An Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed 372.0-Acre Formosa Plastics Expansion ...

80 Pages·2014·2.21 MB·English

An Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the
Proposed 372.0-Acre Formosa Plastics Expansion
Project in Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Texas

By:

Jennifer L. Cochran and Russell K. Brownlow

HJN 080122 AR 26

Prepared for: Prepared by:

Zephyr Environmental Corporation Horizon Environmental Services, Inc.
Austin Texas Austin, Texas

Revised January 2014

An Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the
Proposed 372.0-Acre Formosa Plastics Expansion
Project in Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Texas

By:

Jennifer L. Cochran and Russell K. Brownlow

Prepared for:

Zephyr Environmental Corporation
2600 Via Fortuna, Suite 450
Austin, Texas 78746

Lead Federal Agency:

US Environmental Protection Agency

Prepared by:

Horizon Environmental Services, Inc.
1507 South IH 35
Austin, Texas 78741

Russell K. Brownlow, Principal Investigator
HJN 080122 AR 26

Revised January 2014

An Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed 372.0-Acre Formosa Plastics Expansion Project
in Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Texas
MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas (FPC TX) currently operates a number of chemical
plants at its chemical complex in Calhoun and Jackson counties, Texas. FPC TX proposes to
expand the chemical complex within the existing FPC TX Point Comfort site footprint. The 2012
Expansion Project would consist of an Olefins Expansion (OL3) with a Propane
Dehydrogenation (PDH) unit, a new Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Plant, and 2 new
Combined Cycle Turbines (Gas Turbines). No new linear facilities (i.e., gas or electrical line
rights-of-ways [ROW]) will be constructed during the development of the current undertaking.
Separate Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits for Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
emissions are being obtained for the proposed OL3, LDPE, and Gas Turbines. This cultural
resources survey report is provided to assist with the required cultural resources investigation
for each of the above-mentioned PSD permit applications.
On 27 and 28 November 2012, Horizon Environmental Services, Inc. (Horizon)
conducted an intensive cultural resources survey of FPC TX’s proposed facility expansion
project in Calhoun and Jackson counties, Texas. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) of the
proposed undertaking consists of approximately 372.0 acres (150.5 hectares) within the existing
FPC facility in Point Comfort, Texas. The APE was determined based on the location and
extent of FPC TX’s proposed land clearing and construction plans. Although the APE is located
entirely on private property and its development will utilize private funding, the undertaking
would require 3 PSD permits issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a
result, the undertaking falls under the regulations of Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended. At the request of Zephyr Environmental
Corporation (Zephyr), Horizon conducted the cultural resources survey of the APE on behalf of
FPC TX in compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA. The purpose of the survey was to
determine if the development of the APE had the potential to have an adverse effect on any
significant cultural resources listed on or considered eligible for listing on the National Register
of Historic Places (NRHP).
The cultural resources survey of the APE resulted in entirely negative findings. No
cultural materials were observed on the modern ground surface of the APE or within any of the
128 excavated shovel tests. The negative results were anticipated due to the fact that the APE
is located within the boundaries of an existing industrial facility where extensive ground-
disturbing activities have occurred in the past.
HJN 080122 AR 26 iii
Management Summary
Based on the negative survey results, it is Horizon’s opinion that the development of the
APE will have no adverse effect on significant cultural resources. Horizon therefore
recommends that FPC TX be allowed to proceed with the proposed facility expansion project,
relative to the jurisdiction of the EPA and Section 106 of the NHPA. However, in the unlikely
event that any human remains or burial features are inadvertently discovered at any point during
construction, use, or ongoing maintenance within the APE, even in previously surveyed areas,
all work at the location of the discovery should cease immediately, and the Texas Historical
Commission (THC) and the EPA should be notified of the discovery.
iv 080122 26_arch_survey_report_(revised 1-6-14)
An Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed 372.0-Acre Formosa Plastics Expansion Project
in Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Texas
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ..................................................................................... iii
1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1
2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING................................................................................... 5
2.1 General Project Description .......................................................................... 5
2.2 Current Land Use .......................................................................................... 5
2.3 Physiography and Hydrology......................................................................... 5
2.4 Soils .............................................................................................................. 9
3.0 CULTURAL BACKGROUND ...................................................................................11
3.1 Early Archaic Period (ca. 7500 to 4200 BP) .................................................11
3.2 Middle Archaic (4200 to 3100 BP) ................................................................11
3.3 Late Archaic (3100 to 1000 BP) ...................................................................12
3.4 Late Prehistoric Period (ca. 1000 to 250 BP) ................................................12
3.5 Historic Period (ca. 250 BP to Present) ........................................................13
4.0 ARCHIVAL RESEARCH ..........................................................................................19
5.0 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................21
6.0 RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................23
6.1 Results .........................................................................................................23
6.2 Recommendations .......................................................................................23
7.0 REFERENCES CITED ............................................................................................25

