"Intensive Archaeological Survey for the Arco to Crane 138kV Transmissi" by Amy Leuchtmann and Melanie Johnson

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Article Title

Intensive Archaeological Survey for the Arco to Crane 138kV Transmission Line Oryx Crane Tap Project, Crane County, Texas

Authors

Amy Leuchtmann
Melanie Johnson

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

Oncor Electric Delivery LLC (Oncor) contracted with HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) to conduct an intensive cultural resources survey for the Arco to Crane Tap Project. The proposed project consists of the construction of approximately one mile (mi; 1.6 kilometers [km]) of a 138 kV tap from the existing Arco to Crane transmission line to the new Oryx Crane substation within a 100-foot (ft) (30.48-meter [m]) wide corridor, in Crane County, Texas (Figure 1-1). This survey was conducted by HDR on behalf of Oncor to identify cultural resources within the APE.

The purpose of the archaeological survey was to determine the presence/absence of cultural resources within the Area of Potential Effects (APE), defined as the 1-mi (1.6-km) long, 100-ft (30.48-m) wide corridor for a total of 12.12 acres (4.9 hectares), and to evaluate identified resources for their eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or as a designated State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). The survey was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 8414. The survey was led by project manager Clayton Tinsley, accompanied by archaeologist Amy Leuchtmann, on May 8, 2018, and resulted in a total of 4 person-hours.

HDR conducted an intensive archaeological survey with pedestrian walkover within the entire 1-mi (1.6-km) APE. Due to the high ground surface visibility (averaging approximately 90 percent) within the APE, shovel testing was not employed with the exception of one judgmental shovel test within a dune formation. No cultural resources were observed during the survey.

No further archaeological investigations are recommended within the APE. In the event that any archaeological deposits are encountered during construction, work should cease, and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) should be notified.