Appendices F-I

304 Pages·2013·10.19 MB·English

APPENDIX F
Cultural Surveys
F1 – Phase I – Site Characterization Locale Survey
F2 – Phase I – Meredosia Energy Center Survey
F3 – Phase I – Bluff Area Pipeline Right-of-Way Segment
Survey
F4 – Phase I – Soil Gas Monitoring Locations Survey

for the

Final Environmental Impact Statement
FutureGen 2.0 Project
Meredosia, Illinois (Morgan County)

Note: This appendix was updated for the Final EIS.
The Final Programmatic Agreement can be viewed in Appendix B3.

DOE/EIS-0460
October 2013
INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
APPENDIX F1
PHASE I – SITE CHARACTERIZATION LOCALE SURVEY

Appendix F F-1
INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Appendix F F-2
Archaeological Survey Short Report REVIEWER
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Date:
Old State Capitol Building Accepted Rejected
Springfield, Illinois 62701 [phone] IHPA USE ONLY (Form ASSR0886)

PHASE I CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY

FUTUREGEN INDUSTRIAL ALLIANCE, INC.
SITE CHARACTERIZATION LOCALE
MORGAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Prepared For

FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc.
1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Sixth Floor
Washington, D.C. 20004

April 2011

P.O. Box 5603 ● Springfield, Illinois 62705-5603 ● Phone [phone] / Fax [phone]
Appendix F F-3
Archaeological Survey Short Report REVIEWER
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Date:
Old State Capitol Building Accepted Rejected
Springfield, Illinois 62701 [phone] IHPA USE ONLY (Form ASSR0886)

IHPA Log #: UNASSIGNED

LOCATIONAL INFORMATION AND SURVEY CONDITIONS
County: Morgan Quadrangle: Prentice, IL 7.5 minute USGS

Project Type/Title: FutureGen Industrial Alliance--Site Characterization Locale, Morgan County, IL

Funding and/or Permitting Federal/State Agencies: U.S. Department of Energy

Township: 16 North Range: 8 West Section(s): 30

Township: 16 North Range: 9 West Section(s): 25

Project Description: A phase I cultural resource investigation of the location for drilling and access
routes for characterization activities related to the FutureGen project in Morgan County, Illinois

Topography: Uplands

Soils: Specific soils in the project area include: 36B - Tama silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes; 36C2 - Tama
silt loam, 5 to 10 percent slopes, eroded; 43A - Ipava silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes; 68 – Sable
silty clay loam; 259D2 - Assumption silt loam, 10 to 15 percent slopes, eroded; and 567C2 -
Elkhart silt loam, 5 to 10 percent slopes, eroded (Figure 2).

Drainage: Indian Creek

Land Use/Ground Cover (Include % Visibility): The Area of Potential Effect (APE) consisted of
approximately 15.3 acres of agricultural fields with 80 to 95 percent of the ground surface visible
to surveyors.

Survey Limitations: Survey limitations were minimal.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Historical Plats/Atlases/Sources: The following historical sources were examined: 1823 United States
General Land Office Plat (T16N, R8-9W), 1872 Atlas Map of Morgan County, Illinois (Andreas,
Lyter & Co.), 1894 Plat Book of Morgan County, Illinois (American Atlas Co.), and the 1983
Prentice, IL 7.5’ Topographic Map (United States Geological Survey).

The 1823 General Land Office (GLO) plat shows no improvements or that the property was
“applied for”. When a parcel is indicated as “Applied for,” the property was either occupied or
intended to be occupied at the time of the survey. Typically, the occupant or “squatter”
expressed, to the GLO surveyor, his interest in purchasing the property once it became available
from the federal government. Usually it is unknown if the property was actually improved with a
permanent building (such as a house or cabin) at the time the survey was conducted. The GLO
plats that include the APE do not indicate any cultural landmarks (such as trails, fords, or roads),
structures or farm fields within the project boundaries. This source does indicate that the majority
of the parcel was situated within prairie (Figure 3).
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Appendix F F-4
The Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Database indicates the land parcels associated with the
project areas were purchased by five individuals (William O’Rear, Isaac Robinson, Peter
Robinson, Thomas F. Stout, and Jacob Yaple) between 1827 and 1833. All land was purchased
from the federal government at the rate of $1.25 per acre (Figure 4).

The 1872 historical atlas indicates the parcels associated with the project areas as owned by
William O’Rear, Joel Corrington, and Lucretia Green (Figure 5). This source does not indicate
any structures within the APE.

The 1894 historical atlas indicates the parcels associated with the project areas as owned by L. M.
Thomas, Henry W. Beilschmidt, and Lucretia Green (Figure 6). While this source indicates a
structure intersecting the project area on the Beilschmidt property, this is most likely due to
mapping inconsistencies. No evidence of a structure or associated materials was recovered
during this investigation.

Previous Surveys/ Reported Sites: A review of IHPA records indicates that no previous surveys or sites
have been reported within the APE.

Regional Archaeologists Contacted: Databases maintained by the Illinois State Museum, the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency were reviewed.

Investigation Techniques: Pedestrian reconnaissance at 5-meter intervals was conducted within the
project area.

Field Time Expended: 10 man hours

Sites/Find Spots Located: NONE

Cultural Material: NONE

(Curated at): N/A

Collection Techniques: N/A

Area Surveyed (Acres & Square Meters): Approximately 15.3-acres (61935.36 m2).

