RE Columbia Solar Project Addendum - Phase I, Cultural Resources

130 Pages·2013·8.55 MB·English

Addendum Report: Phase I Cultural
Resources Survey for the RE Columbia Two
Solar Project, Mojave, Kern County,
California

U.S.G.S. Mojave, CA and Monolith, CA quadrangles

Prepared for:
RE Columbia Two, LLC
300 California Street, 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104

Prepared by:
Rincon Consultants
5135 Avenida Encinas, Suite A
Carlsbad, CA 92008

Authors: Robert Ramirez, M.A., RPA, Kevin Hunt, B.A.,
and Hannah Haas, B.A.

March 1, 2013

Keywords: Mojave, CA quadrangle; Monolith, CA quadrangle; Mojave; 160 acres; Standard Hill; C-S-1; C-S-2;
C-S-3; C-S-4; C-S-5; C-S-6; C-S-7; C-S-8; C-S-9; C-S-10; C-S-11; C-S-12; C-S-13; C-S-14; C-S-15; C-Iso-
1; P-15-003528; P-15-013686; P-15-014894; P-15-016262; P-15-016263; P-15-016264; ineligible; no
impacts
R. Ramirez, K. Hunt, and H. Haas
2013 Addendum Report: Phase I Cultural Resources Survey for the RE Columbia Two Solar
Project. Rincon Consultants Job No. 12-00548. Report on file at the Southern San
Joaquin Valley Information Center, Bakersfield, California.
RE Columbia Two Expansion
Cultural Resources Survey Addendum

Addendum Report: Phase I Cultural Resources Survey for the
RE Columbia Two Solar Project

Table of Contents
Page

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................... 1
Unanticipated Discovery of Cultural Resources ............................................................................... 1
Unanticipated Discovery of Human Remains ................................................................................... 2
1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Project Description ..................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Regulatory Setting ...................................................................................................................... 3
1.2.1 State ...................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2.2 Local ..................................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Personnel ..................................................................................................................................... 5
1.4 Setting .......................................................................................................................................... 5
4.0 Background Research .................................................................................................................... 5
4.1 California Historical Resources Information System ............................................................ 5
4.1.1 P-15-003528........................................................................................................................ 16
4.1.2 P-15-003549........................................................................................................................ 16
4.1.3 P-15-006676........................................................................................................................ 16
4.1.4 P-15-006677........................................................................................................................ 16
4.1.5 P-15-007725........................................................................................................................ 16
4.1.6 P-15-013683........................................................................................................................ 17
4.1.7 P-15-013686........................................................................................................................ 17
4.1.8 P-15-014894........................................................................................................................ 17
4.1.9 P-15-015523........................................................................................................................ 17
4.1.10 P-15-016262............................................................................................................................. 17
4.1.11 P-15-016263............................................................................................................................. 17
4.1.12 P-15-016264........................................................................................................................ 17
4.2 Native American Scoping ........................................................................................................... 18
5.0 Field Survey Methods .................................................................................................................. 18
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6.0 Results ............................................................................................................................................ 19
6.1 Newly Recorded Sites.............................................................................................................. 19
6.2 Previously Recorded Sites....................................................................................................... 33
7.0 Evaluations of Significance ......................................................................................................... 35
7.1 Newly Recorded Resources .......................................................................................................... 36
7.2 Updated Resources ........................................................................................................................ 38
8.0 Management Recommendations ............................................................................................... 39
8.1 Unanticipated Discovery of Cultural Resources ................................................................. 41
8.2 Unanticipated Discovery of Human Remains ..................................................................... 41
9.0 References ..................................................................................................................................... 42

Appendices
Appendix A. Project Location Map
Appendix B. Records Search Summary
Confidential Appendix C. Resource Location Map
Confidential Appendix D. Resource Records

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Rincon Consultants (Rincon) was retained by RE Columbia Two, LLC, to conduct a Phase I
cultural resources survey for a 160-acre expansion of the approved RE Columbia Two project.
The project site and gen-tie line are generally located in Mojave, Kern County, California
(Figure 1 in Appendix A).

This cultural resources technical report has been prepared as an addendum to Scott M.
Hudlow’s (2010) A Phase I Cultural Resources Survey for Seven Kern County Desert Solar Farm Sites,
Kern County, California. An initial addendum report (December 2012) included the 160-acre
expansion site; this updated addendum report includes an additional 8-mile 66 kV generation
tie (gen-tie) line to connect the Columbia Two solar project to the Southern California Edison
(SCE) Windhub Substation vie Holt Street and Oak Creek Road. This updated addendum
report was prepared to provide information for an Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) for the RE Distributed Solar Projects (Kern County, October 2011). This addendum
report does not repeat general background information contained in prior reports, including
environmental, cultural, and regulatory settings, nor does it repeat Native American scoping.
Instead, it provides the results of the updated cultural resources records searches, intensive
pedestrian survey of 160 acres adjacent to the previously analyzed area and the 8-mile gen-tie
line, records for 20 newly recorded and updated cultural resources, recommendations
regarding the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) eligibility of these resources,
and management recommendations for impact avoidance and mitigation.