APPENDIX A: Shovel Test Data
APPENDIX B: Curriculum Vitae for Principal Investigator

HJN 080122 AR 26 v
Table of Contents
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1-1. Topographic map with the location of the APE ........................................................ 2
Figure 1-2. Aerial photograph with the location of the APE........................................................ 3
Figure 2-1. Typical view of Cox Creek (facing southeast) .......................................................... 6
Figure 2-2. Typical view of vegetation within the APE (facing northwest) .................................. 6
Figure 2-3. View within central portion of the APE (facing north) ............................................... 7
Figure 2-4. Typical view of roads within the APE (facing south) ................................................ 7
Figure 2-5. View of construction debris within the APE (facing north) ........................................ 8
Figure 2-6. Vegetation overlying fill deposits within the APE (facing west) ................................ 8
Figure 2-7. Soils mapped within the APE .................................................................................10
Figure 5-1. Shovel test locations within the APE .......................................................................22

LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table 2-1. Soils mapped within the APE ................................................................................... 9

vi 080122 26_arch_survey_report_(revised 1-6-14)
An Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed 372.0-Acre Formosa Plastics Expansion Project
in Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Texas
1.0 INTRODUCTION

Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas (FPC TX) currently operates a number of chemical
plants at its chemical complex in Calhoun and Jackson counties, Texas. FPC TX proposes to
expand the chemical complex within the existing FPC TX Point Comfort site footprint. The 2012
Expansion Project would consist of an Olefins Expansion (OL3) with a Propane
Dehydrogenation (PDH) unit, a new Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Plant, and 2 new
Combined Cycle Turbines (Gas Turbines). No new linear facilities (i.e., gas or electrical line
rights-of-ways [ROW]) will be constructed during the development of the current undertaking.
Separate Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits for Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
emissions are being obtained for the proposed OL3, LDPE, and Gas Turbines. This cultural
resources survey report is provided to assist with the required cultural resources investigation
for each of the above-mentioned PSD permit applications.
This document reports the results of an intensive cultural resources survey of FPC TX
proposed facility expansion project in Calhoun and Jackson counties, Texas. The Area of
Potential Effect (APE) of the proposed undertaking consists of approximately 372.0 acres (150.5
hectares) within the existing FPC facility in Point Comfort, Texas (Figures 1-1 and 1-2). The
APE was determined based on the location and extent of FPC TX’s proposed land clearing and
construction plans. Although the APE is located entirely on private property and its
development will utilize private funding, the undertaking would require 3 PSD permits issued by
the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a result, the undertaking falls under the
regulations of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as
amended. At the request of Zephyr Environmental Corporation (Zephyr), Horizon conducted the
cultural resources survey of the APE on behalf of FPC TX in compliance with Section 106 of the
NHPA. The purpose of the survey was to determine if the development of the APE had the
potential to have an adverse effect on any significant cultural resources listed on or considered
eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
The cultural resources investigations consisted of an archival review, an intensive
cultural resources survey of the APE, and the production of a report suitable for review by the
State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) in accordance with the Texas Historical
Commission’s (THC) Rules of Practice and Procedure, Chapter 26, Section 27, and the Council
of Texas Archeologists (CTA) Guidelines for Cultural Resources Management Reports. Russell
Brownlow (Horizon’s cultural resources director) served as the project’s principal investigator,
HJN 080122 AR 26 1