A04 Statement of Work Revised Mod 1_0001.docx

Scope-of-Work for Class III Inventory and Report Preparation for the Fuels Reduction/Prescribed Fire Projects in the High Line area and Reynolds Battlefield ACEC in Powder River County, Terry Bench Prescribed Burn in Prairie County and the Carter County Fire Break Mastication Project in Carter County Requiring Cultural Resources Inventory in Accordance with BLM Montana/Dakotas Cultural Resources Handbook H-8110-1, Section III.C.

I. General Background.

A. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required to identify, evaluate, and protect prehistoric and historic cultural resources on public lands under its jurisdiction, and to ensure that Bureau initiated, or Bureau authorized actions do not inadvertently harm or destroy cultural resources. The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) mandates these requirements.

B. A Class III intensive field inventory is a professionally conducted, continuous, intensive survey of an entire target area aimed at locating and recording all cultural properties that have surface and exposed-profile indications. In general, a Class III survey is accomplished through systematic inspection carried out by walking a series of close-interval parallel transects until the area has been thoroughly examined. Artificial exposure of the subsurface (auger probing or shovel testing) is sometimes a necessary part of Class III surveys and should be included in identification efforts if ground/surface visibility is completely obscured by heavy vegetation cover.

II. Specific Background.

A. Setting: The Miles City Field Office is located in southeast and eastern Montana. The Field Office administers 2,751,530 acres of surface estate and an additional 11,437,479+acres of Federal minerals (See Map 1). The Field Office is involved with a variety of land disturbing activities that require cultural resource input including fuels reduction, forestry, and habitat improvement projects.

B. The areas proposed for inventory in Fiscal Year 2021 are in Powder River, Prairie, and Carter Counties in the Miles City Field Office. BLM anticipates up to 12,905. 3 acres requiring inventory in Fiscal Year 2021.

III. Objectives.

A. General Bureau Objective.

To meet its obligations under Sections 106 and 110 of the NHPA.

B. Field Office Objective.

BLM’s objective with the proposed project is to reduce hazardous fuels buildup and improve wildlife habitat. The overall Field Office objective is to improve wildlife habitat in the Miles City Field Office. The BLM objective regarding the BLM ACEC is to continue to protect and manage the diverse cultural and historic resources present.

C. Specific Study Objectives.

1. To identify and evaluate, based primarily on surface indications, cultural resources located on lands identified for survey within the project area. In general, site evaluations shall be conducted using existing guidance from the BLM, Montana SHPO, the National Register Criteria (36 CFR 60.4), and National Park Service National Register Bulletins.

IV. Statement of Work.

A. The contractor shall perform a Class III inventory for prescribed fire fuels reduction projects in Powder River and Prairie Counties to reduce hazardous combustible material buildup and improve habitat on the following BLM identified tracts. As prescribed burning replicates naturally occurring wildfire events that sites would be subjected to periodically, a 100% inventory is not considered warranted for the total project area. The strategy of the BLM, as consulted on with the MT SHPO, is to conduct a 100% inventory of the area that will see ground disturbing activities. These would include primarily the roads and perimeter of the project area where you would have fire breaks and heavy equipment travel. A 10% sample inventory will be conducted of the burn area in equal parts of tracts to be considered high, medium, and low probability for resource identification. BLM has identified these tracts based on GIS modeling.

The contractor shall perform a Class III block inventory for a fuels mastication project in Carter County to reduce hazardous combustible material buildup and conifer encroachment and to improve habitat on the following BLM identified tracts. As this type of fuels treatment is more intensive and involves heavy machinery, 100% of the proposed project area is to be inventoried.

Inventory shall be conducted on a priority basis and each priority will require a separate report. The list of BLM identified tracts are shown in Table 1 of this Statement of Work (see below). Inventory areas will be:

Priority 1 Travel routes and selected parcels of both BLM and deeded land in the High Line Fuels Treatment Area in Powder River County (See Priority One Map Package- 1,417.4 GIS Acres).

