Article Title

Cultural Resources Investigations for the Gregory Haul Road Project, San Patricio County, Texas

Authors

Laura I. Acuña
M. Kelly Russell

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

On behalf of Gulf Coast Growth Venture Asset Holding, LLC (GCGV LLC), Atkins North America, Inc. (Atkins) conducted an intensive cultural resources survey of a 2.37-kilometer (km; 1.47 miles [mi]) haul road and 0.32-km (0.20 mi) duct bank location near Gregory, Texas, in San Patricio County, Texas. The proposed haul road is located southwest of the town of Gregory, between Farm-to-Market (FM) Road 2986 and U.S. Highway (US) 181 (Figure 1). The property is owned by the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (POCCA), a political-subdivision of the state, which requires the proposed work to comply with the Antiquities Code of Texas under Permit No. 8112. In addition, in the event that a Section 404 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit is required for the man-made drainage ditch, the work also was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, and its implementing regulations under the Procedures of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, as amended in 2004 (Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 800 [36 CFR 800]).

The investigations consisted of a thorough background review and an intensive pedestrian survey with shovel testing focused around the drainage ditch. The direct Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the project is approximately 2.69 km (1.67 mi) in length, which includes the proposed 2.37-km (1.47-mi) long haul road and the 0.32-km (0.20 mi) long American Electric Power relocation impacts for a proposed duct bank that is part of the project (Figure 2). The width of the APE will include associated temporary and permanent construction impacts within a 61-meter (m; 200-foot [ft]) wide corridor for the road, and a 33- m (100-ft) wide corridor for the duct bank. Thus, the APE will be approximately 38.1 acres in size with depths of impacts ranging from 0.6 m (2 ft) to 6 m (20 ft) to account for the road grade, proposed bridge pilons, and duct bank, respectively. The APE for indirect effects is a 150-ft buffer around the direct APE.

The results of the background review determined that no previously recorded cultural sites were within or adjacent to the APE, and a small section had been surveyed previously for cultural resources. In addition, a review of historic maps revealed that the drainage ditch was historic in age, dating to the early 20th century. The APE for direct effects was approximately 38.1 acres in size, with shovel testing focused within the 3-acre USACE jurisdictional area, specifically 300 m (984 ft) on either side of the drainage ditch. A total of six shovel tests were excavated within the USACE jurisdictional area and the entire 38.1 acres was inspected visually due to the existing disturbances. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) survey standards require two shovel tests per acre for projects 3 acres to 10 acres in size, or six shovel tests for the USACE jurisdictional area . Thus, the shovel test investigations within the USACE jurisdictional area met the survey standards, and the shovel tests were all negative for cultural materials. The APE consisted of harvested and fallow agricultural fields with ground surface visibility ranging from 20 percent to 100 percent. The investigations recorded the historic-age drainage ditch as Resource 01.

Resource 01 is a historic-age drainage ditch dating to the early-twentieth century. The drainage ditch was possibly part of a large company farm associated with the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company. The site extends outside of the APE and has no evidence of significant cultural features or diagnostic artifacts. Atkins determined that Resource 01 within the APE is not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The site does not meet eligibility under Criteria A, B, C, or D, as defined by the evaluation criteria set in the National Register (36 CRF 60.4). Based on the investigations, Atkins made a reasonable and good-faith effort to identify historic properties within the APE. Since no properties were identified that meet criteria for listing on the NRHP under 36 CFR 60.04, Atkins recommends no further work is needed and a finding of no historic properties present within the project area is made

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