Attachment 02 - C-0378 VAWLA Police Station BST Report.pdf

18 Technology Dr., Ste. 103 Irvine, CA 92618

949-356-6660 www.dukecrm.com

ArchAeology history PAleontology

June 10, 2024

Edward A. McManamna Spees, LLC (DBA Spees Design Build) 1414 Fourth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101

Subject: Archaeological Buried Site Testing for the Proposed New Police Station Project located at the Veteran Affairs West Los Angeles Campus in the City and County of Los Angeles, California (VA Project No. 691-370)

Dear Mr. McManamna:

DUKE Cultural Resources Management, LLC (DUKE CRM) is under contract to Spees, LLC (DBA Spees Design Build) (Client) to perform archaeological buried site testing (BST) for the proposed new police station, (Project) at the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS) Campus, in the West Los Angeles community, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. This report has been prepared to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA or Section 106) and the Programmatic Agreement among the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the California State Historic Preservation Officer Regarding Redevelopment of the West Los Angeles Campus of The Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Section VII (Programmatic Agreement). DUKE CRM excavated six (6) BST trenches and screened samples from each trench to identify any buried archaeological resources that may be impacted by the proposed Project.

The proposed Police Station is located within Quad 7 of the VAGLAHS Campus, located directly east of Building 220 and bounded by Wilshire Boulevard to the east, Eisenhower Avenue to the north, and San Vicente Boulevard to the west (see Attachment 1 for Project maps). The Project is comprised of approximately one (1) acre on Accessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 4365-008-906. The Project consists of the construction of an 18,000 square foot two-story Police Station with 56-stalls of surface parking, with anticipated ground disturbance depth being 4 to 6 feet below the current grade. The proposed Project lies in Section 28 of Township 1 South, Range 15 West, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian as depicted on the USGS Beverly Hills, Calif. 7.5-minute quadrangle map (see Attachment 1, Project Location map). The Project lies within the boundary of the Mexican-era Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica land grant.

Analysis of the archaeological sensitivity model (ASM) indicated that the entirety of the current Project has a low sensitivity for buried cultural resources. The proposed Project area is composed of artificial fill overlaying Pleistocene age, old alluvial fan deposits (Qof). These Pleistocene age soils are low sensitivity for prehistoric resources as they predate the prehistoric occupations of the area and fill surfaces either scoured or disturbed any prehistoric resources laying atop of the Pleistocene age soils (DUKE CRM 2018). In addition, two previous BST projects were completed near the proposed

Duke culturAl resources MAnAgeMent

6/10/2024 (C-0378 VAWLA Police Station BST Report) 2

Project. The VAGLHS Campus for the Tiny Homes Project, located approximately 285 feet east of the proposed Project area, encountered 6.8 ft. to 13.7 ft. (2.1 m to 4.2 m) of artificial fill on top of the Qof landform*. The VAGLHS Wadsworth Chapel Project, located approximately 1,460 feet east of the proposed Project area, also encountered 6.8 ft. to 13.7 ft. (2.1 m to 4.2 m) of artificial fill on top of the Qof landform†.

The most likely resources to be encountered would be historic resources. The VAGLAHS Campus dates to the late 1880s when the land was bought for the construction of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Since 1888, the campus has had several generations of building activities that have constructed and demolished several successive buildings. Despite this history, analysis of the land history of the VAGLAHS Campus has determined that much of the proposed Project area has low sensitivity for historic archaeological resources, with diffuse refuse deposits (DUKE CRM 2018:

Table 3, Figure 6). From the data collated during the ASM study, DUKE CRM proposed spot-check monitoring during construction or BST prior to construction for areas of low sensitivity for cultural resources, areas like the proposed Project.

In consultation with the VA and US VETS and to rule out the potential for impacts of the Project to buried archaeological resources, DUKE CRM excavated and screened samples from six (6) BST trenches within the Project to identify possible cultural resources within subsurface soils.

BST Trenching

From May 13 to May 16, 2024, DUKE CRM, led by Field Director Morgan Beigle, Master of Arts (M.A.), Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA), and archaeological field crew Lauren Biltonen, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), and Shawn Keef, B.A., monitored and sampled excavation of six (6) mechanical trenches (MT) in the Project area. The excavation was completed by West Coast Backhoe.

The locations of the trenches were determined by the lack of preexisting utilities and asphalt coverage;

and coverage north-south and east-west within the Project (see Attachment 1, Project BST Locations map and Table 1 below).

