A04_SOW.pdf

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Fuel Reduction Projects – Cultural Resources Inventory Scope of Work

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: MOUNTAIN-PRAIRIE REGION

Charles M. Russell NWR Cultural Resource Survey Phillips, Garfield, and Valley Counties

Scope of Work

June 27, 2022 I. Purpose

The purpose of the proposed project is to complete a variety of mechanical treatments that will be used to reduce fuel loadings across the project by hand thinning, hand piling, pile burning, chipping, and mastication at CMR M Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR). The proposed project is considered an undertaking under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act due to its location on Federal lands, its provision of Federal funding, and the issuance of Federal permits.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) seeks a qualified individual (as defined by the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology) to conduct an intensive Class III survey of approximately 1,573 acres (including approximately 105 acres of Class III block survey, and approximately 1465 acres of Class III linear survey along CMR roads) under Section 106 of the NHPA and its implementing regulations (36 CFR Part 800), to identify any cultural resources occurring within the defined survey areas. Block areas subject to Class III survey should include the extent of the survey areas as mapped and provided to the consultant via GIS shape files with no additional buffer; linear areas subject to Class III survey along existing roadways should account for a total survey corridor width of 91 meters (300 feet) positioned along the edge of the existing road (i.e., 46 meters (150 feet) along each side of the roadway with no additional buffer. Any identified cultural resources (including sites or isolates, buildings, structures, and objects) should be subject to documentation and evaluation of integrity, significance, and National Register eligibility, followed by the development of Project effect recommendations.

II. USFWS Contacts Kevin Beck, Assistant Fire Management Officer, Kevin_Beck@fws.gov 406-370-9937 Karri Springer Archeologist Karri_Springer@fws.gov 720.556.3844 Allison Parish Archeologist Allison_Parrish@fws.gov 406-994-9949 III. Location (see attached map and associated GIS shape files)

The Project Area is located on Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Phillips and Fergus Counties, Montana, approximately 55 miles northeast of Lewistown in the Missouri Breaks region. The headquarters for the Refuge Complex is located in Lewistown. Three staffed field stations are located around the Refuge, including the Sand Creek Station 2 miles south of the Missouri River on the east side of U.S.

Highway 191 mailto:Kevin_Beck@fws.gov mailto:Karri_Springer@fws.gov mailto:Allison_Parrish@fws.gov

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Fuel Reduction Projects – Cultural Resources Inventory Scope of Work

Project Area 1: Highway 191. The project area consists of a survey along Highway 191 from where the Fred Robinson Bridge crosses the Missouri River north to the CMR Boundary (Map 2&3, Table 1). Class III, cultural resources inventory, is required from the highway edge east to the refuge fence. The inventory area encompasses 222 acres.

Project Area 2: CMR 101 Road. The project area includes a survey alongside CMR 101 Road (Map 2&3, Table 1). A class III cultural resources inventory is required from the junction of Highway 191 and CMR 101 northeast to the refuge boundary. The inventory area encompasses 522 acres and is 14mi long.

Project Area 3: CMR 303 Road. The project area includes a survey alongside CMR 303 Road (Map 2&3, Table 1). A class III cultural resources inventory is required from the junction of the CMR 201 Road north to the refuge boundary. The inventory area encompasses 332 acres and is 9mi long.

Project Area 4: CMR 202 Road. The project area includes a survey alongside CMR 202 Road (Map 2&3, Table 1). A class III cultural resources inventory is required from the CMR 201 Road north to the refuge boundary. The inventory area encompasses 291 acres and is 8mi long.

Project Area 5: CMR Roads 349, 464 & 465. The project area includes a survey alongside CMR Roads 349, 464 & 465 (Map 4&5, Table 1). A class III cultural resources inventory is required from the CMR boundary north to CMR 349 Road east to the junction of the CMR 365 road south to the refuge boundary. This survey area is located in Garfield County, Montana, approximately 31 miles northwest of Jordan, MT, in the Missouri Breaks. The headquarters for the CMR Complex is located in Lewistown, MT.

This inventory area encompasses 98 acres and is 1mi long.

Project Area 6: The Pines Phase III (Map 6 & 7, Table 1). This survey area is located in Valley County, Montana, approximately 35 miles south of Glasgow, MT, in the Missouri Breaks. This inventory area encompasses 98 acres and is 1mi long.