RESULTS OF INVESTIAGATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (CHECK ONE)
(cid:1)
Phase I Archaeological Reconnaissance Has Located No Archaeological Material; Project Clearance is
Recommended.

(cid:1)
Phase I Archaeological Reconnaissance Has Located Archaeological Materials: Site(s) Does (Do) Not
Meet requirements for the National Register Eligibility; Project Clearance is Recommended.

(cid:1)
Phase I Archaeological Reconnaissance Has Located Archaeological Materials; Site(s) May Meet
Requirements for National Register Eligibility; Phase II Testing is Recommended.

(cid:1)
Phase II Archaeological Investigations Has Indicated that Site(s) Does (Do) Not Meet Requirements for
National Register Eligibility; Project Clearance is Recommended.

(cid:1)
Phase II Archaeological Investigations Has Indicated that Site(s) Meet Requirements for National
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Appendix F F-5
Register Eligibility; Formal Report is Pending and a Determination of Eligibility is Recommended.

Comments: An intensive cultural resource survey of the area proposed to be impacted by site
characterization activities associated the FutureGen project in Morgan County, Illinois was conducted on
April 25, 2011. The project area is composed of approximately 15.3-acres in agricultural use where 80-
95 percent of the ground surface was visible to field investigators.

The current investigation included an examination of historical maps and atlases pertinent to the subject
property, a computer database search of the archaeological site files maintained by the Illinois State
Museum, a review of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and a review of the Illinois
Register of Historic Sites (IRHS) maintained by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Examination
of archival and historical sources and resource databases did not identify that known prehistoric or
historic sites, areas, or artifacts may be present within the boundaries of the APE or within the immediate
vicinity of the APE.

Archaeological and cultural resource field examination of the APE included the use of pedestrian
reconnaissance at 5-meter intervals to located evidence of unknown or unreported archaeological,
historical or cultural sites, area, and artifacts. Under excellent field conditions and ground surface
exposure, field surveyors failed to find evidence of archaeological or historical resources, sites, or
structures within the boundaries where characterization activities will be conducted. Due to the APE’s
location within the interior uplands of Morgan County, it is unlikely that alluvial or colluvial depositional
conditions have resulted in the deep burial of cultural deposits or remains. As a result, geomorphological
investigative techniques to locate and assess deeply buried archaeological and historical resources or
artifacts were deemed unnecessary.

Management Summary and Conclusions
A cultural resource inventory of the area proposed for characterization activities related to the FutureGen
Industrial Alliance facility in Morgan County, Illinois included an examination of historical maps and
atlases pertinent to the subject property, a computer database search of the archaeological site files
maintained by the Illinois State Museum, and a review of the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP), a review of the Illinois Register of Historic Sites (IRHS) maintained by the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency, and field investigations utilizing a pedestrian reconnaissance at 5-meter intervals.

Based on the results of field investigations and on information collected during archival and background
research, the APE does not contain evidence for the presence of archaeological, historical, or cultural
resources, sites, areas, or artifacts. As presently conceptualized, activities related to the characterization
of the Morgan County, IL FutureGen facility will not impact cultural resources. Further, additional
cultural resource investigations are neither warranted nor recommend. State Historic Preservation Officer
concurrence and approval is requested.

Archaeological Contractor Information
Archaeological Contractor: Prairie Archaeology & Research.
Address/Phone: P.O. Box 5603, Springfield, IL 62705-5603 [phone]
Surveyors(s): Joseph Craig and Jason Rein
Survey Date(s): April 25, 2011
Report Completed By: Jason Rein and Joseph Craig
Date: April 26, 2011
Submitted By (Signature and Title): _____________________________________

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Appendix F F-6
Attachment Check List: (#1 through #4 are MANDATORY)
(cid:1)
1. Relevant Portion of USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle Map(s) showing Project Location and
Recorded Sites;
(cid:1)
2. Project Map(s) depicting Survey Limits and, when Applicable, Approximate Survey Limits, and
Concentrations of Cultural Materials;
(cid:1)
3. Site Form(s); Two Copies of Each Form;
(cid:1)
4. All Relevant Project Correspondence;
(cid:1)
5. Additional Information Sheets As Necessary

Address of Owner/Agent/Agency To Whom SHPO Comment Should Be Mailed
FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc. Contact Person: Mr. Ken Humphreys, CEO
1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Phone Number: [phone]
Sixth Floor Fax Number: n/a
Washington, D.C. 20004

U. S. Department of Energy Contact Person: Mr. Cliff Whyte, NEPA Compliance Officer
National Technology Laboratory Phone Number: [phone]
3610 Collins Ferry Road Fax Number: n/a
P. O. Box 880
Morgantown, WV 26507-0880

Review Comments:

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Appendix F F-7
REFERENCES

Andreas, Lyter & Co.
1872 Atlas Map of Morgan County, Illinois. Davenport.

American Atlas Co.
1894 Plat Book of Morgan County, Illinois. Chicago.

United States Department of Agriculture
2011 http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov

United States General Land Office
1823 General Land Survey Plats, T16N, R8-9W. Plats on file at the Illinois State
Library, Springfield, Illinois.

United States Geological Survey
1983 Prentice, IL 7.5 Minute Topographic Map

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Appendix F F-8