NEPA_AC-836579_HWY-227_Arch Monitoring Work Plan.pdf

LANDSLIDE REPAIR PR-149 KM 42.8, CIALES, PUERTO RICO

[ER-HWY-227 / SHPO 06-20-19-03]

Archaeological Monitoring Work Plan

I. PREAMBLE

The Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) proposes to perform emergency repairs to a landslide identified as ER-HWY-227, that severely affected State Road PR-149 at km 42.84 (Figures 1 and 2). There is a 30-inch concrete pipe culvert (which is part of PR-149 run-off drainage system) that receives run-off from the mountainous area (Figure 3). During Hurricane María, the 30-inch culvert did not have the capacity to handle the discharges from the run-off generated by the storm, causing water to overflow the road contributing to road damages.

Figure 1: Location of the project on the 1960 topographic quadrangle (USGS)

The scope of work of the proposed project comprises to provide adequate capacity to the discharge system by 1) to clean the existing 30” diameter reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) from entrance to discharge point, (2) to construct a concrete apron slab, (3) to install 2-36" RCP Pipe Class III, and (4) to install Rip-rap

Revetment Class VIII (HEC 23), immediately downstream of proposed hydraulic structure (Figure 4).

Archaeological Monitoring Work Plan. LANDSLIDE REPAIR PR-149 KM 42.8, CIALES, [ER-HWY-227 / SHPO 06-20-19-03]

Prepared by Sharon Meléndez Ortiz for the PRHTA. 21 September 2021. Page 2 of 6.

Figure 2: Location of the project area on the 2021 satellite image (GoogleEarth)

Figure 3: Close-up view of the culvert (photo reproduced from AM Group 2019: 9)

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), in a letter dating from April 26, 2021, indicated that Highway

PR-149 is a property potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and that the 20th century culvert located within the project’s area of potential effect is a historic structure potentially eligible as well. The SHPO concluded that a finding of no adverse effect would be appropriate for this undertaking conditioned to archaeological monitoring during the implementation of the proposed project, and requested an archaeology work plan, for their review and concurrence. This archaeological work plan responds to this request. Its was prepared by archaeologist Sharon Meléndez Ortiz in

September 2021.

Archaeological Monitoring Work Plan. LANDSLIDE REPAIR PR-149 KM 42.8, CIALES, [ER-HWY-227 / SHPO 06-20-19-03]

Prepared by Sharon Meléndez Ortiz for the PRHTA. 21 September 2021. Page 3 of 6.

The objective of the archaeological monitoring in this project is to prevent the historic culvert and road

PR-149 from being affected by project activities. Also, the implementation of archaeological monitoring is intended to ensure unanticipated discoveries, should they occur, receive appropriate treatment.

This archaeological monitoring work plan is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's (SOI) Guidelines for Archeological Documentation and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's (ACHP) recommendations on the recovery of significant information from archaeological sites as updated in 2009.

Figure 4: Proposed project (Klein Engineering)

Archaeological Monitoring Work Plan. LANDSLIDE REPAIR PR-149 KM 42.8, CIALES, [ER-HWY-227 / SHPO 06-20-19-03]

Prepared by Sharon Meléndez Ortiz for the PRHTA. 21 September 2021. Page 4 of 6.

II. ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING PROCEDURE

A. Prior to the start of construction work

A-1. Before construction begins, the SHPO must be notified of the construction start date and the archaeology company charged with implementing this Plan before construction activities begin.

A-2. The construction crew, inspectors, and archaeologist will have a kickoff meeting to discuss the procedure for archaeological monitoring, including the coordination protocol between the archaeologist and the Contractor. The archaeologist will provide an orientation on the area's cultural resources and potential resources and their proper treatment. The archaeologist will also explain which demolition activities require archaeological monitoring.

A-3. The archaeologist shall document the historic culvert through verbal descriptions, photographs, and scale drawings. Photos documenting the condition of the historic culvert before construction begins should be included in the first biweekly report.

B. During construction work

B-1. The archaeologist shall be in the field during all project activities involving demolition and ground disturbance. The constructions activities that require monitoring for this project are the cleaning of the culvert, the excavations required for the construction of the concrete apron slab, the excavations for the installation of the two 36” RCP pipes, and any other incidental activities where the archaeologist deems necessary. Monitoring activities at or near the historic culvert should document any hidden or previously unseen features of the resource, including unknown details about its components, material, and method of construction.

B-2. Access and clear sightlines to all project activities and debris removal will be provided to the archaeologist at all times. The archaeologist shall provide instructions directly to the construction field personnel concerning how to proceed when there is a potential to impact an archaeological resource. The construction field personnel will abide by these requests. The archaeologist shall keep a record of monitored activities. A report of the monitored activities shall be included in the bi-weekly report.

