Search

Doyon Utilities, LLC implemented the construction of the Raptor Transmission Line (RTL) located on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) at the direction of the 673d Civil Engineering Squadron to enhance the electrical distribution system found on the installation. Weston Solutions, Inc. (WS) has been contracted by Doyon Utilities to provide environmental permitting services for the project. WS contracted with Northern Land Use Research (NLUR) to conduct a Level I "reconnaissance" archaeological survey, as defined by the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (OHA) (Historic Preservation Series No. 11, revised 2003), of the RTL right-of-way (ROW), primarily focused on sections of the proposed route found on the former Elmendorf Air Force Base located south of Grady Road. The findings within this report are not focused on the previously completed archeological surveys that were executed prior to the 2008 Utilities Privatization of Fort Richardson and ROW conveyances to Doyon Utilities outside of this effort. The findings within those areas are outside the scope of this report.

This report presents the results of archival research and Phase I pedestrian cultural resource survey of Fort MacArthur (Middle Reservation). The initial cultural resource survey involved a 100 percent pedestrian survey and was completed on 14 and 15 October 2010. Due to the concerns regarding to the surface geology of Fort MacArthur and the limited visibility of the modern ground surface, low density shovel testing was conducted on 14 December 2010. The shovel testing was conducted in landscaped areas to help characterize the integrity of newly discovered site CA-LAN-4166 and the overall survey area, expedite consultations, and minimize the potential for post review discoveries. One new site (CA-LAN-4166) and one isolated find were identified within the 93-acre Installation in two of the three areas of exposed ground surface. The archaeological site appears to be a prehistoric and historic artifact scatter. This site is limited to a disturbed surface manifestation and is recommended as not eligible for listing on the NRHP. The isolated find consisted of two lithic artifacts and one shell fragment and has also been recommended as not eligible for listing on the NRHP. The informational potential of both resources have been effectively exhausted by recordation and no further work is recommended.

Between December 2003 and March 2004, TRC Environmental Corporation (TRC) conducted a Planning Level (Phase I) Cultural Resource Survey for approximately 162 hectares (400 acres) of selected, discontiguous tactical training areas. This survey was performed for the Fort Dix Directorate of Public Works/Environmental Division and represents partial fulfillment of Fort Dix’s ongoing cultural resources compliance under Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended. The purpose of the Phase I survey was to locate and identify any potentially significant cultural resources in Tactical Areas (TACs) ID, IE, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 5A, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 8A, 9A and 9B, and to refine the Archeological Predictive Model currently in place at Fort Dix. In addition, this investigation also involved systematic subsurface testing of 22 previously identified historic features/foundations and three previously identified prehistoric lithic surface scatters. A total of 56 separate archaeological sites and isolated finds were encountered during this investigation. Of this total, 25 were previously known sites (22 historic and three prehistoric) that were specifically slated for systematic shovel testing. The remaining 31 previously undocumented sites included 11 historic domestic dwellings and 20 prehistoric cultural deposits and/or isolated finds.

Between December 2003 and March 2004, TRC Environmental Corporation (TRC) conducted a Planning Level (Phase I) Cultural Resource Survey for approximately 162 hectares (400 acres) of selected, discontiguous tactical training areas. A total of 56 separate archaeological sites and isolated finds were encountered during this investigation. Of this total, 25 were previously known sites (22 historic and three prehistoric) that were specifically slated for systematic shovel testing. The remaining 31 previously undocumented sites included 11 historic domestic dwellings and 20 prehistoric cultural deposits and/or isolated finds. Missing pg. 11 of the report. Complete copy can be found in tDAR at: https://core.tdar.org/document/438628

The purpose of this study was to identify any potentially significant prehistoric and/or historic archaeological resources that might be impacted by construction-related activities. The Ft. Dix Directorate of Public Works requested an archaeological investigation of the project area because of the potential that mid-nineteenth century building foundations and/or their associated shaft features (wells and privies), associated with the former town of Pointville, might be present in the footprint of the proposed parking lot project. Because it was thought that traditional survey techniques involving close interval, sub-surface testing by means of excavation of Shovel Test Probes (STPs) might miss the potential historic features, and so as to leave no ambiguity about the presence/absence of such features within the footprint of the proposed project, it was decided to concurrently investigate the project footprint by means of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetometer. Archaeologists from Kise Straw & Kolodner excavated a total of 26 STPs over the 0.86-acre project area. The results document that directly below the surface of the grass lawn there are 1-4 distinct episodes of twentieth-century fill and that these layers of fill extend to a depth of at least 2.5 feet or deeper in all parts of the proposed project’s footprint. Artifacts retrieved from the fill layers include small pieces of rusted metal, shards of twentieth-century bottle glass and broken-up bits of asphalt. Scientists from AMEC Earth and Environmental conducted a study of the proposed project footprint by means of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and a cesium vapor magnetometer. Analysis of the GPR data indicated that no linear stone/brick building foundations or circular shaft features were present in the project footprint. Analysis of the magnetometer data indicated that small amounts of metal were distributed throughout the project area. Both the GPR and magnetometer instrumentation picked up a significant anomaly (Anomaly D/2) below the present ground surface that was interpreted to be a possible fuel tank. Ground-proofing by excavation revealed that the anomaly was a collection of rusted fence posts and their concrete bases buried in fill, between 4-8 feet below the present ground surface. Investigation by means of STPs and geophysical instrumentation demonstrate that the proposed project area footprint has deep layers of twentieth-century fill containing metal and construction debris. No archaeological resources were identified in the project area and the proposed project will not impact any prehistoric or historic period archaeological resources.

