Article Title

Intensive Archaeological Survey of Portions of the Proposed Sand Hills Loop Phase I Pipeline, Reagan and Crockett Counties, Texas

Authors

Susan E. Butler
Todd L. Butler

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

On behalf of DCP Sand Hills Pipeline, LLC (DCP), SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted an intensive archaeological survey of portions of the proposed Sand Hills Loop Phase I Pipeline in Reagan and Crockett counties, Texas. Approximately 26 miles of the pipeline (“project”) crosses through land owned by the University of Texas (UT). The majority of the proposed alignment has been previously investigated by Turpin and Sons, Inc. in 2011. As such, only portions of the alignment that deviate outside the 2011 survey corridor were investigated, as well as portions which cross or are adjacent to (within 300 feet) sites that were identified after the 2011 survey. These areas to be surveyed total 6.4 miles within a 100-foot-wide corridor (approx. 78 acres).

Archaeological investigations were conducted pursuant to the potential acquisition of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 permit in accordance with 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 325, Appendix C (Processing Department of Army Permits: Procedures for the Protection of Historic Properties; Final Rule 1990; with current Interim Guidance Documents dated April 25, 2005 and January 31, 2007); and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 United States Code [USC] 470) and its implementing regulations 36 CFR 800. As the project area is owned by a political subdivision of the State of Texas, work was additionally conducted in compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191) and accompanying Rules of Practice and Procedure (Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Chapter 26) under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8157.

As a result of the current investigation, nine cultural resources were identified or revisited. These include seven previously recorded archaeological sites (41CX1096, 41CX1317, 41CX1570, 41RG76, 41RG263, 41RG324, and 41RG343) located within or immediately adjacent to the survey corridor, in addition to two newly-identified sites (41RG389 and 41RG390) and one isolated find (UT-CX-50a-1). All cultural resources identified or revisited during the course of the investigation were assessed with regard to eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL) and recommendation for avoidance, if applicable, as follows:

Two sites (41RG389 and 41RG390) and one isolated find (UT-CX-50a-1) are recommended NOT ELIGIBLE for the NRHP or for designation as a SAL. Owing to the paucity or commonality of recovered assemblages, lack of features, lack of unique character, and/or lack of contextual integrity, these resources possess negligible research value and are unlikely to contribute to the understanding of local and/or regional prehistory or history. Consequently, no further work was recommended for these resources.

The investigated portions of five sites (41RG76, 41RG263, 41RG343, 41CX1096, and 41CX1317) within the proposed workspace are recommended NOT ELIGIBLE for the NRHP or for designation as a SAL. Owing to the paucity or commonality of recovered assemblages, lack of features, lack of unique character, and/or lack of contextual integrity, the investigated portions of these resources possess negligible research value and are unlikely to contribute to the understanding of local and/or regional prehistory or history. The remaining unevaluated portions of these sites will not be affected by the proposed project; therefore, no further work was recommended for these sites at this time.

Two sites (41RG324 and 41CX1570) are located outside the proposed workspace and will not be impacted by the proposed project. Each of these sites are UNDETERMINED with regard to NRHP and SAL eligibility. As the proposed construction activities will have NO IMPACT on these sites, no additional work or avoidance measures are recommended at this time.

In accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA 36 CFR 800.4 (b)(1) and the Antiquities Code of Texas, SWCA has made a reasonable and good faith effort to identify significant cultural resources within the project area. No properties listed or otherwise eligible for the NRHP, or for designation as a SAL were identified within the project area. Consequently, SWCA recommends no further archaeological investigation and a finding of NO HISTORIC PROPERTIES AFFECTED under 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1). Per requirements of the Antiquities Code of Texas, project documentation will be curated with the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory in Austin.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License