Based on the results of the records search and field survey, Rincon Consultants identified 28
cultural resources within the project area: 19 historic refuse deposits, one historic mine, one
historic road and associated refuse deposit, the Los Angeles Aqueduct, one historic isolate, and
five prehistoric isolates (Figure 2 in Confidential Appendix C). Four of these resources (P-15-
003528, P-15-016262, P-15-016263, and P-15-016264) were previously recommended ineligible for
CRHR listing. Rincon concurs with these findings and recommends that the 16 newly recorded
cultural resources and seven previously recorded cultural resources (P-15-006676, P-15-006677,
P-15-007725, P-15-013683, P-15-013686, P-15-014894, and P-15-015523) also be considered
ineligible for CRHR listing. Because these 27 resources are recommended ineligible for CRHR
listing, impacts to these resources caused by implementation of the solar power facility
expansion and gen-tie line would not be significant. The Los Angeles Aqueduct (P-15-003549) is
listed in the NRHP and CRHR and will be crossed by the gen-tie line. However, the currently
proposed project will only affect the viewshed of this resource, which is not a contributing
element to its eligibility. Therefore, impacts to this resource caused by the construction of a
generation tie line would not be significant. Rincon recommends no further cultural resources
study for the Columbia Two Solar Project. Consistent with Mitigation Measures 4.5-1 and 4.5-3
of the Final EIR, the following measures are recommended in case of unanticipated discoveries.

UNANTICIPATED DISCOVERY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES

If cultural resources are encountered during ground-disturbing activities, work in the
immediate area must halt and an archaeologist meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s
Professional Qualifications Standards for archaeology (National Park Service 1983) should be
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contacted immediately to evaluate the find. If the discovery proves to be significant under
CEQA, additional work such as data recovery excavation may be warranted.

UNANTICIPATED DISCOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS

The discovery of human remains is always a possibility during ground disturbing activities; if
human remains are found, State of California Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 states that
no further disturbance shall occur until the county coroner has made a determination of origin
and disposition pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 5097.98. In the event of an
unanticipated discovery of human remains, the Kern County Coroner must be notified
immediately. If the human remains are determined to be prehistoric, the coroner will notify the
Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), which will determine and notify a most likely
descendant (MLD). The MLD shall complete the inspection of the site within 48 hours of
notification and may recommend scientific removal and nondestructive analysis of human
remains and items associated with Native American burials.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Rincon Consultants (Rincon) was retained by RE Columbia Two, LLC to conduct a cultural
resources survey of 160 acres for the proposed RE Columbia Two Solar Project expansion site
(project site) and an 8-mile 66 kV gen-tie line (gen-tie line) to connect the Columbia Two Solar
Project site to the SCE Windhub Substation. The results of this supplemental study are to be
appended to the original cultural resources report for the RE Columbia Two Solar Project
completed by Hudlow Cultural Resource Associates in 2010 (Hudlow 2010). The 160-acre
project site is located northeast of the intersection of Holt Street and Sunset Avenue,
approximately two miles southwest of the community of Mojave in Kern County, California
(Figure 1 in Appendix A). The 8-mile gen-tie line connects the Columbia Two Solar project site
to the SCE Windhub Substation via Holt Street and Oak Creek Road (Figure 1 in Appendix A).

1.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

RE Columbia Two, LLC proposes to develop photovoltaic solar fields southwest of the city of
Mojave. The three approved RE Columbia sites total 50 MW of photovoltaic (PV) solar electrical
generation. RE Columbia and RE Columbia Two are both approved at 20 megawatts (MW),
while RE Columbia 3 is 10 MW. The facilities will include PV panels mounted on steel and
aluminum structures, a solar substation, equipment pads, and associated infrastructure, such as
access roads and fencing. The RE Columbia Two Expansion will include an additional 15 MW
on 160 acres, with a reconfiguration of the arrays at the approved RE Columbia and RE
Columbia Two sites adding 5 MW. The addition of the Columbia 66kV gen-tie line will connect
the Columbia Solar Project sites to the SCE Windhub Substation.

1.2 REGULATORY SETTING

1.2.1 State

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency to determine whether
a project may have a significant effect on historical resources (Section 21084.1). If it can be
demonstrated that a project will cause damage to a unique archaeological resource, the lead
agency may require reasonable efforts be made to permit any or all of these resources to be
preserved in place or left in an undisturbed state. To the extent that resources cannot be left
undisturbed, mitigation measures are required (Section 21083.2[a], [b], and [c]).

