selected Portions o/TWo Access Road Alternatives, PSEG Early Site Permit Applications, Salem, New Jersey. Prepared for PSEG Power, LLC. Prepared by MACTEC Eligineel'ing and Consulting, Inc., Knoxville, 'IN.

The EPO has reviewed the above-cited m:chaeological report (the Report) and determined it to be technically il2:~0ll1plete for the identification and evaluation of historic properties within the Ulldertaking's area of potential effects (APE)pursuant t6 36 CFR § 800.4 .. Specifically) the report lacks the inclusion oflrlstoric period rn:aps, such as the 1830s-40s coastal survey maps, for N(?w Jersey is an ElJlIal Opp0I'Il/nity Employe/' ,Pl'illted on RecycllUf Paper mul Reayclab/e

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HPO- J2009-033 Log #09-0740-3 VM the identifioation of resources within the Money Island Road Access Alternative and Alloway Creek Neck Road Access Alternative areas of potential effects. The coastal survey maps are available at:

http://alabm;namaps .ua.edulhistoricalmaps/Coastal %20Survey%20Maps/llew%20j Brse),.htrn.

T11e1'efo1'e, not all potential archaeological resources were identified within the undertaking's APE. .In consequence) it not possible to detennme whether the archaeological methods employed were adequate to identify all archaeological deposits within both areas of potential effects.

The Report states n'o archaeological sites were identified within Alloway Creek Neck Road Access Altemative APE. The HPO disagrees with this assessment based on the lack of supporting historic period p.1ap researoh discussed aouve. The 10cation(s) of former historic structures for both project sites needs to be adequately tested to identify the presenoe or absence of archaeological deposits. In addition, ifportio118 of either APE are not'iield walked but .

subjected to a program of shovel testing, all isolated fmd spots positive for Native American and/or pre_20th cent11TY historic period artifacts shall be :investigated with 1O-foot radial shovel tests to confirm if the location(s) is indeed an isolated :find spot or part of an archaeological site.

All artifact locations identified during pedestrian survey of agricultural fields should be identified on project maps. The individual artifact finds (IF) and !:lrtifact clusters (Cluster) were provided for the Alloway Creele Neck Road Access Alternative (Appendix B) but not for ti1e Money Island Road Access Alternative (Appendix A). This infonnation is necessary to document the limits of arohaeological sites. Please include the locations of all artifact frod spots identified through surface collection and/or a diSCUSSIon of how archaeoroglOal site limits were determilled in the revised report.

All archaeological reports submitted to the HPO must contain a shovel test log for archaeolo gical test locations. Please include a shovel test log appendix for a1l shovel tests in the revised report, Finally, all reports submitted to the HPO shall be accompanied by a report copy

in PDF format on a CD attached to the inside rear report cover.

W1ule the Report is determined inadequate for the identification of all archaeological properti,es within the area of potential effects (APE) for the two proposed road alternatives, sufficient infonnatiol1 is available to provide the following comments and keep the project moving forward. The RepOlt identified archaeological sites 28SA179, 28SA180~ 28SA181, 28SA182~ and 28SA183 within the proposed Money !sland Road Access .A1ternati'Ve alignment APE. All five Dfthe above~l'eferenced archaeological sites were identifled as multi~compDnent sites containing both Woodland period Native American and mid-eighteentb.- through nineteenth century historic period archaeological deposits. In consequenoe, Phase II archaeological survey is neoessary within the Money Island Road access alternative alignment APE for the above-l'eferenced archaeological sites to evaluate their National Register eligibility and provide assessment ofpl'oject impacts as needed. Please be aWaTe, additiona1 archaeological sites requiring Phase II survey may be identified by the Phase I survey.

Please be aware, during Phase IIarchae610gical investigations) for properties O.n or eligible for National Register inclusion, recomm.endations must be provided for avoidance of

i" \l BPO- J2009-033 Log #09-0740-3 VM impacts. Ifimpacts cannot be avoided, analyses must be provided exploring alternatives to minimize andlor mitigate impacts. 'Means to avoid, minimize andlor mitigate impacts to Na~ol1al Register eligible properties will need to be developed and undertaken prior to project implementation.

ALl phases ofthe archaeological survey and reporting will need to be in keeping with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, and the HPO's Guidelines for Phase I Archaeological Investigations: Identification of Archaeological Resources and Guidelines for Preparing Cultural Resources Management Archaeological Reports Submitted to the Historic Preservation Offioe. These guidelines can be obtained through the I-lPO's web page (http://wvvw.nj.gov/dep/hpo/lidentifyisUTval:keo.htm).

Reasoning and documentation for areas excluded from testing must be included in the technical report. Evaluatioll.3 to detennine the National Register eligibility of archaeological sites must be in keeping with'the National-Park Service's 2000 National Register Bulletin, GUidelinesfor, Evaluating and Registering Archeological-Properties. The individual(s) conducting the work will need to meet the relevant Secretary of the ~nterior's Professional Qualifications Standards for archaeological survey (48 FR 44738-9).

If potential human burials or human skeletal remains are encountered, all ground disturbing activities in the vicinity shall cease immediately and the Historic Preservation Office should be contacted, as well as any appropriate legal officials. The potential burials shall be left in place unless imminently threatened by human or natural displacement.

Additional Comments Once a revised report addressing the above~cited deficiencies has been received, the BPO vvi.ll be able to provide Consultation Comments under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (as amended). If you have any questions, please do 110t hesitate to contact Vincent Maresca of my staff at (609) 633-2395 or vincent.mEjresca@dep.state.nj.us.

Daniel D. Saunders Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer

c. Enlluitt Brown" MACTEC Engineering and Consulting