Article Title

A Cultural Resources Survey Of The BP-Fletcher No.1 Proposed 4.4-Acre Well Pad, 1.5-Acre Well Pad, And 2.4-Mile Pipeline Project, Within Village Greek State Park, Hardin County, Texas

Authors

Jennifer Cochran
Zachary Overfield
Abby Peyton
Allyson Walsh

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

Perennial Environmental Services, LLC (Perennial), on behalf of Upstream Exploration, LLC (Upstream) conducted an intensive cultural resources survey of the BP – Fletcher No. 1 well pads and pipeline Project (Project) located east of Lumberton, Texas on the recently acquired Hancock Tract within the Village Creek State Park. The Project will include vegetation clearing, equipment staging as well as construction and installation of an approximately 4.4-acre pad site, 1.5-acre pad site, and a 3.8-kilometer- (km-) (2.4-mile- [mi-]) long 10.2-centimeter- (cm-) 4.0-inch- [in.-]) diameter pipeline. The pipeline portion of the Project will run adjacent to an unnamed road that bisects the Hancock property from west to east approximately 2.7 km (1.7 mi) to the east of Alma Drive. The two pad sites are located at either terminus of the pipeline and average approximately 1.5 acres and 4.4 acres in size. The 3.8-km- (2.4-mi-) long pipeline will be installed within an approximately 6.9-meter-(m-) (20.0-foot- [ft.-]) wide permanent corridor with temporary workspace extending up to a 15.2-m- (50-ft.-) wide corridor in some areas (14.2 acres). In all, the Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the Project totals 20.5 acres, with depths of impacts ranging from 1.2 to1.8 m (4.0 to 6.0 ft.). Abby Peyton served as Principal Investigator for the Project, Jennifer Cochran served as Project Archeologist, and Chris Shelton, Amy Goldstein, and Kirsten Atwood conducted the fieldwork on January 27-29, 2016.

The Project is located on property owned by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), a political subdivision of the State of Texas. As such, the property falls under the jurisdiction of the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT). A cultural resources assessment was necessary within the Project in order to satisfy requirements of the ACT. The purpose of the survey was to identify any prehistoric and historic-age archaeological sites located within the APE and evaluate their significance and eligibility for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). The cultural resources investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Committee (TAC) Permit No. 7499.

In all, a total of 144 shovel tests and 7 bucket auger tests were excavated across the Project. Shovel tests revealed diverse soil textures, such as silty clay loam, sandy loam, loamy sand, and sandy clay. Auger testing was terminated upon reaching compact clay or the presence of the water table at 110.0-175.0 cm (43.0-69.0 in.) below ground surface. No evidence of any cultural resources was observed along the modern ground surface or within any of the shovel tests or bucket augers excavated within the Project.

Previously recorded site 41HN59, a historic-age site consisting of a historic-age trash scatter, was observed approximately 6.1 m (20.0 ft.) west of the proposed pipeline right-of-way (ROW). The ground surface was thoroughly inspected and shovel tests were excavated at 30.0-m (98.4-ft.) intervals along the Project area near site 41HN59. No evidence of site 41HN59 was observed along the modern ground surface within any of the shovel tests excavated in this area.

Based on the results of the survey effort, no intact, significant cultural resources will be affected by any construction activities within the Project area. In accordance with the ACT, Perennial recommends no further cultural resources investigations within the 20.5-acre Project area.

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