Section 21083.2(g) defines a unique archaeological resource as an archaeological artifact, object, or
site about which it can be clearly demonstrated that without merely adding to the current body
of knowledge, there is a high probability that it meets any of the following criteria:
1) Contains information needed to answer important scientific research questions and that
there is a demonstrable public interest in that information;
2) Has a special and particular quality such as being the oldest of its type or the best
available example of its type; or
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3) Is directly associated with a scientifically recognized important prehistoric or historic
event or person.

A historical resource is a resource listed in, or determined to be eligible for listing, in the CRHR
(Section 21084.1), a resource included in a local register of historical resources (Section
15064.5[a][2]), or any object, building, structure, site, area, place, record, or manuscript that a
lead agency determines to be historically significant (Section 15064.5[a][3]).
1.2.2 Local

Kern County General Plan
The policies, goals, and implementation measures in the Kern County General Plan that pertain
to cultural resources are provided below.

1.10.3 Archaeological, Paleontological, Cultural, and Historical Preservation (General
Provisions in the Land Use, Open Space, and Conservation Element)

Policy

Policy 25: The County will promote the preservation of cultural and historic resources that
provide ties with the past and constitute a heritage value to residents and visitors.

Implementation Measures

• Measure K: Coordinate with the California State University, Bakersfield’s Archaeology
Inventory Center.

• Measure L: The County shall address archaeological and historical resources for
discretionary projects in accordance with CEQA.

• Measure M: In areas of known paleontological resources, the County should address the
preservation of these resources where feasible.

• Measure N: The County shall develop a list of Native American organizations and
individuals who desire to be notified of proposed discretionary projects. This
notification will be accomplished through the established procedures for discretionary
projects and CEQA documents.

• Measure O: On a project specific basis, the County Planning Department shall evaluate
the necessity for the involvement of a qualified Native American monitor for grading or
‐
other construction activities on discretionary projects that are subject to a CEQA
document.

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Mojave Specific Plan

RE Columbia Two Solar Project is located within the Mojave Specific Plan sphere of influence
which contains the following relevant goals, policies, and implementation measures concerning
cultural resources:

• Objective 7.2: Preserve and expand historical and community resources.
• Policy 7.2.1: Support private efforts to enhance and promote historical and community
resources.

1.3 PERSONNEL

Rincon Cultural Resources Program Manager Kevin Hunt, B.A., managed the cultural resources
study and co-authored this report. Cultural Resources Principal Investigator Robert Ramirez,
M.A., Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA), served as field director for the survey of the
160 acre project site, principal investigator for this study, and was primary author of this report.
Archaeologist Hannah Haas, B.A., served as field crew for the survey of both the 160 acre
project site and the eight-mile gen-tie and co-authored this report. Archaeologists K. Ross Way,
A.A. and Ashley Ginther, B.A., participated in the survey of the eight-mile gen-tie line. GIS
Analyst Katherine Warner, B.A. and B.S., prepared Figure 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b in Appendix A.
Katherine Warner and Craig Huff, Program Manager – Information Technology and Graphics
Services, prepared the remainder of the figures found in Appendices C and D.

1.4 SETTING

The environmental setting and cultural context for the RE Columbia Solar Project are discussed
in Hudlow 2010 and are not reiterated in this addendum report.

4.0 BACKGROUND RESEARCH

4.1 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
SYSTEM

At Rincon’s request on December 20, 2012 and again on February 20, 2013, the Southern San
Joaquin Valley Information Center (SSJVIC) located at California State University, Bakersfield,
conducted searches of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS). The
searches were conducted to identify all previously performed cultural resources work within
the project site and gen-tie corridor and a 0.5-mile radius around it, as well as to identify
previously recorded cultural resources within or near the project site and gen-tie corridor. The
CHRIS searches included a review of the NRHP, the CRHR, the California Points of Historical
Interest list, the California Historical Landmarks list, the Archaeological Determinations of
Eligibility list, and the California State Historic Resources Inventory list. The records searches
also included a review of all available historic USGS 7.5- and 15-minute quadrangle maps.

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The December SSJVIC records search identified seven previous cultural resource studies within
a 0.5 mile radius of the 160-acre project site, one of which (KE-01111) included a portion of the
project area (Table 1). One additional study (Hudlow 2010) was not on file at SSJVIC but
provided by RE Columbia Two, LLC.

The February SSJVIC records search identified 45 additional previous cultural resource studies
within a half-mile radius of the gen-tie line, 28 of which included a portion of the gen-tie line
(Table 1). The National Archaeological Database listings for these studies from each records
search are included with the records search summary in Appendix B.

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