ChristinaDrawGSA_SOW_Revised_06032024_BNS.pdf

NPL 004 Christina Draw Heritage Survey Prescott National Forest

CULTURAL RESOURCES CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

NPL004 Christina Draw Heritage Survey

Class III Cultural Resources Inventory

SECTION 1 - GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

1.1 - Scope of Contract The cultural resource survey contractor shall be permitted to conduct cultural resource surveys on the

Prescott National Forest. The contractor shall furnish all personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, supplies and services and otherwise do all things necessary for, or incident to, the satisfactory performance of this contract in strict accordance with this contract, for heritage resources field inventory and other associated activities located on Forest lands within Region 3 of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, specifically on the Prescott National Forest. The scope of this project will include intensive archaeological pedestrian survey as described in this contract.

The Prescott National Forest (PNF) is planning the Christina Draw, Goddard, and Log Springs Project on

10,240 acres within the Verde Ranger District (Figure 1). The project’s purpose is to improve the health and resiliency of fire-adapted ecosystems by restoring and maintaining fire to a more natural role, reduce fire hazards in strategic locations to improve fire protection and human safety around communities within the project area, and improve the quality of wildlife habitat while reducing the risk of catastrophic fire.

Project activities would consist of timber harvesting, mastication, and prescribed burning. Timber harvesting will utilize mechanized equipment such as feller-bunchers, skidders, processors, loaders, harvesters, forwarders, and logging trucks. Slash resulting from thinning activities may be scattered and left on the ground, burned, or removed as a biomass product. Mastication will utilize mechanical mastication equipment, which may be rubber-tired or tracked. Slash resulting from mastication activities may be scattered and left on the ground, burned, or removed as a biomass product. Follow-up treatment in these areas might involve mastication and prescribed burning to maintain the desired conditions.

1.2 – Christina Draw Heritage Survey Tasks

• Conduct intensive pedestrian cultural resource survey of the identified 6,413 acres to assess the project’s effects on sites. The cultural resource survey will examine all areas identified in

Figure 1.

• Record all newly identified sites and isolated occurrences. The expected site density is to be moderate. The PNF estimates that this survey will discover up to 40 previously undocumented archaeological sites.

• Revisit and reevaluate previously identified sites. This includes (17) previously recorded precontact sites, (13) previously recorded historic sites, 3 previously recorded multicomponent sites. The total number of sites to revisit is 33. See Appendix A for a complete list of previously identified sites. Complete appropriate Prescott National Forest site forms in accordance with the specifications described in this contract. Include National Register eligibility determinations, assess fire sensitivity per the USDA-Forest Service Region 3 Programmatic Agreement, Appendix J, and management recommendations concerning proposed activities within or near each site.

• Produce a Report (Section 106 compliance report) for the inventory that meets the specifications described in this contract and is in accordance with the standards set forth in the

USDA-Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources Handbook.

• Complete data entry. This includes all tabular & spatial survey, site, and feature data entry using the USFS Heritage Mobile Application according to PNF standard operating procedures

(SOPs).

1.3 – Period of Performance and Work Submittal Schedule Unless otherwise specified during the pre-work meeting, the contractor shall meet the following schedule. The contract period shall begin no later than September 30, 2024. An earlier start date may be proposed by the contractor based on availability. The period of Performance for the contract will be 360 days after the Notice to Proceed has been issued. The delivery schedule for all materials is listed below (Table 1). Benchmark dates will be provided to the contractor during prework meeting based on the proposed contract start date.

Table 1: Delivery Schedule

Desired Start Date: Date Notice to Proceed is issued

Survey Field Work and Site

Recordings completed by:

200 days from Start Date.

First Draft Report completed and sent to PNF for comments by:

250 days from Start Date. The draft report with the

COR’s comments will be returned to the contractor within 30 days for revisions. The contractor will have

20 days for revisions.

Second Draft Report completed and sent to PNF and SHPO for second round comments by:

300 days from Start Date. The second draft will be sent to SHPO for draft comments. SHPO will have 30 days to review. The second draft will be returned to the contractor within 5 days of receipt. The contractor will have 20 days for revisions.

Final Report and Project

Deliverables sent to PNF and NRM Data Entry

Completed by:

360 days from Start Date. The COR will have 5 days to inspect and accept or reject receipt of final deliverables.

1.3.1 Records Search

Prior to beginning fieldwork, the contractor will complete a Literature and GIS data review (see 2.1.1 below).

1.3.2 Fieldwork

The contractor will provide written progress reports to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) while fieldwork is underway. The progress report will be submitted to the COR at the end of each field session, or at other intervals as agreed on by the contractor and COR at the pre-work meeting, but not less than twice a month. The progress report will show the areas surveyed during the reporting period, the locations of any sites found, and a brief description of each site. The progress report will also identify any issues encountered in the field, such as impassable roads, rain days, etc. The progress report may be submitted as an e-mail to the COR with attached maps showing survey and site locations.