A backhoe with a 3 foot (ft.) (0.9 meters [m]) wide, toothed bucket excavated the trenches (see Attachment 2, Project Photographs). All excavation was completed in controlled 12-inch (in.)

(approximately 30 centimeter [cm]) lifts and supervised by the archaeological crew. The trenches were 15 ft. (4.5 m) in length and excavated to approximately 5 ft. (approximately 150 cm) below the current surface. Each BST trench was assigned a sequential number (MT-1, MT-2, etc.), and its dimensions and location recorded with a handheld GPS unit. Five (5), five-gallon samples were taken every 12 in.

in depth (approximately 30 cm) of trench excavation, for screening through ¼ inch wire mesh to examine the subsurface soils for archaeological deposits. Each sample was labeled with the depth and the MT#. Screening occurred on-site and all diagnostic artifacts in the samples were to be retained. In

Onken, Jill, Curt Duke, and Dana Supernowicz 2018 Archaeological Sensitivity Model – Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Campus Master Plan, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, Prepared by Duke Cultural Resource Management, Irvine, California.

Prepared for Row 10 Historic Preservation Solutions, LLC, New Orleans, LA 70117.

† Mirro, M, DeBusk, J.L, and Hamilton, M.C.

2012 Archaeological Resources Buried Site Testing for the Solar Photovoltaic System Installation Project, West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Facilities, Los Angeles County, California, Prepared By Applied EarthWorks, Inc. Pasadena, CA Prepared For REC Solar, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

6/10/2024 (C-0378 VAWLA Police Station BST Report) 3 addition, the spoils piles were visually inspected for the presence of artifacts. The Field Director recorded the soil profile of each trench. The backhoe backfilled and compacted the soils upon completion.

Table 1- Mechanical Trench Data Trench number

Datum Location UTM (mE/mN)

Length x Width x Depth (feet and inches / meters)

Alignment (degrees east of north)

MT-1 365122.8/3769093.3 15’ x 3’ x 4.5’ / 4.5m x 0.9m x 1.40m 0° MT-2 365150.4/3769145.6 15’ x 3’ x 2.7’ / 4.5m x 0.9m x 0.80m 0° MT-3 365140.6/3769134.6 15’ x 3’ x 5.0’ / 4.5m x 0.9m x 1.52m 0° MT-4 365137.8/3769118.6 15’ x 4’ x 2.6’ / 4.5m x 1.2m x 0.80m 0° MT-5 365131.1/3769107.2 15’ x 3’ x 5.0’ / 4.5m x 0.9m x 1.52m 90° MT-6 365106.9/3769102.1 15’ x 3’ x 5.0’ / 4.5m x 0.9m x 1.52m 90°

Trench MT-1 was terminated at 4.5 ft. (1.4 m) due to an unknown metal pipe running east to west in the southeast corner of the trench and a PVC pipe in the northwest corner of the trench running east to west. Trench MT-2 was terminated due to a rusty metal pipe located at 2.7 ft. (0.8 m) running north to south, the length of the trench. Trench MT-4 was widened to 4 ft. (1.2 m) when a PVC pipe was observed running north to south, the length of the trench at 50 cm (0.5 m) below surface. Additionally, MT-4 was terminated at 2.6 ft. (0.8 m) when a concrete conduit with a piece of rebar was observed running north to south along the eastern edge of the trench at 2.6 ft. (0.8m) below surface.

Profiling of the trenches revealed at least five (5) feet of artificial fill, and at least three (3) stratigraphic layers were observed in each of the trenches (see Attachment 2, Trench Profile Photographs). No undisturbed (native) soil was encountered in any trench. The upper layer consisted of a brown (7.5YR 4/4) to dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) silt with high amounts of tree roots, concrete chunks, and modern trash. Stratum II was typically a reddish brown (5YR 4/4) silty clay, with the exception of MT-5 that contained a dark yellowish brown sandy silt (10YR 4/4). This layer stretches on average

1.3 ft. (0.4 m) below surface to 2.3 ft. (0.7 m) below surface, but it went as deep as 3.1 ft. (0.96 m) deep. This layer was semi-compact to very compact silty clay with increasing clay content and compaction with depth and increasing mottling of greys and light yellow soil or rock fragments. The final layer was a semi- to heavily compacted dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) silty clay.

