Article Title

An Intensive Archaeological Survey of the Hollywood Park Cell Tower Project, Bexar County, Texas

Authors

Sergio A. Iruegas
Melinda Tate Iruegas

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

This report documents the results of an intensive archaeological survey (TAC Permit 6604) for the 160 foot high self supporting Hollywood Park Telecommunications Tower (Project), in Bexar County, Texas. GTI Environmental, LLC (GTI) completed the intensive archaeological survey for the Project at the request of Terracon Consultants, Inc. (Terracon) on behalf of Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless), in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Review of Effects on Historic Properties for Certain Undertakings Approved by the Federal Communications Commission (Nationwide PA [FCC 04-222]) with the Texas State Historic Preservation Office (TX-SHPO) and 36CFR800.2(a)(3) as outlined in the National Historic Preservation Act. The Project is under the jurisdiction of the FCC and the TX-SHPO. The Project is considered a Federal Undertaking, in accordance with the Nationwide PA and 36CFR800.16(y) as outlined in the National Historic Preservation Act. FCC regulations require that the Project Sponsor considers the effects of the proposed tower on Historic Properties. The Project’s direct Area of Potential Effect (APE) for archaeological resource considerations consists of the 60 foot x 100 foot fenced parcel—less than one acre. The Project’s indirect APE for consideration of historic building resources is a 0.50 mile radius from the Project location for towers 0 to 200 feet. The THC’s Atlas database does not show any registered historic structures within a 0.50 mile radius of the Project’s indirect APE. GTI conducted the intensive archaeological survey based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the THC’s Minimum Archaeological Survey Standards for Texas, which requires a minimum of 3 shovel tests per acre for projects 0 to 2 acres in size.

According to the THC’s Atlas database three agencies sponsored archaeology surveys have been conducted within a half mile of the general project area. Several archaeological sites have been recorded near the Project’s direct APE on similar topographic settings as the Project’s location. Therefore, the Project’s direct APE was considered a high probability area where archaeological sites were likely to be present. As required by the Nationwide PA [Stipulation VI(D)(2)(b)], “[i]dentification and evaluation relating to archeological resources shall be performed by a professional who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards in archeology.” Accordingly, Sergio A. Iruegas, RPA, served as the professional archaeologist/Principal Investigator (PI) and performed a 100 percent intensive archaeological survey of the entire Project direct APE on July 24, 2013 and documented 41BX1985 that consisted of six hearths. The ground surface visibility within the Project’s direct APE was greater than 30 percent. GTI archaeologist excavated a total of three shovel tests within the Project’s direct APE. All three of the shovel tests contained substantial buried cultural material. Accordingly, GTI has assessed that the proposed project may have an Effect to 41BX1985 archaeology site’s eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. GTI recommends that the Project Sponsor avoid 41BX1985 or conduct National Register Testing at 41BX1985 and continue Section 106 consultation with the TX-SHPO.

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