Within ten (10) business days of the completion of fieldwork, the contractor shall deliver to the COR digital copies of all draft site forms, IO forms, sketch maps, topographic maps showing site locations and geospatial data via USFS Box Pinyon.

1.3.3 First Draft Deliverables

Will be completed and delivered to the COR digitally via USFS Box Pinyon, postmarked no later than

50 calendar days after the completion of the fieldwork. See Section 3.2 below for requirements.

1.3.4 USFS COR Review

Will be completed with comments and suggested changes (if necessary) and delivered to the contractor, postmarked no later than 30 calendar days after the receipt of the draft report.

1.3.5 Second Draft Report

Will be completed and delivered to the COR digitally via USFS Box Pinyon, postmarked no later than

20 calendar days after the receipt of USFS COR Review comments.

1.3.6 SHPO Draft Review

Will be completed by the AZ SHPO and delivered to the COR, postmarked no later than 30 calendar days after receipt, after which the draft will be returned to the contractor with comments and suggested changes within 5 days of receipt. The contractor will have 20 days to complete revisions.

1.3.7 Final Deliverables

Will be completed and delivered to the COR digitally via USFS Box Pinyon, postmarked no later than

25 business days after the receipt of the SHPO Draft Report Review. See Section 3.3 below for requirements.

1.3.8 Final Inspection

USFS COR will have 5 days to inspect and accept or reject work as appropriate. Upon rejection, work will be returned to the contractor for correction. If work is accepted, then recommendation for payment of invoice will be forwarded to the COR. Work that is submitted later than the contract schedule or that fails to meet contract and permit specifications will result in poor past performance ratings.

1.4 – Payments Procedures Authorized payments are as stated below in Table 2. Any adjustments may be discussed in the prework meeting and must be approved by the USFS Contracting Officer.

Table 2: Payment Schedule

50% of contract price Completion of pre-field literature search and fieldwork, and upon acceptance of work by COR (within fifteen (15) business days of receiving deliverables)

30% of contract price Completion of draft report (one electronic copy of the draft report with all forms, photographs, electronic data/files, digital images, maps), and upon acceptance of the work by the COR (within fifteen (15) business days of receiving deliverables)

20% of contract Completion of final report and all associated deliverables, and upon acceptance of the work by the COR (within fifteen (15) business days of receiving deliverables)

1.5 – Project Description and Location The areas to be analyzed is located within the Black Hills, 13 miles west of Camp Verde, AZ and 15 miles east of Prescott Valley, AZ. This project area includes Christina Draw and Silver Spring Gulch, east of Mingus Mountain, near Cottonwood, AZ as well as areas adjacent to the town of Cherry, AZ.

Elevations range from approximately 4800 feet amsl to approximately 6000 feet amsl across the analysis area.

1.5.1 Environmental Setting and Access

The project area can be accessed:

North end of project area (Cottonwood, Christina Draw area)

• From Cottonwood, AZ drive north on State Route 260 to the Cottonwood Airport to Forest

Road 493 (Mingus Avenue) for approximately 1.3 miles

• From Cottonwood, AZ drive south on State Route 260 to Forest Road 355 (Quail Springs

Ranch Road for approximately 1.3 miles

South end of project area (Cherry area)

• From Camp Verde, AZ drive south on Interstate 17 for 8.7 miles to State Route 169 and west to County Road 75 for 5.4 miles and north into Cherry for approximately 3.6 miles

Vegetation in the area includes mixed chaparral including manzanita, birchleaf mountain mahogany, shrub live oak, barberry, cliffrose, Arizona rosewood, catclaw acacia, crucifixion thorn, banana yucca, agave, and prickly pear. An overstory is created by alligator juniper, Gambel oak, and the ponderosa pine. Some patches of brush varying from light to dense may be encountered. The areas identified for survey are generally less than 40% slope, however most of the surrounding terrain is very steep, rugged, and remote. The contractor will need to plan appropriately for accessing the survey areas and conducting the surveys.

Forest Service System Roads (FSR) and Forest Service System Trails (FST) will be used to access the project area and may also be identified for survey. Some trails may allow OHV use while others are limited to non-motorized use. Small tracts of private property are located adjacent to and within the project area. High clearance four-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, and UTVs are recommended for traveling the secondary FSRs. These roads may become difficult to drive in wet weather. Off-road vehicle travel is not permitted.

The project is in an area popular with hunters, campers, hikers, and OHV users. Implement appropriate safety measures such as defensive driving and use caution if surveying during hunting season or monsoon season. The area is also part of a grazing allotment and it is important to leave gates as you find them. The project is within a historic mining district and mining activities continue to occur on private and Forest Service land. Crews should use caution while walking in areas with fair to poor ground visibility given unrecorded and hard-to-see mining related features such as shafts or prospect pits may be present.

1.5.2 Cultural Context

The survey is expected to reveal precontact (Archaic, Prescott Culture) sites and historic homesteads, recreation, and mining sites. Yavapai-affiliated sites may also be present.