This investigation was performed for the Fort Dix Directorate of Public Works/Environmental Division and represents partial fulfillment of Fort Dix’s ongoing cultural resources obligations under Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended). The purpose of this fieldwork was to identify any potentially significant cultural resources that might be contained in Tactical Areas (TACs) 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1F, within the northwestern corner of the base, as well as to systematically test a series of 24 prehistoric and historical sites that had been previously recorded in those areas. Phase I archaeological testing of Tactical Areas 1A-C and F was completed and required the excavation of 3,692 shovel test pits which resulted in the recovery of 3,607 artifacts, including 1,479 Native American related artifacts and 1,914 artifacts associated with this area’s historic period inhabitants. Cultural deposits sampled via this investigation derived from a total of 35 separate archaeological sites. Included within this total were 24 known sites (16 prehistoric and 8 historic) that were specifically targeted for systematic testing. Subsurface examinations in other portions of the study area resulted in the discovery of another 11 previously undocumented Native American occupations. In addition,testing within these sites led to the identification of six formerly unknown prehistoric and one known but undocumented historic components. In terms of prehistoric deposits, the overall recovered artifact assemblage from this investigation represents 33 spatially distinct occupation loci and effectively more than doubled the number of identified Native American sites within this portion of the Fort.

The Cultural Resources Group of Rise Straw & Kolodner, Inc. (KSK) conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey of a portion of the U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Dix (USATCFD), Burlington and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. Field testing for this project followed the guidelines established in the Fort Dix New Jersey U.S. Army Resent Command Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (Parsons Engineering Science 2001), and involved the use of a stratified survey sample to examine portions of the study area determined to possess both a high and low potential for containing archaeological deposits. A total of fifteen test blocks were judgmentally located within each Tactical Area, with ten of those blocks situated in areas of high site potential and five in areas deemed unlikely to contain sites. Within each test block, the sampling of potentially artifact-bearing subsurface deposits was accomplished through the excavation of a series of systematic, close interval shovel test pits. The completion of field testing resulted in the recovery of no potentially significant archaeological deposits. While historic artifacts were identified within many of the test blocks, all recovered items were of a decidedly recent manufacture and none were indicative of any intensive pre-Reservation occupation or activity. The overwhelming majority of cultural materials consisted of spent small arms shell casings associated with recent and ongoing military training conducted at the base. No potentially significant surface features (e.g., World War I-era trench systems) associated with former base military training exercises were identified. Prehistoric artifacts from the project area were represented by a single jasper thinning flake recovered from TAC 12A-5, along the western banks of Old Hurricane Brook. Concentrated additional testing in this vicinity produced no additional evidence of a former Native American occupation. Based on the findings of this investigation it is KSK’s opinion that potentially significant prehistoric and/or historic cultural resources deposits are unlikely to be contained within this section of the fort. This file in an incomplete version of this resource. The report shows pages 69-82.

The Department of the Army (DA) has contracted with AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. (AMEC) to conduct a Phase I Cultural Resource Survey within the Tactical Training (TAC) Areas 11 and 12 at the Fort Dix Military Installation in Ocean County, New Jersey. This current study is part of a long-term archaeological investigation to identify cultural resources that may be potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The long-term cultural resource investigation is concentrated in selected zones of moderate to high training intensity across the installation; results from this investigation will serve as a planning tool toward future training activity at Fort Dix. Archaeologists from Kise Straw & Kolodner (KSK) were subcontracted by AMEC to conduct the field investigation to determine the presence or absence of cultural resources within the project area. As part of the field investigation, AMEC utilized Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. The Phase I Cultural Resource Survey field activities were initiated on 6 December 2001 and completed on 13 February 2002. AMEC successfully collected a minimum of four (4) GPS coordinates for all test blocks in TAC Areas 11 and 12, and coordinates for items suspected to be of archaeological significance. Appendix 1 provides the Phase I Archaeological Survey Report for TAC Areas 11 and 12. This file is the final version of this report.