Priority 2 All BLM Lands in the Reynolds Battlefield ACEC are to be inventoried in Powder River County, Montana (See Priority Two Map Package- 868.3 GIS Acres).

Priority 3 Travel routes and selected parcels of both BLM and deeded land in the Terry Bench Fuels Treatment Areas (Maps See Priority Three Map Package- 830.2ACRES)

Priority 4 All BLM Lands in the Carter County Fire Breaks Project Area in Carter County (See Priority Four Map Package,- 9,789.4).

B. The Contractor shall conduct a site file and literature search at the State Historic Preservation Office in Helena, Montana, and shall contact Chris Pettyjohn at the Miles City Field Office for additional resource data. The purpose of this file search is to ensure that the Contractor is familiar with all previous work conducted in the general area of the project. This information is a necessary component of the inventory report.

C. The contractor shall clearly identify all previous recorded sites so that they may be avoided, mitigated, or monitored during project implementation. GIS Data will be provided to the field office archaeologist so that sites can be easily relocated in the field.

D. Formal testing shall not be conducted; however, limited hand auger or shovel testing, at the discretion of the field director, may be performed to establish potential for site deposition or site boundaries (except within ACEC boundaries). Limited hand auger or shovel testing will be performed if it is considered necessary for determining the NRHP eligibility status of a site. Shovel testing is not a requirement for this procurement unless a site eligibility determination is dependent upon it, except in the ACEC. No shovel tests will be conducted within the Reynolds Battlefield ACEC or on sites with prehistoric features (i.e. tipi rings) as they will need to be consulted on regardless. If historic period architectural structures or remains are located the Contractor is expected to conduct a land title and mineral patent examination as part of the site identification and evaluation effort.

E. The Contractor shall employ BLM criteria for minimum site definition; i.e., The minimum criteria for defining archaeological or cultural properties, requiring use of a site record, are that sites should contain remains of past human activity that are at least.5O years old and consist of one or more of the following: 1. At least 5 artifacts within an area 50 feet in diameter (roughly 15sq meters); 2. One or more archaeological features in spatial association with any number of artifacts; 3.

Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) as defined by National Register Bulletin 38 (H8110- 1.V.b.1 through 3). Sites may also include locations which contain no physical evidence but are important for their associations with the traditions of a group, ethnic community, or Indian tribe; e.g., National Register Bulletin 38. Locations containing less than 5 artifacts, shall be recorded as isolated finds. The contractor will not be responsible for Native American consultation and coordination for the project, this will be completed by

BLM.

F. The Contractor shall:

1. Cover the areas to be inventoried on foot by employing standard survey methodology. Transect intervals shall be conducted in a 30-meter block inventory style. Transect intervals may be modified if conditions warrant; e.g., dense grasses and sod, or rough and steep terrain. If transects are widened the Contractor shall document the rationale employed which justifies the deviation from the standard interval distance. In all cases, coverage shall be thorough.

2. Identify from surface and exposed subsurface soils indications of cultural properties or materials. At each site location emplace a site datum. A digital site datum (GPS point) can be used or a physical datum such as rebar or PVC can be placed at the site. In either instance a UTM coordinate of the datum will need to be used in appropriate resource forms.

3. This survey is to be a non-collection inventory. Exceptions to this would include projectile points that are from the Paleoindian to Early Archaic time periods or prehistoric pottery. Other artifacts that may garner additional interest or study may also be collected at the contractors’ discretion. Diagnostic artifacts such as late prehistoric projectile points should be well documented but do not need to be collected.

4. Locate each cultural property on a United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5' quadrangle topographic map.

5. Record all cultural properties on BLM or MT SHPO site and isolated find forms. Site forms and instructions can be found in BLM's Handbook for Cultural Resource Inventory and Compliance. Unless otherwise directed, re-record previously recorded cultural properties located within unit boundaries identified for inventory. Note any change in resource condition from when the site was originally recorded. Try to determine eligibility of the site if it is currently listed as undetermined or unresolved with the SHPO if possible.