Section 2. Project Tasks and Critical Subtasks Once the procurement is issued, the COR will schedule a prework meeting with the contractor and the

CO. The contractor may proceed after a Notice to Proceed is issued, usually immediately following the prework meeting.

2.1 – Intensive (100%) Archaeological Pedestrian Survey The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the project is 10,251 acres. Of the total APE, the contractor will conduct a 100% intensive pedestrian cultural resource survey on 6,413 acres (Figure 1). The other 3,838 acres are either too steep to survey or have been previously surveyed and meet current standards for an intensive survey.

There are 53 known cultural resources within the APE. Of these sites, the contractor will examine 33 previously identified cultural resource sites. All thirty-three (33) sites need to be re-recorded, (see

Section 2.2.3 and Appendix A). No work is needed on twenty (20) sites. The entire APE, and all sites encompassed therein, will need to be acknowledged in the survey report to assess the project’s potential to effect cultural resources.

The contractor will be required to survey all of the project area acres according to USDA Forest Service

National Heritage Program Management Handbook and the USDA Forest Service Region 3 Cultural

Resources Handbook and the following specifications: Pedestrian survey is required on the Prescott

National Forest by systematic intensive (100%) inspection of the ground surface using compass-controlled parallel transects spaced no more than 15 meters apart. The field director may use their professional discretion to exclude potentially unsafe areas from the survey coverage, provided the COR is consulted. At the discretion of the Forest Archaeologist, areas with slopes greater than 40% will be excluded from 100% pedestrian survey. However, acreage with greater than the slope maximum should be visually inspected for the potential of caves, rock shelters, rock art, mining features, or other site types known to occur on steep slopes that have the possibility to be adversely affected by project activities. Non-surveyed areas will be documented in the project report and reflected on the project survey map.

2.1.1 – Records Search

Prior to conducting fieldwork, the contractor will review all available publications, manuscripts, project reports, site records, state files, Forest Service files, and any additional materials pertinent to the project region to become familiar with the history of archaeological work and site documentation for the project area.

At minimum, the contractor will gather information for forest and non-forest lands within one-half mile of the project area. The contractor shall review Government Land Office records

(https://glorecords.blm.gov/), AZ State Land Department Parcel, AZSITE, USGS Historical topographic quads, the NRHP database, and AZ Department of Water Resources, as needed to complete a thorough survey and report. In addition, the contractor shall be familiar with the general prehistory and history of the PNF and Central Arizona to develop a context for the cultural resources discovered during the course of the survey. This includes local ethnohistories of Tribes that claim cultural affiliations to earlier identifiable cultural groups within the project area.

The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has a number of context studies that should be referenced during this project and utilized in the report: https://azstateparks.com/shpo-historic-context-https://glorecords.blm.gov/ https://azstateparks.com/shpo-historic-context-studies studies. Context studies such as “Down in the Dumps” and “Gold and Silver Mining in Arizona 1848-

1945” should be used to develop a comprehensive context for evaluating the historical cultural resources discovered during the course of the survey.

The most recent SHPO guidelines and standards should also be used when developing context(s) and evaluating the eligibility of sites: https://azstateparks.com/shpo-consultation-on-historic-preservation-compliance

2.1.2 – New Sites

Locate, identify, and describe/document all cultural resource sites and isolated occurrences which can reasonably be detected from an inspection of the ground surface. Potential Traditional Cultural

Properties (TCPs) shall be referred to COR for further evaluation.

2.1.3 – Previously Recorded Sites

All previously recorded sites in the project area will be assessed during the survey and documented to current standards on appropriate forms and in appropriate databases, unless otherwise specified by the

COR. All sites within the project area must be acknowledged in the report.

2.1.4 – Survey Velocity

The amount of area surveyed including recording time should not exceed a rate of 30 acres per person per eight hours of survey calculated for the survey project as a whole and not daily. Terrain and the number and complexity of cultural resources influence survey velocities. When survey velocities are greater than this standard, include an explicit explanation in the survey report. USFS will evaluate the explanation and results of the survey and may request that the survey or portion of the survey be re-inventoried if the justification is inadequate.

2.1.5 – Performance Standards – Intensive Survey

The contractor will conduct a complete 100% pedestrian survey utilizing 15 meter or less transects of the entire project area in the manner specified in the USDA Forest Service National Heritage Program

Management Handbook and the USDA Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources Handbook and/or other specifications described in this contract.

2.1.6 – Acceptable Quality Level

100% compliance with the USDA Forest Service National Heritage Program Management Handbook and the USDA Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources Handbook and/or other specifications described in the task order.

2.1.7 – Means of Measurement

An arbitrary random field inspection on a maximum of 10% of the survey area by the USFS; review of weekly progress reports; and the review of the contractor’s Quality Control Plan records. The results of the field inspection may result in a request for raw GPS data collected during field inventories. Raw

GPS data must be provided upon request.

2.2 – Site Recording At a minimum, the contractor shall record all cultural resource sites located in the project area in accordance with the USDA Forest Service National Heritage Program Management Handbook and the

USDA Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources Handbook.

