20171218PAC to Staff Wyoming 17-070D Report.pdf

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Services,Inc.August 17,2017
contract archaeoropicar Robert Hamilton
annasconcar
.Sr.Environmental/Cultural AnalystCuftura[tesourceConsuttmg Rocky Mountain Power
1359 W North Temple
Salt Lake City,UT 84116
RE:Gateway West Transmission Line Project 2017 Geotechnical Bore Hole
Locations 3-155 and 03-603A,Class III cultural resource inventory
(17-WAS-070D)
Dear Robert:
Enclosed is the redacted (43 CFR 7.18)Class III cultural resource inventory
report for the proposed Gateway West Transmission Line Project 2017
Geotechnical Bore Hole Locations 3-155 and 03-603A in Sweetwater County.
It is recommended that an archaeologist monitor the mobile,rubber-tired
drillingrigs overland access and drillingof both Bore Holes 3-155 and 06-603A
to help prevent any inadvertent adverse effects.The monitor will ensure the
proposed undertaking will result in no adverse effect.The objectives of the
inventoryhave been met.
If you have any questions concerning this report or if we can be of further
assistance,please call our office.
Sincerely,
Stacy Goodrick
Principal Investigator
1600 ©ewar©nve
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w p0Q 382-9506 Enclosures
cc:Tom Milter -BLM Rock Springs Field Office (2 full copies)
ses çea "a Bonni Bruce -BLM Rawlins Field Office (pdf)%ifú,¾¥82601
(309472-1021 Sharon Knowlton -BLM WyomingState Office (pdf)
06473-8132 Sarah Creer -SWCA Environmental Consultants df)
www.westernarchaeo[ogicaßervices.com
Results ofthe
Class HI Cultural Resource lnventoryReport
for the
Rocky Mountain Power Company
Gateway West Transmission Line Project
2017 Geotechnical Bore Hole Locations 3-155 and 03-603A
Sweetwater County,Wyoming
17-WAS-070D
By
Matthew D.Kautzman
prepared for
Rocky Mountain Power Company
submitted to the
Wyoming Bureau of Land Management
Rock Springs Field Office
by
Stacy Goodrick
Principallnvestigator
under Federal Cultural Resource Use Permit No.
010-WY-SR15
and Limited Testing Permit No.
374-WY-LTC17
Western ArchaeologicalServices
Rock Springs,Wyoming
August 17,2017
ABSTRACT
During the 2017 field season,Western Archaeological Services (WAS)conducted a Class
III inventory for the Rocky Mountain Power Gateway West Transmission Line Project 2017
Geotechnical Bore Hole Locations.This report details the inventoryof two (2)bore holes (Bore
Holes 3-155 and 03-603A)aligned along the Shirley Basin to Jim Bridger segment of the Gateway
West transmission line within the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management Rock Springs
Field Office,Sweetwater County.The purpose of the inventorywas to identify cultural resources
and to determine whether any significant cultural resources exist in project area.This report details
the results of the inventory.
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DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT/UNDERTAKING
On August 3 and 4,2017,Matthew Kautzman (crew supervisor),Mike Roich,and John
Thomas of Western Archaeological Services (WAS)conducted a Class III inventory for the
proposed Rocky Mountain Power Company,Gateway West Transmission Line (GWW),Shirley
Basin (SB)to Jim Bridger (JB)segment,2017 Geotechnical Bore Holes project.Fieldwork
authorization was obtained from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)Rock Springs Field
Office (RSFO)on May 17,2017 and August 9,2017.
This report details the investigation of two (2)individual bore hole locations (3-155 and
03-603A)along the GWW,SB to JB transmission line on private land within the jurisdiction of
the BLM RSFO.The two boring locations are located within the portion of the transmission line
located between the Aeolus and Bridger Substations,(Figure 1).The Aeolus Substation is located
in the NW¼of Section 35,T24N,R80W,Carbon County,Wyoming.The transmission line trends
south from the substation approximately ¼mile then turns west.The transmission line trends
generally west for approximately 7 miles,then turns southwest and continues approximately 17
miles to Walcott where it resumes a westerly course,roughlyparallel to the south of Interstate 80,
to Tipton.Just east of Tipton,the transmission line turns northwest and crosses over the interstate,
then continues westward,roughly parallel to the north of the interstate another 22 miles.The
transmission line then turns north-northwest and continues to the Jim Bridger substation in the
SW¼of Section 3,T20N,Rl01W,Sweetwater County.