6. Take at least two 3 X 5" non-modified digital photographs of each cultural property. Standing historic structures shall be photographed on all sides to illustrate architectural features. Label all photos and negatives with a description and orientation. A photographic record shall be maintained.

7. Prepare sketch maps of all sites based on the location of the site datum and include topographic contour lines, cultural features, distinguishing natural and man-made features, basic site contents, and locations of all collected artifacts. While it is not necessary to map all artifacts indicate areas of artifact concentration. All prehistoric cultural properties or historic material scatters shall be mapped by compass and taped or paced in meters. All historic period Euro-American standing structures and mining features; e.g., houses, barns, etc., shall be mapped in feet. GPS Data may be substituted for the above provided it is of the same or better precision to taping and pacing.

a. There are 3 known historic structures and 1 homestead with multiple structures that will need to be recorded within the High Line project boundary in Powder River County. All four known historic sites fall within parcels designated for inventory. Maps showing the location of these structures can be found on maps #3-5 (symbolized as a red triangle). None of these locations have been previously recorded as sites.

8. For sites that may be affected by the proposed actions, such as standing wooden structures and rock art, develop recommendations for protection and/or avoidance.

9. The Contractor shall obtain Smithsonian site numbers from the Montana SHPO, for all cultural properties not previously assigned such numbers. Site forms will be reviewed with the draft report and Smithsonian numbers should be obtained prior to draft report submission. Isolated find numbers will be assigned by the Contractor.

10. The contractor shall provide BLM with GIS Data for all areas inventoried and all site, isolate find and metal detecting locations. GIS Data shall meet the data requirements for GIS Data for the Miles City Field Office and MT SHPO.

G. Further Requirements for Reynolds Battlefield ACEC

1. The inventory report for the Reynolds Battlefield ACEC should be a separate report apart from the High Line Inventory.

2. The inventory should not solely focus on the battle but also look for and record other prehistoric and historic sites that are within the ACEC boundaries.

3. A summary of the battle and the events that transpired before and directly after should be included in the report. This does not need to be an exhaustive narrative of the battle but should summarize the major events.

4. A site form update for the battlefield (24PR0089)should be completed. This form should also include documentation of battle monuments (DAR monument, Cheyenne Flag). GIS site data will also be required as a digital site boundary has not previously been established.

5. Metal detecting should be conducted as part of the inventory strategy on the ridgetops within the ACEC west of the road. Positive metal detector hits should be recorded with a submeter GPS Unit with 95% interval confidence. Accuracy confidence is essential so a minimum of 50 averaged points per hit will be required.

a. Metal detecting should be comprehensive and transects should be spaced no more than 5 meters apart.

b. Clusters of 5 or more hits should be grouped and recorded as a polygon.

c. The total amount of acreage due to be metal detected is 147 acres.

d. A map showing the area for metal detection can be found in the Priority Two Map Package.

6. No shovel testing should occur within the ACEC without prior consent.

H. Collections, if Made.

1. Collections shall be labeled and catalogued, using BLM catalog cards, and shall be processed in accordance with Billings Curation Center packaging standards (forms and packaging requirements shall be provided to the Contractor by BLM).

2. All collections belong to the United States Government and will be delivered directly to the Billings Curation Center by the contractor as part of submitting the final inventory report.

3. If collections are made, an additional copy of the final report and cd or thumb drive with the electronic report will be delivered by the contractor to the BCC with the collections.