B-3. When archaeological monitoring is not being conducted, the archaeology team will conduct biweekly inspections to verify that the measures outlined in this work plan are being implemented. A field diary shall be kept with a record of the activities carried out and a photographic record. The results of the visit shall be included in the bi-weekly report.

B-4. If any additional construction activities are added or design changes are made after the project has begun, the contractor shall inform the project inspection and the archaeology team prior to carrying out the work. The archaeology team, in conjunction with the Office of Environmental Studies (ESO) of the

PRHTA, shall evaluate these activities and apply the adverse effect criteria. If it is determined that the effect is adverse, the archaeologist will provide recommendations on how to avoid, minimize or mitigate the adverse effect. These recommendations will be consulted with the SHPO prior to implementation.

B-5. If during project activities the historic culvert is affected unanticipatedly, the contractor shall stop work immediately, and inform the project inspection and the archaeology team. The archaeology team, in conjunction with ESO/PHTA, will evaluate the unanticipated effects and apply the adverse effect criteria. If the effect is determined to be adverse, the archaeologist will provide recommendations on how

Archaeological Monitoring Work Plan. LANDSLIDE REPAIR PR-149 KM 42.8, CIALES, [ER-HWY-227 / SHPO 06-20-19-03]

Prepared by Sharon Meléndez Ortiz for the PRHTA. 21 September 2021. Page 5 of 6.

to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse effect. These recommendations will be consulted with SHPO prior to implementation.

B-6. In the event of an unanticipated historically significant discovery (i.e., complex structures or stratified archaeological deposits), the archaeologist shall:

1. Instruct the Contractor to stop work immediately in the vicinity of the discovery until

ESO/PRHTA staff completes consultation with the SHPO; and immediately notify the ESO. The

ESO shall be responsible to immediately notify the SHPO via email.

2. Make a preliminary assessment of the unanticipated finding to determine its eligibility for listing in the NRHP, including its nature, typology, artifact content, possible cultural association, degree of integrity, and extent. The assessment should include photos of the finding and recommendations of additional work, if any. This assessment should be submitted via email to the ESO within 48 hours of the discovery. After reviewing and accepting the assessment, the ESO shall notify the SHPO of the eligibility determination within the next 48 hours. The notification shall include evaluating NRHP eligibility of the discovery, application of the criteria of adverse effect, and proposed actions to resolve adverse effects, if any.

3. The SHPO shall respond within 48 hours of the notification, as per 36CFR Part 800.13(b)(3).

This does not apply to burials or human remains.

B-7. The processing of archaeological artifacts, if any, shall be carried out simultaneously with the field work. Artifacts shall be washed, sorted, analyzed, and graphically documented. If necessary, documentary research shall be conducted for analysis and interpretation of the finds. A summary of these activities will be included in the biweekly report. Artifacts shall be curated and processed in accordance with the standards set forth in 36 CFR Part 79 Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological

Collections.

B-8. The archaeologist shall submit a biweekly report to the ESO The bi-weekly report should include at a minimum a narrative of all activities monitored; description of findings, if any; results of weekly visits; and photos. The report should be emailed to the ESO during the week following the week in which the visit took place. The ESO will be responsible for bi-weekly submitting the report to the SHPO.

C. After the construction is completed

C-1. Upon completing activities requiring archaeological monitoring, the archaeology shall notify the ESO, who in turn shall notify the SHPO. The estimated date of delivery of the final report shall be indicated in said notification.

C-2. The archaeology team shall conduct a final inspection, where they shall verbally and photographically document the condition of the historic culvert.

C-3. A technical memo report shall be prepared. This report should include a description of the work performed, the construction activities that were archaeologically monitored, and documentation of unexpected finds, if any. It should also include a comparison of the final condition of the culvert to the initial condition. A digital copy of the draft report shall be sent to the ESO for review within 14 calendar days after completion of the work. The ESO shall submit the report to the SHPO no more than one (1) week after receipt.

Archaeological Monitoring Work Plan. Landslide repair at PR-149 km 42.8, Ciales [ER-HWY-227]

September 2021 / S. Meléndez Ortiz/ Page 6 of 6

III. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

The Archaeologist must meet the minimum Secretary of the Interior Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology established in 36CFR Part 61. These are: a graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, or closely related field, plus at least one (1) year of full-time professional experience or equivalent specialized training in archaeological research, administration, or management; at least four (4) months of supervised field and analytic experience in general Puerto Rican archaeology; the demonstrated ability to carry research to completion; and at least one (1) year of full-time professional experience at a supervisory level in the study of archaeological resources of the pre-Columbian and colonial periods.

Please see https://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/arch_stnds_9.htm for more information.

The SOI-qualified archaeologist shall not defer their monitoring responsibilities to any person who does not meet the minimum professional qualifications. Any additional personnel to intervene in monitoring efforts shall have vast experience in historic archaeology, evaluation (Phase II), documentation (Phase III), and monitoring projects dealing with colonial period properties.

https://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/arch_stnds_9.htm