The proposed undertaking consists of drillingdeep borings from which soil and/or bedrock
will be sampled to analyze the engineering properties of the soil and bedrock.The borings will
measure approximately 6 to 8 inches in diameter,and average 40 foot in depth.Each bore location
will require a 40 ft2 WOrk area.The drillingand sampling activities will be conducted with a truck
mounted or all terrain drill rig,water truck,4WD support vehicle and a 4WD transport vehicle.
Surface disturbance is limited to the bore hole,vegetation crushing by parked vehicles,and foot
traffic.
The bore holes will be advanced with either continuous flight hollow stem auger,mud
rotary,or ODEX drillingtechniques.Drill fluids associated with mud drilling will be stored in an
above ground container and recycled during and after the drillingphase in order to minimize water
runoff at the site.In instances where excess drill water exits the bore hole,a trench less than 6 in
deep,12 in wide,and 10 ft long may be dug to move water away from the work area.Upon the
completion of the drilling process,all bore holes will be backfilled,and if a trench is used to
redirect excess water,it will be backfilled.Excess soil will be thin spread (few inches)in an area
less than 10 ft2
Drill rig access will be necessary from the nearest existing road to the actual drill site.No
new permanent or temporary roads will be constructed.To minimize disturbance,existing roads
will be utilized where possible as access points to the drill sites.In the case of drill sites located
near existing roads,these sites will be no more than 100 feet off the road surface,just far enough
that traffic is not impeded,drill site workers are safe from traffic,and disturbance is minimized.
Where overland travel is necessary,vehicles will avoid concentrations of thick vegetation,
drainage bottoms,surface water,wetlands,steep slopes,and other sensitive areas to minimize
environmental impacts.All disturbance associated with the 2017 geotechnicalprogram including
overland travel will be contained entirely within disturbance associated with construction of
structures and access routes for the eventualtransmission line construction.Prior to drilling,field
crews will receive a series of site maps,showing existing roads and cleared overland travel routes
from the existing road to the drill site.Federal involvement in the undertaking includes the review
of all permits to cross public lands,and administrative responsibility for all affected cultural
resources.
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Figure 1.Map showing the proposed Rocky Mountain Power Gateway West,Shirley Basin to Jim Bridger Transmission Line n
Sweetwater and Carbon Counties,WY.
This report documents Bore Holes 3-155 and 03-603A (Figures 2 and 3).Table 1 presents
summary information for each of the inventoried boring locations.The direct area of potential
effect (APE)for each bore hole is a five-acre inventoryblock (centered on the bore hole)and a
100-foot corridor for overland access (BLM 2013).No indirect APE was indicated by the lead
agency;however,a 5-mile indirect APE will be required for the construction of the GWW.No
auditory or atmospheric issues are anticipated.
A total of two 5-acre blocks surrounding the bore hole locations (10 acres total on private
land)was inventoried during the project.Linear inventories of a 100-foot-wide corridor of the
overland routes was conducted.Existing two-track roads and existing improved roads were not
inventoried.Overland access routes were inventoried to Bore Holes 3-155 and 03-603A during the
current project for a total of2.08 acres on private land.A grand total of 12.08 acres was inventoried
during the current project on private land.Figures 4-7 are general overview photographs of the
bore hole areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
The proposed GWW,SB to JB GeotechnicalBore Holes project crosses an expansive area
of south-centralWyoming.The environmental setting in this region of Wyoming is highly varied
and ranges from the sparsely vegetated open expanses of the Red Desert to the diverse,well-
watered,Medicine Bow River flood plains.The present environmental description is not a detailed
discussion of each bore-hole location;rather,it is intended to be a broad description of the
dominant environmental settings present in the project area.
Located in the larger Wyoming Basin physiographic province (Fenneman 1931),the
Aeolus to Bridger portion of the proposed transmission line begins to the west of the southerly
projection of the Freezeout Mountains,descends into the Medicine Bow River Valley,and follows
the north side of the river west briefly before crossing south into Hanna-Carbon Basin featuring
coal-bearing sandstone,shale,and conglomerate belonging to the Hanna Formation (Love and
Christiansen 1985).Continuing across the Hanna-Carbon Basin the project alignment turns
generally west and traverses the southern portion of the Rawlins Uplift,crossing the North Platte
River en route.The Rawlins Uplift is a heavily-faultedarch dividing the Hanna-Carbon Basin on
the east,from the Great Divide Basin on the west.It is characterized primarily by a series of steeply
inclined outcrops of Cretaceous-aged shale and sandstone bedrock separated by narrow,generally
flat and featureless valleys.Continuing its westerly trend,the project alignment heads across the
Great Divide Basin,a closed sedimentary basin.Generally flat-lying,playas forming expanses of
claystone and mudstone bedrock punctuated by occasional sandstone outcrops and conglomerate
lenses characterize the Great Divide Basin,with the Main Body of the Wasatch Formation
comprising the western two-thirds and the comparatively older,but nearly geologically identical
Paleocene-to Eocene-aged Battle Spring Formation comprising the eastern third.The Bridger
substation is located in the eastern portion of the Rock Springs Uplift,an ellipticalanticlinal
structure that slowlyuplifted during the Cretaceous period.It is characterized by hogback features
along eastern flanks and cuestas along western flanks.Surficial geology of the Rock Springs Uplift
is composed of numerous formations of varying lithologies,although sandstone,shale and
claystone are common constituents (Love and Christiansen 1985).Throughoutthe project area
there are numerous escarpments,buttes,benches,ridges,plateaus,and terraces of varyingsize that
are created by a generally dendritic pattern of ephemeral,intermittent,perennial,and permanent
waterways.Figure 8 shows the location of the GWW transmission line on the WyomingLandform
Map (WY SHPO 2017).