2.2.1 – Site Definition

For the purposes of this contract, a cultural resources site is defined as a locus of human activity that is more than 50 years old, including prehistoric and historic resources, at a level of intensity normally https://azstateparks.com/shpo-historic-context-studies https://azstateparks.com/shpo-consultation-on-historic-preservation-compliance https://azstateparks.com/shpo-consultation-on-historic-preservation-compliance involving evidence of purposeful behavior beyond the level of one or a few (less than 25) accidentally deposited artifacts.

Minimal site identification criteria include at least one of the following:

(a) One or more features,

(b) One formal tool if associated with other cultural materials or more than one formal tool,

(c) An occurrence of three or more types of artifacts or materials,

(d) Two types of artifacts in a density of at least ten items per 100 square meters,

(e) A single type of artifact or material in a density of at least 25 artifacts in a definable area, or

(f) One or more culturally peeled trees.

All sites will be recorded in their entirety, even if the boundaries go outside of the identified survey boundary – the exception to this is if the site goes onto private land or the site is a long linear site that extends outside the contracted survey boundary. The Contractor is not to go onto private land to record site information, unless given explicit direction that permission has been granted to USFS to do so. In the event that long linear sites or other atypically large sites extend outside the survey boundary, the extent of recording will be discussed with the COR.

2.2.2 – Site Documentation

All sites shall be documented on Prescott National Forest site forms. Site documentation will adhere to the following:

A. Numbering/Site Identification

i. All sites shall also be assigned a Forest Service site number. The contractor shall contact the COR prior to start of fieldwork to obtain Forest Service site numbers for each recorded site.

ii. The Forest AR- site number will be used as the primary site identifier (i.e. in text, site narratives, tables, maps, etc.). Acceptable format for site numbers within the report is as follows: AR-03-09-DD-XXXX. Extra zeros will be dropped from the site number (e.g.

03090300802 shall be written as AR-03-09-03-802).

iii. Any and all additional site numbers associated with the site must also be included in the site record. This may include numbers from institutions such as the Arizona State

Museum (ASM), Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA), and the National Register of

Historic Places.

iv. Site names may only be used to identify historic sites with documented place names.

Examples may include: mines and mining claims; roads and travel routes/corridors;

homesteads; administrative facilities; campgrounds and recreation facilities. Site names may not be used to identify precontact sites unless the name is well documented and has been consulted on with the appropriate Tribal communities.

B. Datum

A physical datum will be established on a tree or other reasonably permanent object, such as a fence post, within the site boundary or next to a prominent feature of the site. The PNF realizes that this marking system is not always possible at each site. Any deviation from this system should be discussed with the COR and documented on the site form and in the report.

i. An aluminum tag with an abbreviated PNF site number (e.g. 03-123) will be attached to the datum at the base and on the north side of the tree with an aluminum nail.

ii. The site datum will also be identified by placing three bands of pink flagging around or on it.

iii. A description of the datum must appear in the site narrative and spatial data: example: 12-inch DBH alligator juniper.

iv. The datum spatial coordinates, location, and description will be included in the site form.

A photograph of the datum will be included in the site photo record.

C. Boundary

The boundary of a cultural resource site will minimally include all features, formal tools, and identifiable activity areas. When determining site boundary, consider utilizing a 20-meter rule. If no artifacts have been encountered within 20 meters, then it is likely the edge of the site has been reached.

i. If required for the project, the site boundary will be marked with white flagging tape in such a manner that a person who has not previously seen the site can easily identify it.

ii. Flagging on trees on the perimeter of the site should be inter-visible and not obscured by branches or foliage.

iii. Site boundaries marked on the ground should correspond to the boundaries as mapped.

D. Spatial (GPS) Data

The spatial data of all sites will be recorded using a suitable hand-held GPS unit.

i. GPS units will record data in the UTM Zone 12N, NAD 1983 coordinate system.

ii. GPS units will have an accuracy of 3 meters or less, although sub-meter accuracy is preferred.

iii. Spatial data collected at each site will include the boundary in polygon geometry format, the datum in point geometry format, and features in point, line, or polygon geometry format.

iv. Raw data may be submitted during draft review stages, but all final spatial data files must be corrected and free of errors. No raw or uncorrected data will be accepted with final deliverables.

E. Mapping

i. On all site maps:

• Identify the appropriate Township, Range, and Section, as well as the USGS

Quadrangle, and county.

• Show two scale bars, one in metric (km/m) and one in imperial (miles/ft). Scale bars should be formatted to round to the nearest whole number or major benchmark whenever possible (i.e. 0.5 not 0.498 or 4,500 not 4,523, respectively)

• Identify the map ratio (i.e. 1:1000)

• Map symbology should be able to be differentiated even when printing in black and white.

ii. On each site plan map:

• Accurately depict and label all recorded features and key them to descriptions in the site form and report.

• Identify artifact concentrations and, if applicable, artifact sample units. These locations should be referenced and described in the site form and report.