No diagnostic artifacts were observed during the screening recovery or from the spoils piles. Historic and modern trash and architectural materials were observed during the trenching activities. In MT-1, concrete fragments and chunks, glass fragments, and one mostly complete undiagnostic brick were observed from surface to 80 cm (0.8 m) below surface. In MT-2, a rusty pipe, two to three glass fragments were observed from the surface to 3 ft. (0-0.9 m). MT-3 produced one (1) clam shell fragment, concrete chunks, metal fragments, and red clay chunks (likely sewer) were observed from surface to 2.6 ft, (0.8 m) below surface and possible historic clear glass body fragment from the surface to 1 ft. (0.3 m). In MT-4, aside from the construction material described above, there were no other observations. In MT-5, from the surface to 2.6 ft. (0.8 m), non-diagnostic glass fragments were observed. Lastly, in MT-6, small glass fragments and one (1) rusty modern nail were observed from the surface to 1.3 ft. (0.4 m) below surface. No samples were collected.

On April 4, 2024, the VA sent notifications regarding the BST at Building 300 via electronic mail to the Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians Kizh Nation, Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California, and

6/10/2024 (C-0378 VAWLA Police Station BST Report) 4 the Tongva Ancestral Territorial Tribal Nation. To date, no responses to the letters have been received (see Attachment 3 for Tribal Letters).

Impacts Analysis and Recommendations

DUKE CRM evaluated the proposed Project for impacts to buried archaeological resources in accordance with Section 106 and the Programmatic Agreement. The BST reveals that the area is highly disturbed from previous utility work and during construction of the dietetics building and surrounding structures. Given the highly disturbed nature of the soils and the lack of any indication of significant cultural deposits or significant cultural material, DUKE CRM concludes that no Historic Properties will be adversely effected by the Project. DUKE CRM does not recommend additional measures related to cultural resources for this Project. However, if unanticipated discoveries are made during Project construction, an archaeologist shall be notified immediately to assess the nature and significance of the find and make recommendations. If ground disturbing activities associated with this Project change, these changes may have the potential to disturb sediments that are previously undisturbed or may be from the historic period.

If human remains are encountered, no further work shall occur within 100 ft. of the discovery until the VA can determine the origin of the human remains. If the human remains are determined to be Native American in origin the VA shall comply with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) which includes treatment of ancestral human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. The VA Resident Engineer or equivalent employee shall consult with VA Federal Preservation Officer and a qualified archaeologist. The VA shall consult with local Native American groups that are most likely culturally affiliated with the remains in developing a plan of action for the protection and repatriation of the human remains (43 CFR 10).

Thank you for contacting DUKE CRM on this request. If you have any questions or comments, you can contact DUKE CRM at (949) 356-6660 or by e-mail at morganebeigle@dukecrm.com.

Sincerely, DUKE CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, LLC

Morgan Beigle, M.A. RPA Co-Principal Archaeologist/President

Attachments:

Attachment 1 Project Maps Attachment 2 Project Photographs Attachment 3 Tribal Letters mailto:morganebeigle@dukecrm.com.

6/10/2024 (C-0378 VAWLA Police Station BST Report)

ATTACHMENT 1

PROJECT MAPS

ATTACHMENT 2

PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHS

Figure 1: Overview of MT-1 prior to excavation. View to west.

Figure 2. Brick fragment found at 2.6 ft. (0.8 m) in MT-1. Plan view.

Figure 3. Closeup of trench profile in MT-1, 2.6 ft. (0.8 m) below surface. View to southwest.

Figure 4. Overview of MT-1, 2.6 ft. (0.8 m) below surface. View to southwest.

Figure 5. Overview of MT-1, at completion. View to southwest.

Figure 6. Overview of MT-1, at completion. View to northwest.

Figure 7. Overview of MT-2 prior to testing. View to northeast.

Figure 8. Glass fragment found at MT-2 at 2ft. (0.6m) below surface. Plan view.

Figure 9. Closeup of pipe exposed in MT-2 3 ft. (0.9m) below surface/at completion. View to north.

Figure 10. Overview of MT-3 prior to testing. View to south.

Figure 11. Overview of refuse observed in MT-3, 2.6 ft. (0.8 m) below surface. Plan view.

Figure 12. Overview of MT-3 at completion. View to north.

Figure 13. Overview of MT-4 prior to ground disturbance. View to west.