This unit is divided into slope categorizations with only land blocks under a 10 degree slope being inventoried as part of this contract. Class II inventory is a professionally conducted, statistically-based sample survey designed to aid in characterizing the probable density, diversity, and distribution of cultural properties within a large area.

Intensive pedestrian inventory is conducted in limited and discontinuous portions of the APE. Within individual sample units, survey aims, methods, and intensity are the same as those applied in a Class III inventory. A Class II inventory may include an approach that is based on a professional but judgmental strategy that needs to be specifically defined for a project. A Class II inventory may be conducted in several phases, using different sample designs to improve statistical reliability

The project area is within the Missouri Breaks; landforms are marked by gumbo soils, deeply incised drainages, steep slopes, and narrow ridges. A thorough examination in

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Fuel Reduction Projects – Cultural Resources Inventory Scope of Work these conditions can be challenging. Variation from standard Class III inventory strategies must be defended.

Objectives.

A. General Service Objective: The overall Service objective is to inventory the area of potential effects (APE) for the proposed Pines Phase III areas with less than a 10 degree slope as defined by FWS’s Slope analysis, to identify and evaluate historic properties within the APE, and to assess effects to identified historic properties within the APE.

B. Specific Study Objectives: Specific study objectives include the identification and evaluation of primarily surface indications of all cultural resources located on lands identified for survey within the project area (areas with less than 10 degree slope). In general, site evaluations should be conducted using existing guidance from the Montana SHPO, the National Register Criteria (36 CFR 60.4), and the National Park Service National Register Bulletins. This area is known to have been used by members of the majority of Montana’s tribes; United States Army, Lewis and Clark and numerous historic homesteaders. Documentation regarding that use should be part of this inventory and analysis. The historic nature of the transportation systems within the analysis area also needs to be evaluated, recognizing that some roads may be historic, associated with early exploration and agricultural settlement of the area, as well as historic FWS, military, GLO, and Grazing Service presence in the area.

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Fuel Reduction Projects – Cultural Resources Inventory Scope of Work

IV. Description of Undertaking

This undertaking will mechanically remove 1,573 acres of juniper and pine by using track vehicles and chainsaws to cut the trees off just above the ground surface.

V. Schedule Period of Performance Table 2

A. Site file and literature search shall begin no later than ten calendar days after the order has been issued and completed within 15 calendar days.

Table 1

Project 1: East Side of Hwy 191 222ac 5mi Map 2&3

Township T22N Range R23E Sections 1,12, 13

Township T22N Range R24E Sections 18, 17, 20, 29, 30, Project 2: CMR Auto Tour or Aka CMR Road 101 522ac 14mi Map 2&3

Township T22N Range R24E Sections 4, 3, 10, 11, 14, 23, 24, 25, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 29

Township T22N Range R25E Section 31

Township T21N Range R25E Section 6

Township T21N Range R24E Section 1

Project 3: CMR Road 303 332ac 9mi Map 2&3

Township T22N Range R25E Sections 6, 7, 8, 17, 16, 21, 28, 33, 34

Township T21N Range R25E Section 3

Project 4: CMR Road 202 291ac 8mi Map 2&3

Township T22N Range R25E Sections 2, 1, 12, 13, 24, 25, Township T22N Range R26E Sections 30, 31

Project 5: CMR Roads 349, 464 & 465 98ac 1mi Map 4&5

Township T22N Range R36E Section 31

Project 6: The Pines Phase III 105ac Map 6&7

Township T24N Range R39E Sections 13, 14

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Fuel Reduction Projects – Cultural Resources Inventory Scope of Work

B. Contractor shall prepare a table summarizing the inventory results to the COR within ten days of completing the fieldwork. The table shall contain a unit number and inspection results, i.e., indicate if cultural resources were located and recorded.

C. One digital copy of the draft inventory report and site forms shall be submitted to the Service Zone Archaeologist no later than November 15, 2023.

D. The Service Zone Archaeologist will review all deliverables and comment on their adequacy within 30 calendar days of submission. All deliverables are due by December 31, 2023.

* Actual calendar dates will be established at the start of the project.