• Identify the locations of key diagnostic artifacts and key them to descriptions in the site form and report.

• Show the extent of all disturbances and impacts to the site, including, but not limited to, natural gas well pads, access roads, pipeline corridors, electrical lines and poles, 2-track roads, erosion control structures, fences, wildlife habitat improvement structures, modern hearths, looter’s pits, and collector’s piles.

• Show extent of proposed project area/disturbance, if applicable. Map must show disturbance area relative to site boundary or have arrow and distance measurement if scale of map does not allow for depiction.

• Show all property boundaries and land jurisdictions, if applicable. Private property boundaries must be shown if they prevent full site documentation.

• Include landform contour lines and other landscape data necessary to relocate the site.

At least one contour line must be labeled with a site elevation and contour spacing should be specified on each map. Other landscape data may include drainages, vegetation, or edges of associate landforms (e.g. mesa tops).

iii. On each site location map:

• Accurately depict the location of the site on a USGS Topographic map at 1:24,000 scale.

• Only show the individual site being documented. Do not include other sites within the vicinity.

F. Photographs

Each discovered and revisited cultural resource site will be digitally photographed at a resolution of at least 10 megapixels. As many photographs as are necessary to clearly depict the condition of each site and the features present should be taken. Each photo must be accompanied by a brief description, to include the subject, photo/file number, date taken, orientation, and photographer name.

i. Photographs will be compiled into a photo record, which is a component of the final site record.

ii. At least one photograph will include the marked datum tree.

iii. At least one photograph shall show the physical environment and configuration of the land making up the site (site overview).

iv. Photograph all key diagnostic artifacts with a scale. A drawing can also be done of diagnostic artifacts.

v. At least one photograph shall be taken for each recorded feature. Feature photos must include a scale. A scale drawing of features can also be done where appropriate.

vi. Photographs should also illustrate evidence of site disturbances as noted in the site narrative.

G. Artifacts

Artifact counts (+/- 10 items) if the estimated frequency of items in any artifact class or the total assemblage is less than 100 items. Describe all key diagnostic artifacts in the site form.

If artifact assemblages are large and/or extensive (>100), 1 (or more) sample units can be designated instead of counting and classifying all artifacts. Artifacts within the sample unit(s) will be 100% recorded on site form. Sample unit(s) will be described in text and locations recorded on associated site maps. A rationale for how sample units were selected will be described in the site form and in the methodology section of the report. An estimate of total artifact counts must also be included.

i. Ceramics: If prehistoric sites are present, the contractor can expect to encounter a variety of ceramic types. While most of the ceramics will probably be either Prescott Grey wares and/or Alameda Brown wares, one may also encounter Tusayan Series, Little Colorado

Series, Tsegi Series, San Francisco Mountain Grey wares, Wingfield Plain wares, and

Hopi Series pottery. The contractor should also be aware that Tizon Wiped and or Orme

Ranch Plain ware may also occur in the area, suggesting Northeastern Yavapai affiliation.

Historic ceramics should be typed according to earthenware, china, and porcelain. Ethnic ceramics will be specifically noted, such as Chinese. Any identifiable "maker's mark" on the bottom of plates, bowls, etc. will be recorded. The typological system used to identify ceramics should be documented in the report.

ii. Lithics: If prehistoric sites are present, the contractor should expect to find a wide variety of lithic artifacts. The artifact shall be identified as to material type and probably function/classification.

H. Historic Sites

If historic sites are present, artifacts will be analyzed to provide information that dates the site occupation, site function, and general social and economic information concerning the people who occupied the site. Artifacts used for dating should be specifically identified. References used for dating should be noted in the report. Maker’s marks, detailed artifact sizes, and types will be listed and counted and a few artifacts with specific assignable dates will be photographed illustrating diagnostic elements.

i. The contractor should not record camps, trash dumps, isolated objects, etc. that, based on their professional judgement, are not at least 50 years old. Forest Service System roads that are older than 50 years based on GLO maps but do not retain any historic integrity should not be recorded as isolated occurrences or sites.

ii. The project area contains range improvements such as corrals, windmills, spring boxes, troughs, etc. The contractor will record range improvements that, in their professional judgement, appear to be more than 50 years old. Range fences and earthen stock tanks do not need to be recorded.

I. Management Recommendations

All site narratives will include management recommendations based on the proposed project actions listed above in Section 1.1. During the pre-work meeting, any changes to the proposed project activities will be communicated to the contractor.

i. Determine whether the site is fire sensitive or not, as defined by the Region 3 PA, Appendix J, Section III. Fire sensitivity should be documented in the site’s description and report table. The contract will include a copy of Appendix J.

ii. Assessment of fuel types and loads at sites, site fire sensitivity, and site protection measures during vegetation thinning and prescribed burning activities is required.

