Tips on how to answer Section 13 of SEPA Checklist

Question 13. Historic and Cultural Preservation

A. Are there any places or objects listed on, or proposed for, national, state, or local preservation registers known to be on or next to the site? If so, generally describe.

--For information, be sure to contact: the local government planning office; tribal cultural resource staff, the local historic preservation office (if available), a local historical organization (i.e. museum, society, etc.) or a nearby university program (i.e. archaeology, anthropology) to determine whether or not there are already known historic properties in or adjacent to the project area.

--Log on to www.dahp.wa.gov and use the WISAARD search engine to see if there are National Register properties in or adjacent to the project area.

--Select a qualified cultural resource consultant to aid you in the process. Visit DAHP’s website to access lists of consultants determined to be qualified to provide technical expertise.

If there are properties over 50 years of age present, but they are not currently on or proposed for a national, state or local preservation register, then a determination of eligibility must be conducted with the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) at this time.

B. Generally describe any landmarks or evidence of historic, archaeological, scientific, or cultural importance known to be on or next to the site.

--If there are structures or cultural resources, located in, on, or next to the project area, be specific as possible to describe them. For properties over 50 years of age, describe it, including any obvious changes that have occurred in recent years (i.e. new windows, remodeling, etc. ).

C. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts, if any:

--What measures do you propose to avoid, minimize or mitigate for deliberate impacts to historic structures or cultural resources?

--What measures do you proposed to avoid, minimize or mitigate for the impacts to inadvertent discoveries?

--contact and work the interested tribes, historic preservation organizations, or advocacy groups for recommendations on mitigation.

--Review DAHP's recordation guidelines if documentation is proposed to serve as a mitigation measure..

Examples

Example 1

SEPA
Question 13. Historic and cultural preservation

a. Are there any places or objects listed on, or proposed for, national, state, or local preservation registers known to be on or next to the site? If so, generally describe.

An archaeological survey dated 8/5/05 was conducted for this property by ABC Research Associates. A copy of this report has been forward to DAHP or A copy of this report is appended to the SEPA checklist. They found no archaeological sites or structures that are 50 years of age or older. They recommended no further work.

b. Generally describe any landmarks or evidence of historic, archaeological, scientific, or cultural importance known to be on or next to the site.

None.

c. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts, if any:

The following standard inadvertent discovery language will be added to the permit conditions:

Should archaeological materials (e.g. bones, shell, stone tools, beads, ceramics, old bottles, hearths, etc.) or human remains be observed during project activities, all work in the immediate vicinity should stop. The State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (360-586-3065), the County/City planning office, the affected Tribe(s) and the county coroner (if applicable) should be contacted immediately in order to help assess the situation and determine how to preserve the resource(s). Compliance with all applicable laws pertaining to archaeological resources (RCW 27.53, 27.44 and WAC 25-48) is required. Failure to comply with this requirement could constitute a Class C Felony.

Example 2

SEPA
Question 13. Historic and cultural preservation

a. Are there any places or objects listed on, or proposed for, national, state, or local preservation registers known to be on or next to the site? If so, generally describe.

There are three archaeological sites eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in the project area.

b. Generally describe any landmarks or evidence of historic, archaeological, scientific, or cultural importance known to be on or next to the site.

An archaeological survey dated 9/20/06 was conducted for this property by ABC Research Associates. A copy of this report has been forward to DAHP or A copy of this report is appended to the SEPA checklist. Three archaeological sites were found.

c. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts, if any:

Since the project cannot avoid impacting the archaeological sites, the proponents’ archaeologist has obtained archaeological excavation permit #06-100 from DAHP and is conducting data recovery excavations as a mitigation measure.

Example 3

SEPA
Question 13. Historic and cultural preservation

a. Are there any places or objects listed on, or proposed for, national, state, or local preservation registers known to be on or next to the site? If so, generally describe.

An archaeological survey will be conducted and the results will be distributed to the affected Tribes and DAHP for review. Mitigation and/or avoidance measures will be designed based up on the results of the survey.

b. Generally describe any landmarks or evidence of historic, archaeological, scientific, or cultural importance known to be on or next to the site.

Pending.

d. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts, if any:

Mitigation and/or avoidance measures will be designed based upon the results of the survey, in consultation with the affected Tribe(s) and DAHP.

Example 4

Question 13. Historic and cultural preservation

a. Are there any places or objects listed on, or proposed for, national, state, or local preservation registers known to be on or next to the site? If so, generally describe.

A review of county records indicates that there are no known historic properties listed or proposed for listing in a national, state or local historic register within the project area. However, the school assembly hall is a structure that appears to be over fifty years of age and will impacted by the project as proposed.

b. Generally describe any landmarks or evidence of historic, archaeological, scientific, or cultural importance known to be on or next to the site.

The structure is a multipurpose assembly accessory structure to a larger school complex. This structure is scheduled for demolition to make way for a new library. The structure was the district swimming pool when originally built around 1950.

c. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts, if any:

Since the proposed action is to demolish the structure, we cannot reduce impacts by avoiding demolition. A Historic Property Inventory and/or Determination of Eligibility is being conducted and will be sent to DAHP for review. If the structure is determined to be eligible for a national, state or local register, we will propose a mitigation strategy at that time.

Because the historic structure may have archaeological deposits associated with it, an archaeological survey will be conducted and the results will be forwarded to DAHP upon completion
–or--
A copy of this survey report has been forward to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation for review.

Example 5

Question 13. Historic and cultural preservation

a. Are there any places or objects listed on, or proposed for, national, state, or local preservation registers known to be on or next to the site? If so, generally describe.

This project has a federal nexus in that federal funding is involved. Therefore, this project has been reviewed by WSDOT via Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. An archaeological and historic structures survey dated 2/27/06 was conducted for this project by ABC Research Associates. A copy of this report has been forwarded to DAHP. Three previously unrecorded archaeological sites were identified during the survey: 45AB999, 45AB1000 and 45AB1001, and two previously know historic structures were identified (see part b).

b. Generally describe any landmarks or evidence of historic, archaeological, scientific, or cultural importance known to be on or next to the site.

The study did identify three archaeological sites, 45AB999, 45AB1000 and 45AB1001. WSDOT determined 45AB999 and 45AB1000 were significant and eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and 45AB1001 was not eligible.

The South boundary of the project abuts the parcel containing the 1912 Erick Sanders mansion, a County Landmark also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington State Heritage Register. An historic homestead (45AB255) built in 1908 was identified roughly 0.5 miles east of the project area. The Downey Hop Barn was located approximately 1500 feet north of the project; however, the barn was destroyed by a windstorm and was removed from the National Register of Historic Places.

c. Proposed measures to reduce or control impacts, if any:

The project cannot be re-routed to avoid the sites; therefore, data recovery excavations are being conducted on the two eligible sites.

The Erick Sanders mansion and the historic homestead will not be directly affected or altered by the proposed project. They will experience short-term indirect effects of noise and vibration from the construction equipment.

For general questions or comments concerning SEPA, please e-mail the SEPA Unit or call (360) 407-6922.