VI. Deliverable Products: Analysis and Report Preparation.

Findings/results of fieldwork and subsequent recommendations of individual resource eligibility and project effect should be compiled in a descriptive report and detailed on the appropriate State of Montana forms (including, but not limited to, CRIS and CRABS) following the standards and guidelines of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office. Pertinent historical information should be included in the report and on the forms. Select photographs should be embedded in the report and forms as appropriate.

Table 2

Task Time Duration from Award*

Initial meeting and discussion between consultant and U.S. Fish and Wildlife cultural resource staff

(USFWS)

1 week (~late June)

Consultant submits a draft of report and forms to USFWS Zone Archaeologist

2 months (~late August)

USFWS Zone Archaeologist provides comments back to the consultant

2.25 months (~early September)

Consultant submits revised report and forms to USFWS Zone Archaeologist

2.5 months (~ mid-September)

USFWS Zone Archaeologist submits forms and reports to SHPO for their review

2.5 months (~ mid-September)

USFWS Zone Archaeologist provides SHPO comments to consultant for final revisions of forms and report

2.5 months (~ mid-September)

Consultant submits final forms, report, and photographs

Five months (~late November)

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Fuel Reduction Projects – Cultural Resources Inventory Scope of Work

All photographs should be provided as individual digital files labeled with a basic description and date upon submittal of the revised final report and forms to the Service.

An initial draft report and forms will be submitted to the Service Zone Archaeologist for review. A subsequent revised final draft report and forms addressing any requested revisions and/or comments will be submitted to the Zone Archaeologist. All deliverables should be submitted electronically.

VII. Access / Land Ownership The project is on CMR lands with access via numbered roads along the survey area. The consultant must contact the Sand Creek Field Station Manager, Michael Assenmacher,

(406) 464-5181 ext. 10 (office), (406) 366-0537 (cell), Michael_Assenmacher@fws.gov and Fort Peck Field Station Manager, Aaron Johnson Aaron_Johnson@fws.gov to coordinate schedules.

VIII. Permits and Qualifications Individuals working on this project must be under the direct supervision of staff who meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards.

Individuals meeting these standards must be present for all phases of the fieldwork. If the project is on federally owned lands, the contractor must obtain an Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) permit from the USFWS before starting any field work. A Special Use Permit (SUP) may also be required.

IX. Additional Information

Based on general knowledge, at least three historic resources have been preliminarily identified within the Project APE, including:

The consultant must complete a Class I file search and review the results to determine if any known or previously-recorded resources occur within or near the Project Area. In addition, the consultant should revisit and update any known or previously recorded sites within the Project Area's bounds, including in the case that site(s) occur outside of a more limited Class II survey area as defined (i.e., The Pines Phase III).

Based on the file search results, any areas that have been previously surveyed in the past ten years can be excluded from the current survey (any such exclusions should be noted in the final report).

Known, previously-recorded, and newly-identified cultural resources greater than 50 years in age should be documented and updated following the standards of the Montana SHPO. In addition, any historic infrastructure encompassed within or otherwise directly associated with historic roads (such as bridges, culverts, etc.) should be documented in association with these roads and evaluated as contributing/non- contributing elements, and in the case that the road itself does not rise to eligibility standards, should be further evaluated for NRHP eligibility on an individual basis.

GIS shapefiles of Class II and III survey areas, along with a shapefile of the greater Project Area boundary (in the case of the Class II survey areas), will be electronically mailto:Michael_Assenmacher@fws.gov mailto:Aaron_Johnson@fws.gov

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Fuel Reduction Projects – Cultural Resources Inventory Scope of Work provided to the consultant at the start of the project. In addition, the consultant will need to apply for an ARPA permit with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and may need to apply for a CMR Special Use Permit (SUP) as well.

Due to the Refuge's immense size and remote location, visitors should be prepared for a variety of conditions. Temperatures can range from 100ºF in the summer to -20ºF in the winter. While the Refuge has many miles of vehicle trails open for travel, many of these trails are "primitive" and require a high clearance vehicle and/or four-wheel drive.

During wet weather, most trails are impassable. Plan to carry water with you as it is extremely limited on the Refuge and drinking water is generally unavailable. Cell phone service is sporadic.