J. Site Record

All sites will be documented on a PNF Site Form. Each site form should be a consolidated file. A final and complete site record requires the following components at a minimum:

i. PNF site form (provided)

ii. Location Map (see description above at 2.2.2 E)

iii. Plan Map (see description above at 2.2.2 E)

iv. Photo Record (template provided)

v. Any related tally sheets, tables, or other associated documentation forms

K. Data Entry

The Contractor will enter the tabular & spatial survey, site, and feature data into the USFS

Heritage Mobile Application according to PNF standard operating procedures (SOPs) that will be provided to the contractor. Site data includes site boundaries, features, datums, and artifact concentrations. The Mobile Application can be utilized at the contractor’s office and doesn’t require a USFS workstation. The individual(s) conducting data entry may be required to attend a Heritage NRM training session, given by the COR prior to conducting data entry.

The individual(s) conducting data entry may be required to attend a Heritage NRM training session, given by the COR prior to conducting data entry.

i. The Heritage Mobile Application is a component of the USFS Heritage NRM database system. The contractor will utilize a data package file that has been “checked out” and transferred to them via Box Pinyon by PNF. If PNF is notified of a major program update that could cause compatibility issues with the contractor’s specific data package, PNF will notify the contractor and request their current data package be 100% vetted (no matter where the contractor data entry left off) and transferred back to PNF. There will be a deadline set for the check-in process and the timeline will be discussed with the contractor. PNF will QC the data package and upload that data package back into NRM, essentially “checking it back in.” PNF will then create and transfer new data package for the contractor to finish the project.

2.2.3 – Previously Recorded Sites

All previously recorded sites in the project area will be assessed and updated as directed by the COR during this survey. Site documentation will be completed to the level specified by the COR. Only the

COR may determine the level of documentation. Any deviation from the directed level of documentation must be discussed with the COR. See Appendix A for project-specific site documentation table. All previously recorded site documentation will adhere to the following:

A. No Work Needed

A site may be designated as No Work Needed by the COR if it meets the following criteria:

i. The site has been previously determined Not Eligible, with concurrence from AZ SHPO.

ii. The site has been fully documented to the standards listed in Section 2.2.2 within 3 years of the current project.

B. Update

A site update will include the following:

i. At minimum, capture new spatial data of the site boundary and the datum. Capture new spatial data for all site features, artifact concentrations, and diagnostic artifacts if found to be inaccurate or missing.

ii. At minimum, new photographs should be taken to document site condition and current vegetation/fuel loading on. Additional photographs should be taken to the standards discussed in Section 2.2.2 F, if previous photographs are found to be inaccurate or missing.

iii. Provide a new site condition assessment. This should include updated information on natural and/or mechanical disturbances, vandalism, grazing, and other changes to the site condition not noted in previous recordings.

iv. Update the site narrative.

v. Reevaluate and update the R3 PA Fire Sensitivity statement, if found to be inaccurate or different from previous recordings. If fuel loads are significantly different from past recordings, as shown in previous photographs and/or site narratives, this information must be included in the site update.

vi. Validate the site’s NRHP Eligibility. Previous NRHP eligibility determinations should reference the AZ SHPO concurrence number, usually listed at the top of the associate

Inventory Standards and Accounting Form (ISA) (format: SHPO-2015-0204(124232)).

Also include the date of SHPO comment and/or concurrence. If the integrity or eligibility of the site is found to be significantly different than what was previously documented, a new evaluation is required (see Section 2.3).

vii. Conduct a post burn analysis, when required, to document impacts of recent prescribed

(Rx) burns and/or wildfire. Post burn analysis forms will be provided.

C. Rerecord

A full site rerecording will involve recording a site to the standards listed above in Section

2.2.2.

i. Conduct a post burn analysis, if required, to document impacts of recent prescribed (Rx) burns and/or wildfire. Post burn analysis forms will be provided.

2.2.4 – Site Eligibility

The contractor will evaluate each cultural resource site and make a recommendation regarding its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places using all criteria listed in 36 CFR 60.4, USDI-

National Register Bulletin 15, and provide all appropriate site, feature, and artifact documentation as required in the specifications as justification for a determination of eligibility. Apply the criteria for integrity and significance to evaluate each property over 50 years old identified during the survey pursuant to 36 CFR Part 60.4. Identify the property as a district, site, building, structure or object.

Indicate whether the property should be listed on the state register or should be determined as eligible for national register listing. Properties less than 50 years old should be evaluated if it is apparent that they will be eligible for the state or national registers within 5 years of the date of survey. Properties less than 50 years old that may be eligible for inclusion in the national register based on exceptional significance should be evaluated using national register criteria consideration G. If a property has been previously nominated for either the state or national registers, discuss the register status of the property and include the appropriate reference number.

i. Prepare a clear statement of significance for each archaeological site; historic structure or building; component in a multi-component site; or other cultural property identified during the project. Indicate the level of significance as local, state or national and include in the technical report. Each eligibility criterion (A-D) must be referenced when determining significance in the eligibility statement.

ii. Include a clear statement of integrity for each archaeological site; historic structure or building; component in a multi-component site; or other cultural property identified during the project. All seven aspects of integrity (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) must be discussed.