Vegetation communities in the project area vary between riparian woodland zone,
bottomland and upland big sagebrush shrubland zones,greasewood shrubland zone,saltbush
shrubland zone,hillside fringed sage and grassland zone,mixed mountain shrubland zone,and
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PREFERREDGasWelNEDOVERLAND
ACC
essox ACCESS
ROAD
5 AC BLOCK
RY 3 L '
BORE HOLE
TION ---
T19N
a o inTIoy -
Figure 2.USGS topographic map showing the location of the Rocky Mountain Power
Company,Gateway West Transmission Line.Bore Hole Location 3-155 and
known cultural resources located in Section 31,T20N,Rl00W,Sweetwater County
Wyoming,(Bitter Creek NW,WY,1968,photorevised 1980,1:24,000).
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BLM
omrioBLM
OVERLAND
ACCESS
BORE HOLE
AC 03-603A
IPE NES
Scale 1"2000
--j-¯
Figure 3.USGS topographic map showing the location of the Rocky Mountain Power
Company,Gateway West Transmission Line.Bore Hole Location 03-603A located
in Section 5,Tl9N,R99W,Sweetwater County Wyoming,and known cultural
resources (Bitter Creek NE,WY,1968,photorevised 1980,1:24,000).
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Table 1.Summary of Bore Holes 3-157 and 3-603A.
Boring #3-155 03-603A
Crew Chief Matthew Kautzman Matthew Kautzman
Field Date 8/3/2017 8/4/2017
Land Owner Private,Anadarko Land Corporation Private,Anadarko Land Corporation
Quad Map Bitter Creek NE,WY Bitter Creek NW,WY
1968,photorevised 1978 1968,photorevised 1978
T/R/S T20N,Rl00W,Sec 5 Tl9N,R99W,Sec 5
Aliquots (anchor)SE SW SE NW (SW)NW NE NE SW (SW
Latitude 41.6b68145 41.652305
Longitude -108.728639 -108.591857
Bore location (NAD 83)
Zone 12 12
UTM mE 689089 700526
UTM mN 4615424 4613974
Overland Access Road Yes ~800 ft Yes~100 ft
Start point 689302 mE,4615655 mN 701095 mE,4614044 mN
End point 689089 mE,4615424 mN 700526 mE,4613974 mN
Topographic setting Broad valley Interfluvial ridge system
50%sagebrush,bunchgrass,rabbitbrush,prickly 50%sagebrush,bunchgrass,rabbitbrush,prickly
Vegetation pear cactus pear cactus
Residual silty loam with clast material Residual silty loam with clast material and
Soils outcrops of sandstone bedrock
Cultural Resources in APE 48SWl834 (Lincoln Highway pre-1913 variant,48SW1834 (Lincoln Highway 1920s variant)
1920s variant,1930s variant)
Effect No Adverse Effect No Adverse Effect
Recommendation No further work Monitor access and bore hole drilling
Notes/Comments
Map Figure #2 3
Photo Figure #4-5,and 9-10 6-7,and 11-12
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Figure 4.Project overview photograph from the proposed access road take-off southwest along
the old road bed towards the proposed Bore Hole 3-155.Photo taken by Matt
Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph has not been modified.
Figure 5.Project overview photograph from the proposed Bore Hole 3-155 northeast towards
the access road take-off.Photo taken by Matt Kautzman on August 4,2017.The
photograph has not been modified.
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Figure 6.Project overview photograph from the access road take off southwest towards the
proposed Bore Hole 03-603A.Photo taken by Matt Kautzman on August 4,2017.