Figure 14. Pieces of rusted metal in MT-4, 2 ft. (0.6m) below surface). Plan view.

Figure 15. Overview of concrete conduit in MT-4/trench at completion. View to south.

Figure 16. Overview of MT-5 prior to ground disturbance. View to south.

Figure 17. Overview of MT-5 at 2.6 ft. (0.8 m) below surface. View to north.

Figure 18. MT-5 at completion, 5 ft. (1.5m) below surface. View to south.

Figure 19. Overview of MT-6 prior to ground disturbance. View to southeast.

Figure 20. Rusty nail found in MT-6, 1.3 ft. (0.4m) below surface. Plan view.

Figure 21. Overview of MT-6 at 3.2 ft. (1m) below surface. View to northwest.

Figure 22. Overview of MT-6 at completion (5 ft., 1.5m). View to northwest.

Figure 23. Overview of MT-2 and MT-3 backfilled. View to northeast.

Figure 24. Overview of MT-4 and MT-5 backfilled. View to south

Figure 25. Overview of MT-1 backfilled. View to south.

Figure 26. Overview of MT-6 backfilled. View to west.

ATTACHMENT 3

TRIBAL LETTERS

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90073

April 24, 2024

Brandy Salas Administrative Specialist Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation P.O. Box 393 Covina, California 91723 Email: admin@gabrielinoindians.org

West Los Angeles Healthcare Center 11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90073

(310) 478-3711

RE: Invitation to Observe Archaeological Testing for the New Police Station, West Los Angeles (WLA) Campus of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles County

Dear Ms. Salas, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS) thanks you for your correspondence regarding the above-named project. As noted in our letter of December 4, 2023, VAGLAHS is planning on conducting archaeological testing in advance of construction activities and is continuing consultation with your tribe.

VAGLAHS will be conducting archaeological trenching in the area of the new Police Station (see attached maps). VAGLAHS invites the Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation to observe this archaeological testing, scheduled for May 13-16, 2024 beginning at 8 am.

Observation is open to Native American tribal representatives any days of archaeological testing. Please note that, in keeping with Advisory Council on Historic Preservation guidance on tribal consultation, observers will not be financially compensated as this is a voluntary activity.

The maps attached to this letter depict the location of the new Police Station on the campus and mapped on the Archaeological Sensitivity Model map.

Please notify us at VHAGLAMasterPlan@va.gov by May 10, 2024, if you or another tribal representative would like to observe one or more days of testing, so we can apprise you of the appropriate meeting time and location, as well as any potential changes in schedule due to weather or other factors. Personal protective equipment required for monitoring includes shoes/boots that cover the entire foot.

VAGLAHS shall continue to engage with the Gabrielino Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation on the redevelopment of the WLA VA campus in accordance with the 2019 Programmatic Agreement, federal laws, and Executive Orders pertaining to tribal consultation. VAGLAHS looks forward to continuing our consultation on this project and others to redevelop the WLA campus to serve the needs of Veterans.

Thank you for your participation. If you have any questions, please notify us via VHAGLAMasterPlan@va.gov.

mailto:admin@gabrielinoindians.org mailto:VHAGLAMasterPlan@va.gov

Michael C Nostitz VAGLAHS Project Engineering Section cc: Héctor M. Abreu-Cintrón, VA Federal Preservation Officer

Maps of the Police Station Project Area

Domiciliary Garden

NewPolice Station

Mac Arth ur Fi eld

LEGEND

CONSULTATION COMPLETED

Between May 1, 2019 and April 30, 2020

CONSULTATION COMPLETEDN

Prior to execution of the Master Plan PA

CONSULTATION ANTICIPATED

Between May 1, 2020-April 30, New Kitchen

Par kin g Lo t 4

HEROES

GOLF COURSE

CALVETS

115115

51146

402 345 501

224 292

226505

318522

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WEST LA-VA: COMMUNITY PLAN

DATE: April 2020

150’ 300’ 600’

N

Santa Monica Blvd

State Rte 2

Su nse t Blv d

W Sun set Blvd

San Diego Fwy

I- 405

Project Sensitivity

Low- (Spot-Check Monitoring or BST) Moderate- (Part-Time Monitoring or BST) High- (Full-Time Monitoring or BST)