I. Analysis and Report Preparation.

1. Upon completion of the Class III inventory field work, prepare a professional quality report, addressing the general categories outlined below. Each of the fuels projects will require a separate report. This will include a report for the Highline inventory in Powder River County, Reynolds Battlefield ACEC in Powder River County, Carter County Fire Breaks Mastication in Carter County and Terry Bench Prescribed Burn in Prairie County, totaling 4 separate reports.

a. Title Sheet. Signed by the Principal Investigator.

b. Abstract. Provide a 250-word or less abstract of the report. The abstract shall outline the report contents and refer to specific highlights from the narrative.

c. Table of Contents. Provide a complete inventory of report contents.

d. Introduction. Provide an overview of the project including its purpose. Identify the tracts inventoried for this project, by legal description in table form.

e. Literature Search. Provide a brief but complete discussion on the work that has been conducted in the project area. Also provide a table that lists previously recorded sites and one for previous inventories.

f. Environmental and Cultural Setting. Provide a brief but complete overview of the environment in which the survey tracts are located. In addition, discuss the cultural setting, again briefly, including both the prehistoric and historic periods.

g. Inventory Results Provide a summary description of each cultural property found. Indicate results from preliminary evaluation and any problems connected with the property's recordation. Include photographs of cultural properties located during the inventory; e.g., half-tones or good quality xerox copies of original photographs. Use graphics and tables as appropriate.

h. Summary and Recommendations:

Discuss the results of the inventory in summary form. Include the following:

i. Identify the sites recorded, whether the sites were prehistoric or historic, and what type of site is represented.

ii. Evaluate each cultural property for its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Contractor shall use an appropriate "Context" in which to evaluate cultural properties and shall employ the National Register Criteria in those evaluations. Contractor shall clearly describe the rationale used to determine which sites are eligible, potentially eligible, and not eligible. If a sites eligibility cannot be determined based on potential buried deposits alone; shovel testing or auger probing will need to be used in an effort to help make that determination.

If a determination is not possible, the Contractor shall recommend treatment needed to determine eligibility on those sites.

i. References Cited. Include a list of all sources cited in report.

j. Appendices. Provide an appendix to incorporate typed unit forms and descriptions, copies of USGS maps with the depicted units, and photographs of individual units. Combine these elements (unit forms and descriptions, copies of USGS maps, and photographs) into separate unit summaries within the appendix.

k. Maps and Graphics. Provide appropriate maps, charts, tabulations, and graphics necessary to support the report narrative.

l. Preservation, Packing, Packaging, Submitted collections must adhere to the standards identified for the Billings Curation Center.

V. Specifications and Standards.

1. Inventory guidelines and standards for BLM generated cultural resource investigations can be found in Montana State Office Handbook H-8110-1 entitled Guidelines for Identifying Cultural Resources. The Handbook will be made available at the Miles City Field Office

VI. The Contractor Shall Not:

A. Complete consultation with affected Native American Groups.

B. Sign off on environmental documents for cultural resources.

VII. Inspection.

available to the BLM.

VIII. Government Provided Information

A. Shapefiles for all project areas and areas to be inventoried. In addition, the contractor will have access to site and project files located at the Miles City Field Office.

IX. Deliverables.

A. The Contractor will prepare reports, and associated forms for project inventoried under Section A of this scope of work.

B. Address for deliverables:

Bureau of Land Management Miles City Field Office Attn: Chris Pettyjohn 111 Garryowen Road Miles City, Montana 59301

C. One set of draft site forms with original black & white or color photographs, as specified above.

D. One copy of the draft Class III cultural resource inventory report.

E. One unbound original, plus 2 copies of the final Class III cultural resource inventory report. The report shall be typed and printed on 8 .5" x 11" paper and shall be single spaced. Two sets of final site forms with Smithsonian site numbers and with original black & white or color photos. Additionally, two copies of each final report shall be submitted in an electronic format.

F. One clean and undamaged set of USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle maps showing the locations of survey areas and all cultural resource sites and isolated finds identified on inventoried tracts. Sites and survey areas shall be labeled with site and unit numbers and neatly printed on maps.

