Archeological Resource Survey of a 2.9-mile Proposed Pipeline Corridor on University Lands in Ward County, Texas

At the request of Salt Creek Midstream (SCM), Flatrock Engineering and Environmental, LLC (Flatrock) conducted an intensive archeological resource survey of approximately 2.9 miles (15,312 feet) of a proposed pipeline corridor on University Lands in northern Ward County, Texas. Because the project will take place on property owned by the University of Texas, a political subdivision of the State of Texas, it is subject to the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resources Code, Title 9, Chapter 191) and its associated regulations (13 TAC 26). The archeological survey was carried out under Antiquities Permit Number 9355. A pedestrian field survey was conducted by Flatrock archeologist Joel Butler on March 30 and 31, 2020. A corridor 100 feet in width, encompassing 38.7 acres, was surveyed during fieldwork. Surface visibility ranged from 80 to 100-percent along the 100-foot survey corridor and revealed predominantly heavily disturbed or deflated surfaces. The entire corridor was 100-percent surface inspected and 31 shovel tests were excavated to locate and/or evaluate the potential for buried cultural deposits; all shovel tests were negative. No artifacts or archeological sites were identified during fieldwork and no historic structures were visible from the right-of-way. Flatrock recommends that construction of the pipeline be allowed to proceed as planned, with no further archeological investigations. However, it is recommended that if any cultural resources are encountered during construction, the Texas Historical Commission and University Lands should be notified, and a qualified archeologist should evaluate the findings. No artifacts were collected or curated during this project; field records will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) at Texas State University, San Marcos.

Cultural Resources Survey of Antiquities Permit Portions of the Orion Refurbishment Project in Midland and Mitchell Counties, Texas

Gray and Pape, Inc., performed an intensive pedestrian cultural resources survey of the Area of Potential Effects of permitted segments of proposed pipeline refurbishment located in Midland and Mitchell Counties, Texas. To date, no federal permitting has been identified for the project. However, approximately 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) of the project area are located on lands owned by the City of Midland and the City of Colorado City, and will be reviewed under the Texas Antiquities Code (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191), Permit number 8677. The area surveyed amounts to approximately 20 hectares (50 acres) of survey corridor, which is considered the Area of Potential Effects. A records and literature review of the project location prior to survey identified two previously recorded archaeological sites and two previously conducted surveys within a 1.6-kilometer (1-mile) radius of the project. Fieldwork was conducted in January and March of 2019. The project required 156-person hours to complete and involved archaeological reconnaissance and shovel testing throughout the entire Area of Potential Effects. A total of 116 shovel tests were excavated along current and previously planned routes, of which 10 were positive for cultural materials. One new previously unrecorded site was identified as a result of survey. Site 41MD58 consists of a low-density surface and buried lithic scatter of a limited number of artifacts and artifact types. The surface of the resource area showed clear disturbance from the adjacent pipeline right-of-way and agricultural activities. A portion of the site was in the process of being disturbed at the time of site delineation by pipeline activities unrelated to the current project consisting of an open trench and associated spoil. Shovel tests within the site showed a lack of integrity primarily as a result of natural and artificial processes resulting in the dispersion of artifacts. The site did not contain temporally or culturally diagnostic artifacts and no artifacts were collected. Nor were any cultural features or historic-age standing resources encountered in the field. Based on the paucity of artifacts, lack of diagnostic materials, and lack of integrity, the site portion located within the Area of Potential Effects is recommended not eligible for State Antiquities Landmark or National Register status. Gray & Pape, Inc. recommends no additional archaeological work for the site or surveyed portions of the project detailed in this report. However, Gray & Pape, Inc. recommends that an unanticipated discoveries plan be put into place in the event that discoveries take place during construction. Gray & Pape, Inc. submitted project records to the Center of Archaeological Studies at Texas State University.

Mechanical Trenching Cultural Resources Survey: Proposed Emergency Bridge Repair at Peek Road Bridge City of Katy, Fort Bend County, Texas

Terracon Consultants, Inc. (Terracon) was retained by CivilTech Engineering, Inc. (Client) to conduct a mechanical trenching survey along the embankment slopes of Buffalo Bayou at Peek Road, the location of proposed emergency bridge repair in Katy, Fort Bend County, Texas. Since the proposed undertaking will occur on land owned or controlled by a political subdivision of the State of Texas, and because funding for this project will come, in part, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this project required compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; Title 44, Part 10 CFR) and was subject to the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resources Code, Title 9, Chapter 191). This project was conducted under Antiquities Permit #8904. The proposed project area comprises an area approximately 200 feet wide, from high bank to high bank, and approximately 2,000 linear feet, consisting of 1,000 feet each upstream and downstream from the Peek Road bridge crossing (approximately nine acres). Terracon archeologists monitored the excavation of eight (8) trenches to the anticipated depth of impact (approximately five feet or one to two meters). One isolated find (a chert flake) was encountered during trenching. This artifact was recorded on site and not collected. Fieldwork was conducted between May 21 and May 23, 2019 by Jenni Hatchett Kimbell (Principal Investigator), Catherine Jalbert (Project Archeologist), and Michael Hogan (Staff Archeologist). The report was authored by Catherine Jalbert and Michael Hogan. Given the absence of known archeological sites within the proposed project area, Terracon recommends no additional cultural studies are warranted at this time. In the event that human remains, historic properties, or buried cultural materials are encountered during construction or disturbance activities, work should cease in the immediate area but can continue where no cultural materials are present. Terracon, the THC’s Archeology Division, or other proper authorities should be contacted.