Pacific Environmental Services, Inc. (PES), a MACTEC Company, conducted a Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of approximately 1,676 acres (678 hectares) in Tactical (TAC) Areas 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, and 10B in the northeastern section of the United States Army Training Center (USATC) at Fort Dix, New Jersey (NJ). This project was carried out as part of the ongoing efforts of the Fort Dix Historic Preservation Office (FDHPO) program to comply with federal and local cultural resource legislation such as Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended (16 United States Code [USC] 407-470t). The purpose of the project was to investigate the potential for potentially significant cultural resources within TAC areas 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A and 10B. No potentially significant cultural resources were identified during this Phase I Cultural Resources Survey. Approximately 45 historic-era artifacts were collected from the project area during the survey, but these were considered to be related to single-event, modern-era or military land uses of the property that would not qualify as significant historical activities. Similarly, a small number of modern concrete pads and foundations were identified in the survey areas; these were also considered to be of no cultural significance. The project personnel identified no pre-historic cultural materials of any kind during the entirety of the survey.

Part 1 of this report documents the methods, results, and conclusions of a Phase I Archaeological Survey at the Hanover Lake Dam area of the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Dix (USATCFD), Burlington County, New Jersey. Conducted by the Cultural Resources Group of Kise Straw & Kolodner, Inc. (KSK) in May 2001, this survey was performed for AMEC, the base’s environmental consultant. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the presence or absence of potentially significant prehistoric and/or historical cultural resources deposits within three areas adjacent to the western portion of Hanover Lake and the Hanover Furnace historical site where dam renovations and lead contaminated soil removal will be conducted. Collection and analysis of this information constitutes the first stage of compliance with Section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA). Part 2 of this report documents the supplemental Phase I and Phase II archaeological investigations of a portion or the Hanover Dam and Hanover Furnace area (28-BU-514) at the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Dix (USATCFD), Burlington County, New Jersey that were conducted between September 16 and October 4, 2002 by the Cultural Resources Group of Kise Straw & Kolodner, Inc. (KSK). This investigation was performed for AMEC, the Base’s environmental consultant, and was conducted in order to identify any potentially significant cultural resources in the Hanover Lake Dam vicinity prior to the proposed renovation of the dam itself, as well as the remediation of areas of lead contaminated soil. This additional archaeological testing was carried out to address the concerns expressed in the review comments received from the NJ DEP/NJ SHPO (09.20.01) on the work previously conducted at the project area that was documented in Part I of this report. The comments stated that: 1) portions of the APE were omitted from the testing regime and that “additional Phase I and Phase II of the APE will be necessary”; 2) that the Phase I testing conducted APE at the 50 test interval in Areas #1 and #2 of the APE was not tight enough to capture potentially intact historic midden deposits associated with the Hanover Furnace Complex that may be located in these areas; and, 3) that a Smithsonian number should be assigned to the site. The work documented in this report (Part II) was done to address the concerns expressed by the NJ DEP/NJ SHPO reviewer.

A Phase I archaeological survey was conducted for Areas 4100 and 4200 at McGuire Air Force Base in Burlington County, New Jersey. The area of these parcels is 48.06 acres (Area 4100) and 29.59 acres (Area 4200). Military use of these parcels, once part of Fort Dix, dates from World War I. Temporary World War II wooden, single-story hospital structures stood here until they were demolished in the 1960s and 1970s. A warehouse (Building 4145) in the eastern portion of Area 4100 is currently used. At the northern perimeter of Area 4100 is a railroad grade from which ties and tracks have been removed. Concrete curbing, drains, and utility lines are in both areas. Forests and brushy fields have grown around roads and building sites. The ground is level, and the soil is classified as Urban Land. All of the land surface was inspected. Intensive surface inspection did not find any cellar holes or foundations. Subsurface testing was done at 50-ft (15-m) intervals in areas that did not show obvious surface disturbance. When disturbance was not evident, shovel test pits were excavated to culturally sterile subsoil and recorded with a Munsell Color Chart. In Area 4100, 155 shovel test pits and 201 shovel probes were excavated. In Area 4200, 81 shovel test pits and 67 shovel probes were excavated. Only a few artifacts were found in Area 4100 and none in Area 4200. These artifacts date from the early 1900s and may be associated with the Harker location. Elsewhere in the project areas, no prehistoric sites or historic sites of integrity dating from before the military use of the properties were encountered. Artifacts were recovered from all survey units in each area. Among them are asphalt and concrete fragments; plastic, metal, and ceramic pipes; tar paper; coal slag; and recent trash. No further research is recommended in either Area 4100 or 4200.

Burlington County, New Jersey. The survey was required under the Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and regulations of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, and was undertaken under contract to the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The landfill is classified on the National Priority List, and work was undertaken by individuals meeting qualifications under 26 CFR 1910.120 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. The project area is contained within approximately two acres of land on the perimeter of a 76-acre landfill, located between Juliustown-Browns Mills Road and Pemberton-Browns Mills Road, south of the intersection of Pointville Road and Juliustown-Browns Mills Roads. One prehistoric lithic artifact was recovered during the shovel testing program. The stratigraphic context was mixed. No historic materials were present. This is an incomplete report.