At the request of TriLeaf Corporation (TriLeaf), SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted a cultural resources investigation for the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Project (Project) located in Bexar County, Texas. The Project involves the installation of a 432-foot-long (132-meter [m]-long) fiber-optic communication line directly south of Floyd Curl Drive in northwest San Antonio, Texas. The total disturbance of the proposed Project area measures approximately 0.28 acre (0.1 hectare [ha]) in size. The Project area is situated on the grounds of UTHSCSA and located approximately 8.48 miles (13.65 kilometers [km]) from downtown San Antonio. At its nearest, Zarzamora Creek is 40 feet (12 m) northwest of the Project area. The proposed Project includes property owned by the UTHSCSA, a political subdivision of the state of Texas, and is therefore subject to review by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) under the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) and the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation (SA-OHP) under the Historic Preservation and Design Sections of the City of San Antonio’s Unified Development Code (UDC) (Article VI 35-606). SWCA conducted all work in accordance with the standards and guidelines set forth by the THC and the Council of Texas Archaeologists under ACT Permit No. 9311. The purpose of the investigation was to identify and assess any cultural resources, such as historic and prehistoric archaeological sites and historic buildings, structures, objects, and sites (such as cemeteries) that might be located within the boundaries of the proposed Project area and evaluate the significance of these cultural resources. Investigations consisted of a background literature and historical map review and monitoring of mechanical trench excavations within the Project area. SWCA conducted all investigations in accordance with the standards and guidelines established by the THC and the Council of Texas Archeologists. The background review determined that the Project area has not been previously surveyed for cultural resources, and three cultural resources investigations and three previously recorded cultural resources occurred within a 1.0-mile (1.6-km) radius of the Project area. SWCA’s intensive archaeological monitoring was performed during construction activities that occurred on April 7–14, 2020. All work within the Project area was conducted within moderately disturbed deposits. SWCA observed no subsurface cultural materials and no cultural features or temporally diagnostic artifacts were encountered. In accordance with the City of San Antonio UDC and the ACT, SWCA has made a reasonable and good faith effort to identify cultural resources properties within the Project area. No properties were identified within the Project area that may meet the criteria for listing as a State Antiquities Landmark, nor as a Historic Landmark or District according to the UDC. Therefore, SWCA recommends that no additional cultural resources investigations are warranted within the UTHSCSA Project Area, as currently defined. Following the review and acceptance of the final cultural resources report, all records and photographs will be curated with the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio, per requirements of the ACT.
SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) was retained by CrownQuest Operating, LLC, to complete an intensive cultural resources investigation for the proposed CrownQuest City of Midland Oil and Gas Project (Project). The Project includes newly proposed oil and gas well pads, crude oil pipeline, and associated access roads on City of Midland property in Midland and Glasscock Counties, Texas. These new components will be constructed within an existing upstream oil and gas system. The 149.9-acre (60.7-hectare) Project area is located approximately 15 miles southeast of Midland, Texas, immediately south of Highway 158, and is situated along and between Johnson and Pemberton Draws. The Project involves a political subdivision within the state of Texas (City of Midland). The Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) applies because the Project’s activities occur on property owned by the City of Midland and will involve more than 5 acres / 5,000 cubic yards of land disturbance or may potentially affect known archaeological sites. It is SWCA’s understanding that the Project does not currently have a federal nexus, and it is not subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The purpose of this investigation was to identify and assess any cultural resources, such as historic and prehistoric archaeological sites and historic buildings, structures, objects, and sites (such as cemeteries) that might be located within the boundaries of the proposed Project and evaluate their significance and eligibility for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark. The investigations included a background and historic map review of the Project area and immediately surrounding region followed by pedestrian survey with visual examination and shovel test excavations at proposed Project activity areas. All investigations were conducted in accordance with the ACT and standards and guidelines established by the THC and Council of Texas Archeologists. Following the review and acceptance of the final cultural resources report, all records and photographs will be curated with the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio, per requirements of the ACT in accordance with the CTA guidelines. The cultural resources investigation was conducted under ACT Permit No. 8506. Fieldwork was performed from July 30 to August 4, 2018. The Project setting was mainly eroded and heavily disturbed uplands with occasional exposures of bedrock and caliche. Pedestrian survey was augmented by hand excavating 253 shovel tests and seven auger tests, which were terminated at the maximum reachable depth or at soils likely predating human occupation, typically around 45 cm below surface. The most pervasive land disturbance observed was related to petroleum exploration and extraction activities that have generally impacted ground surface integrity. During the investigation SWCA archaeologists did not observe any prehistoric or historic cultural resources within the Project area. The location near site 41MD4, identified during the background review, could not be visited by SWCA survey staff due to a fire in the facility. The site boundary defined does not extend into a proposed Project activity area and the closest associated Project item is already disturbed. On that basis it is not considered to be a Project concern. Based on the negative findings of the intensive cultural resources survey, SWCA recommends that no further archaeological investigations are warranted within the assessed portions of the CrownQuest City of Midland Oil and Gas Project area.
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