iii. Each component in a multicomponent site must be addressed separately. Sites with different occupation phases will need an eligibility determination for each phase.

iv. Determinations will be limited to “eligible”, “not eligible”, or “unevaluated”.

a. Not Eligible - If the cultural property is recommended as not significant or not eligible for listing, provide a clear discussion and complete documentation to support the recommendation. For archaeological sites, the discussion shall demonstrate that the site has been thoroughly studied, that surface artifacts and features have been recorded and that sufficient subsurface tests have been performed to support a conclusion that the site is unlikely to contribute important information. The lack of subsurface deposits is not in itself sufficient to support a recommendation that a site is not significant or not eligible. If the cultural property is from the historic period, provide basic archival documentation to augment field information and support the significance evaluation.

b. Eligible - If the cultural property is recommended as significant or eligible for listing, provide evidence supporting its significance including reference to historic contexts and scholarly research in the region. Include a specific, evidence-based argument, linked to specific research topics and characteristics (historic values) observed. For archaeological sites, provide detailed descriptions of the types and numbers of surface artifacts and the types and numbers of features visible on the surface or in arroyos or road cuts. The presence of a large artifact scatter or the potential for subsurface deposits is not sufficient information to support an eligibility recommendation without additional discussion. If the cultural property is historic, include the results of archival research to support the evaluation.

c. Unevaluated - An eligibility recommendation of “Unevaluated” may be made, with justification, when eligibility if inconclusive based on surface observations and no additional testing has been authorized. Survey data alone may not be sufficient to evaluate the property. For archaeological sites, it may be necessary to conduct more extensive test excavations, beyond survey-level study and limited tests, to gather sufficient information to evaluate the specific research potential to support a recommendation for listing or not listing the property on the state or national registers.

Additional archival research and detailed documentation may be necessary to evaluate the specific potential and criteria for historic structures, buildings, and engineering features. Provide a clear explanation that details the need for additional information.

v. Any previous AZ SHPO concurrence on eligibility should be documented in the site forms, tables, and report. Previous NRHP eligibility determinations should reference the AZ SHPO concurrence number (e.g. SHPO-YEAR-1234(123456)), and the date of SHPO comment.

2.2.5 – Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Notification

The contractor will provide strict compliance with all Native American Graves Protection and

Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) regulations as they apply to the inadvertent discovery of Native American human remains or cultural items.

Upon the inadvertent discovery, the contractor will provide immediate telephone notification of the discovery to the Forest Archaeologist (or the COR); the contractor will provide a precise coordinate location of any human remains observed. The contractor will provide written confirmation of the inadvertent discovery to the Forest Archaeologist within five days of the discovery.

2.2.6 – Tribal Consultation

The PNF will conduct all government-to-government tribal consultation.

2.2.7 – Performance Standards – Site Recording

The contractor has recorded all sites in accordance with the above specifications, the USDA Forest

Service National Heritage Program Management Handbook, and the USDA Forest Service Region 3

Cultural Resources Handbook. Handwritten PNF site forms will be accepted as drafts, but final site forms must be typed PNF Forms and in both PDF and Word document format.

2.2.8 – Acceptable Quality Level

100% compliance with the USDA-Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources Handbook, and/or as specified in the contract and associated task order.

2.2.9 – Means of Measurement A field inspection of a minimum of four sites and maximum of 10% of the newly recorded sites and/or previously recorded sites; review and verification of the contractor’s draft site forms; and review of the contractor’s Quality Control records. If the inspection show that sites were not recorded in accordance with section 2.2 of this contract, field inspections of up to an additional 10% of sites may be conducted.

The results of the field inspection may result in a request for GPS data collected for sites during field inventories. GPS data must be provided upon request.

2.3 – Recording Non-Site Cultural Remains (IOs) Occurrences of artifacts at less than the above shall be classified as an Isolated Occurrence (IO), including "Scatters" (less than 25 artifacts) or "Isolated Artifacts" (an occurrence of a single item). A

"pot bust" is considered to be a scatter, even if it contains more than 25 sherds. When an IO is encountered, it shall be accurately recorded using a suitable hand-held GPS device with a minimum accuracy of 3 meters, using the UTM Zone 12N, NAD 1983 coordinate system. All IOs shall be plotted on the appropriate 7.5-minute USGS topo map. IOs shall be briefly documented, including the area of artifact dispersal (when applicable), artifact type, and frequency. Diagnostic IOs should be photographed

(at least one minimum of area and associated diagnostics photographed with scale);

diagnostic artifacts can also be sketched. Date ranges for diagnostic artifacts shall be included in their descriptions. Detailed plan view maps are not required for I.O. locations. Recording the content and location of isolates is generally considered to exhaust the information potential of the find, and they are not usually considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

2.3.1 – Exclusions

Certain constructions (modern fence lines, recreational and hunter camps, modern camp fire rings, modern isolated trash dumps, and modern abandoned roads) may be excluded as sites due to their recent nature, lack of association, and minimal scientific importance. It is not necessary to fully document features such as dirt roads, stock ponds, soil berms, fence lines, small irrigation ditches, pastures, or fields unless they are part of a larger site, are known to be significant, or are named (based on field or archival evidence). Forest Service System roads that are older than 50 years based on GLO maps but do not retain any historic integrity and are not named should not be recorded as isolated occurrences or sites.