Document Path: S:\GIS\Projects\0243_VAWestLAMP\Fig7Sensitivity_All.mxd

Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

Figure 7- Predicted Sensitivity for Historic and Prehistoric Archaeology Archaeological Sensitivity Model Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Master Plan ¯

0 500 1,000 Feet

1:12,000 1 inch = 1,000 feet

Katy Coyle Rectangle

Katy Coyle Callout New Police Station

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90073

April 24, 2024

Ms. Christina Conley Cultural Resource Administrator Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California Christina Marsden Conley Christina.marsden@alumni.usc.edu Chair Robert Dorame gtongva@gmail.com

West Los Angeles Healthcare Center 11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90073

(310) 478-3711

RE: Invitation to Observe Archaeological Testing for the New Police Station, West Los

Angeles (WLA) Campus of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles County

Dear Ms. Conley, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS) thanks you for your correspondence regarding the above-named project. As noted in our letter of December 4, 2023, VAGLAHS is planning on conducting archaeological testing in advance of construction activities and is continuing consultation with your tribe.

VAGLAHS will be conducting archaeological trenching in the area of the new Police Station (see attached maps). VAGLAHS invites the Gabrielino Tongva to observe this archaeological testing, scheduled for May 13-16, 2024 beginning at 8 am. Observation is open to Native American tribal representatives any days of archaeological testing. Please note that, in keeping with Advisory Council on Historic Preservation guidance on tribal consultation, observers will not be financially compensated as this is a voluntary activity. The maps attached to this letter depict the location of the new Police Station on the campus and mapped on the Archaeological Sensitivity Model map.

Please notify us at VHAGLAMasterPlan@va.gov by May 10, 2024, if you or another tribal representative would like to observe one or more days of testing, so we can apprise you of the appropriate meeting time and location, as well as any potential changes in schedule due to weather or other factors. Personal Protective Equipment required for monitoring includes shoes/boots that cover the entire foot.

VAGLAHS shall continue to engage with the Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California on the redevelopment of the WLA VA campus in accordance with the 2019 Programmatic Agreement, federal laws, and Executive Orders pertaining to tribal consultation. VAGLAHS looks forward to continuing our consultation on this project and others to redevelop the WLA campus to serve the needs of Veterans.

Thank you for your participation. If you have any questions, please notify us via VHAGLAMasterPlan@va.gov.

mailto:Christina.marsden@alumni.usc.edu mailto:gtongva@gmail.com

Michael C Nostitz VAGLAHS Project Engineering Section cc: Héctor M. Abreu-Cintrón, VA Federal Preservation Officer

Maps of the Police Station Project Area

Domiciliary Garden

NewPolice Station

Mac Arth ur Fi eld

LEGEND

CONSULTATION COMPLETED

Between May 1, 2019 and April 30, 2020

CONSULTATION COMPLETEDN

Prior to execution of the Master Plan PA

CONSULTATION ANTICIPATED

Between May 1, 2020-April 30, New Kitchen

Par kin g Lo t 4

HEROES

GOLF COURSE

CALVETS

115115

51146

402 345 501

224 292

226505

318522

401 [CORE]

W

EST BONSALL

PATTON

ARNOLD

MACARTHUR

VANDERGRIFT

NIMITZ

PERSHING

GRANT

DEWEY

EISENHOWER

BONSALL

BONSALL

BO

N

SA

LL

DOW

LEN EAST

DOWLEN WEST

CONSTITUTION

D

AVIS

D

AVIS

WILSHIRE

SA

N

VICEN

TE

SAW

TELLE

FED

ERA

L

MONTANA

GORHAM

W

EST BONSALL

BONSALL

D

AVIS

NORTH PATTON

WEST LA-VA: COMMUNITY PLAN

DATE: April 2020

150’ 300’ 600’

N

Santa Monica Blvd

State Rte 2

Su nse t Blv d

W Sun set Blvd

San Diego Fwy

I- 405

Project Sensitivity

Low- (Spot-Check Monitoring or BST) Moderate- (Part-Time Monitoring or BST) High- (Full-Time Monitoring or BST)

Document Path: S:\GIS\Projects\0243_VAWestLAMP\Fig7Sensitivity_All.mxd

Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

Figure 7- Predicted Sensitivity for Historic and Prehistoric Archaeology Archaeological Sensitivity Model Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Master Plan ¯

0 500 1,000 Feet

1:12,000 1 inch = 1,000 feet

Katy Coyle Rectangle

Katy Coyle Callout New Police Station