G. One copy of photographic record.

H. One copy of all field notes.

I. One disc for each report containing shape files in a GIS compatible format Shape files should include inventoried area boundaries, site boundaries as polygons and site datums, finished artifacts, features if present, and artifact concentrations, and any disturbances or unique features in or affecting the site as point or polygonal data.

X. Period of Performance

-The period of Performance is May 24, 2021 to Feb 18, 2022.

-All field work shall be completed no later than October 22, 2021.

-A complete list of identified sites with GIS shapefiles, a brief description of each site, and potential eligibility recommendation shall be submitted no later than October 29, 2021.

-The draft report shall be submitted to BLM no later than January 14, 2022.

-BLM shall review the draft report within two weeks of submittal.

-The final report, site forms and artifacts to be curated are due no later than February 18, 2022.

XI. Payment

Payment shall be made on the following schedule for 2021

1. Completion of Pre-field Meeting, Documentation of File Search Completion and submission of Field Work Authorization Request 10%

2. Documentation of Completion of Fieldwork 20%

3. Provide a List of Sites, Brief Description (1 or 2 sentence), Eligibility Recommendation, GIS site polygons 10%

4. BLM Approval of Draft Report 35%

5. BLM Acceptance of Final Report and Acceptance of Any Collections by Billings Curation Center. BLM will bear curation costs 25%

TABLE ONE

BLM IDENTIFED TRACTS to be INVENTORIED in 2021

POWDER RIVER COUNTY INVENTORY AREA

Reynolds Battlefield ACEC, Powder River County

T08S, R48E

Sect. 28: SESW 8.5 Acres SWSW 16.0 Acres Lot 13 8.4 Acres Lot 19 5.9 Acres Lot 20 68.6 Acres

Sect 29: SENW 40.0 Acres Lot 5 46.0 Acres Lot 6 62.0 Acres Lot 7 54.0 Acres Lot 8 40.2 Acres Lot 9 40.2 Acres Lot 10 37.3 Acres Lot 11 50.3 Acres Lot 12 50.2 Acres Lot 13 37.2 Acres Lot 14 37.3 Acres Lot 16 37.1 Acres

Sect. 32 SWSE 40.0 Acres NWNE 40.0 Acres Lot 4 54.3 Acres

Sect. 33 Lot 8 21.2 Acres Lot 9 25.4 Acres Lot 10 21.6 Acres

T.09S R. 48E

Sect. 04 Lot 4 26.6 Acres

Total: 868.3 Acres

High Line Inventory Area

T.08S, R. 47E

Sect. 13 NESW 40.0 Acres

Sect. 14 SENE 40.0 Acres

Sect. 23 N2NW 80.0 Acres W2SW 80.0 Acres

Sect. 26 NWNW 40.0 Acres

T.08S, R. 48E

Sect. 18 NESW 40.0 Acres Lot 4 29.6 Acres

Sect. 19 E2NE 80.0 Acres N2SE 80.0 Acres SWNE 40.0 Acres SENW 40.0 Acres NESW 40.0 Acres Lot 4 30.0 Acres