2.3.2 Performance Standards – Recording Non-Site Cultural Remains

All isolated occurrences that were encountered during the survey have been documented and included as a table in the report or in an appendix; diagnostic artifacts, lithic and ceramic, have been drawn or photographed; and the Isolated Occurrence location has been plotted on the appropriate topographic map.

2.3.3 Acceptable quality level

100% documentation of encountered isolated occurrences.

2.3.4 Means of Measurement

A field inspection by the Government, the verification of the contractor’s Quality Control records, and the data documented in the contractor’s report.

2.4 - Report After fieldwork is complete, the contractor will provide a report, which describes, in narrative format, the survey location, methodology, management recommendations (narrative and tabular), and results.

The report will be used for National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 consultation between the

USDA- Forest Service and consulting parties, including the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, and as such, must provide sufficient information with which to conduct these procedures. The report should follow the Arizona SHPO Survey Report Standards. The contractor will use a PNF report number

(will be assigned at beginning of project by PNF).

2.4.1 – Report Components

The report must include the following per the USDA Forest Service National Heritage Program

Management Handbook (FSH 2309.12):

i. Inventory purpose, need, and location;

ii. Results of existing data review;

iii. Description of the area inventoried, including a refined description of the APE;

iv. Survey field methods, including an estimate of the extent of survey coverage;

v. A description of the survey results, including a record of the precise location of all cultural resources identified;

vi. Updated information on any previously recorded cultural resources in the inventoried area;

vii. Information on the appearance, significance, integrity, and boundaries of each property; and

viii. Results and recommendations, including a comprehensive assessment of direct, indirect, and cumulative effects, actions to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to historic properties (including Standard Site Protection Measures listed in the R3 PA, Appendix J, Section II), and areas that require post-implementation survey.

2.4.2 – Cultural Context

The report will also include cultural context(s) specific to the project area. The cultural context should provide enough specificity to adequately evaluate the eligibility of all site types identified within the project area.

i. A comprehensive cultural context will incorporate the ethnohistories of Tribes that claim cultural affiliations to earlier identifiable cultural groups within the project area. Sources will be provided by the PNF to aide in production of comprehensive contexts that include the ethnohistories of Tribes. These sources are meant to be used as a starting point for further research and are not considered to be an exhaustive selection.

ii. The most recent Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) guidelines and standards should also be used when developing context(s)

iii. Other context studies that should be referenced during this project and utilized in the report include: “Down in the Dumps” and “Gold and Silver Mining in Arizona 1848-1945”

2.4.3 – Report Maps

The report will also include the following maps:

i. Project location map;

ii. Area of Potential effects (APE) and survey coverage map;

iii. Map of previously identified cultural resources within and adjacent to the APE;

iv. Map of previous inventories conducted within and adjacent to the APE;

v. Map with site locations plotted on 1:24,000-scale USGS topographic quadrangles; and

vi. Map with the locations of isolates plotted on 1:24,000-scale USGS topographic quadrangles.

2.4.4 Performance Standards – Report

The contractor provides a report that meets the specifications described in this contract and is in accordance with the standards set forth in the USDA-Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources

Handbook.

2.4.5 Acceptable quality level

Clear, concise, proper grammar and format, and contains all required Government data.

2.4.6 Means of Measurement

100% review and verification of the contractor’s records, data, and report.

2.5 – NRM Data Entry The contractor will enter all tabular & spatial survey, site, and feature data into the USFS Heritage

Mobile Application (Mobile). Mobile is a component of the USFS Heritage NRM database system.

Mobile can be utilized at the contractor’s office and doesn’t require a USFS workstation.

i. All data must be entered according to PNF standard operating procedures (SOPs). SOPs will be provided to the contractor prior to the start of data entry.

ii. The individual(s) conducting data entry may be required to attend a Mobile training session, given by the COR prior to conducting data entry.

iii. The contractor will utilize a data package file that has been “checked out” by the COR and transferred to them via Box Pinyon.

iv. If PNF is notified of a major program update that could cause compatibility issues with the contractor’s specific data package, PNF will notify the contractor and request their current data package be 100% vetted (no matter where the contractor data entry left off) and transferred back to PNF. There will be a deadline set for the check-in process and the timeline will be discussed with the contractor. PNF will QC the data package and upload that data package back into NRM, essentially “checking it back in.” PNF will then create and transfer new data package for the contractor to finish the project.

v. Site data must include all descriptions and geometry (GIS data) for: site boundaries, features, datums, and artifact concentrations.

2.5.1 Performance Standards – NRM

All of the sites identified within the project areas will be entered into the Heritage Mobile Application.

2.5.2 Acceptable Quality Level

Site descriptions are…