Sect. 20 SESW 40.0 Acres

Sect. 21 Lot 11 57.8 Acres Lot 12 44.9 Acres

Sect. 30 SESE 40.0 Acres

Sect. 31 N2NE 80.0 Acres

Sect. 32 NENW 40.0 Acres NWSE 40.0 Acres Lot 5 40.2 Acres

Total: 1042.5 Acres

Powder River County Travel Route Inventory

Total: 374.9 Acres

Total Powder River County Inventory Acreage: 2285.7 Acres

CARTER COUNTY INVENTORY AREA

Carter Fire Breaks North

T. 3S, R. 56E

Sect. 11 E2SE 80.0 Acres

Sect. 12 SW 160.0 Acres

Sect. 14 ALL 640.0 Acres

Sect. 15 ALL except W2NW 560.0 Acres

Sect. 22 ALL 640.0 Acres

Sect. 23 ALL 640.0 Acres

Sect. 25 SW 160.0 Acres

Sect. 26 ALL 640.0 Acres

Sect. 27 NE 160.0 Acres

Total: 3,680.0 Acres

Carter Fire Breaks South

T. 5S, R. 55E

Sect. 13 SWSW 40.0 Acres NE 160.0 Acres E2SE 80.0 Acres

Sect. 22 E1/2 320.0 Acres

Sect. 23 ALL 640.0 Acres

Sect. 24 ALL 640.0 Acres

Sect. 25 ALL 640.0 Acres

Sect. 26 E1/2 320.0 Acres N2NW 80.0 Acres SENW 40.0 Acres

Sect. 27 E2NE 80.0 Acres NWNE 40.0 Acres E2SE 80.0 Acres SWSE 40.0 Acres

Sect. 34 E1/2 320.0 Acres

Sect. 35 NWNW 40.0 Acres E1/2 320.0 Acres

T. 5S, R. 56E

Sect. 6 SE 160.0 Acres Lot 1 43.1 Acres Lot 2 43.3 Acres Lot 3 43.5 Acres Lot 4 43.7 Acres Lot 5 31.1 Acres Lot 6 28.5 Acres Lot 7 40.0 Acres Lot 8 40.0 Acres Lot 9 40.0 Acres Lot 10 40.0 Acres Lot 11 40.0 Acres Lot 12 40.0 Acres Lot 13 40.0 Acres Lot 14 40.0 Acres Lot 15 28.5 Acres Lot 16 28.6 Acres Lot 17 40.0 Acres Lot 18 40.0 Acres Lot 19 40.0 Acres Lot 20 40.0 Acres Lot 21 28.7 Acres

Sect. 7 E ½ 320.0 Acres Lot 1 40.0 Acres Lot 2 40.0 Acres Lot 3 28.8 Acres Lot 4 28.8 Acres Lot 5 40.0 Acres Lot 6 40.0 Acres Lot 7 40.0 Acres Lot 8 40.0 Acres Lot 9 28.8 Acres Lot 10 28.8 Acres Lot 11 40.0 Acres Lot 12 40.0 Acres

Sect. 18 Lot 2 40.0 Acres Lot 3 28.9 Acres Lot 4 29.0 Acres Lot 5 40.0 Acres Lot 8 40.0 Acres Lot 9 29.0 Acres Lot 10 29.0 Acres Lot 11 40.0 Acres

Sect. 31 Lot 1 40.0 Acres Lot 2 40.0 Acres Lot 3 29.6 Acres Lot 4 29.8 Acres Lot 5 40.0 Acres Lot 9 29.9 Acres Lot 10 30.0 Acres

Total Acres 6109.4 Acres

Total Carter County Inventory Acres 9789.4 Acres

PRAIRIE COUNTY INVENTORY AREA

Singleton Prescribed Burn Unit

T. 9N, R. 52 E

Sect. 2 SWNW 40.0 Acres SESE 40.0 Acres

Sect. 3 SWSE 40.0 Acres

Sect. 11 NENE 40.0 Acres

T. 10N, R. 52 E

Sec. 25 SWSW 40.0 Acres

Sec. 26 E2SE 80.0 Acres

Sec. 35 E2NW 80.0 Acres SWNE 40.0 Acres

Total 400.0 Acres

Terry Bench Prescribed Burn Units

T. 11N, R. 51 E

Sec. 3 E2SW 80.0 Acres SENW 40.0 Acres

Sec. 24 SESE 40.0 Acres

Total 160.0 Acres

Prairie County Travel Route Inventory

Singleton 173.8 Acres

Terry Bench Perimeter 96.4 Acres

Total: 270.2 Acres

Total Prairie County Inventory Acres 830.2 Acres

Total Project Inventory Acres- 12,905. 3

Map of Outline showing Miles City Field Office Area.

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