The photograph has not been modified.
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Figure 7.Project overview photograph from the proposed Bore Hole 03-603A northeast
towards the access road take-off.Photo takenby Matt Kautzman on August 4,2017.
The photograph has not been modified.
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GREEN
MVER
BASW
nsAT
SR
Gateway West Tr missio LI
RIVER\ansa
Figure 8.Wyominggeologic landform map showing the location of the Gateway West Transmission Line (WY SHPO 2017).
high elevation grassland zone.Though numerous vegetation communities are present in the
project area,certain plant types are fairly homogenous throughout and include big sagebrush,
sagebrush,rabbitbrush,greasewood,fringed sage,Indian ricegrass,and several varieties of
wheatgrass.It is important to note that the riparian woodland zone is limited to the well-watered
portions of the project area along the North Platte River and Medicine Bow River flood plains.
Ground visibility ranged from 50-90%.The factors that have affected site preservation in the
project area primarily include wind erosion and sheet wash,the development of natural gas
resources,and ranching activities.The factors that may affect the discovery of sites include
vegetation density,including dense grasses in small meadows.In areas of dense grass,the
inventorywas conducted at a greatly reduced speed.See Table 1 for specific bore hole topographic,
vegetation,and soils information.
PRESENT BUILT ENVIRONMENT
The bore holes are located along the eastern side of the Rock Springs Uplift,2 to 9 miles
southeast of the town of Point of Rocks,and 7 to 11 miles northwest of Bitter Creek.The current
project is situated within the checker board in an area utilized primarily for ranching,
transportation,energy exploration includingcoal mining,and energy transmission.
The present built environment includes a series of modern and two-track roads,pipeline
and buried cable corridors,and above ground powerlines.The Bridger Coal and Black Butte strip
mines are located between the two bore holes.The Bridge mine and power plant are located north
of Interstate 80 and Black Butte mine is located south of Interstate 80.Bore Hole 3-155 is
surrounded by modern development including Interstate 80 to the south (Figure 9),and pipeline
and buried cable corridors,a countyroad,and overhead powerlines to the north (Figure 10).Bore
Hole 03-603A contains a pipeline corridor,overhead powerline,and well location to the north
(Figure l 1),and Interstate 80 and back dirt piles associated with Black Butte to the southwest
(Figure 12).
BACKGROUND RESEARCII
A file search was received from the Wyoming State Historic PreservationOffice (SHPO),
Cultural Records Division on May 17,2017 (FS#33263).An updated file search was received on
June 31,2017 (33610).Records at WAS,and General Land Office (GLO)maps were also
consulted.The file search included sections in which the proposed bore holes and/or proposed
overland access routes were located ...(Omitted text as per BLM Regulations)
Historic Built Environment
The bore holes are located along the eastern margin of the Rock Springs Uplift in the
southwest portion of Wyoming.Based on the ground survey,GLOs,and aerial photographs,the
most obvious historic land alterations in the direct APE is transportation and energy transmission.
The three proposed bore holes are located in an area that has been historicallyutilized primarily
for ranching.
The study area is located within southwest Wyoming,ca.30-37 miles east of Rock Springs,
Wyoming.Based on the ground survey,GLOs,and aerial photographs,the most obvious land
alterations include Interstate80.Development is present along the north and south of the interstate
corridor with numerous upgraded roads,buried pipelines,overhead powerlines,and associated
infrastructure present.The Bridger powerplant and coal mine are located to the north and the
Black Butte coal mine is located to the south of the project areas.The Union Pacific Railroad is
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Figure 9.Project overview photograph from Bore Hole 3-155 facing south,note Interstate 80.
Photo taken by Matt Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph has not been
modified.
Figure 10.Project overview photograph from Bore Hole 3-155 facing north,note pipeline
corridors,countyroad and overhead powerlines.Photo taken by Matt Kautzman on
August 4,2017.The photograph has not been modified.
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Figure 11.Project overview photograph from Bore Hole 03-603A facing north,note pipeline,
overhead powerline and well location.Photo taken by Matt Kautzman on August 4,
2017.The photograph has not been modified.
Figure 12.Project overview photograph from Bore Hole 03-603A facing southwest,note
Interstate 80 and Black Butte spoil piles.Photo taken by Matt Kautzman on August
4,2017.The photograph has not been modified.
14
located to the south and west of the project area.Two-track roads are ubiquitous and reflect
continued use of the area,first by wagons and currentlyby four-wheel vehicles.Multipletwo-
track roads are present in the surrounding area.Many of these two-tracks serve as access to various
water sources,fence lines,and stock-herding camps.Others have been utilized by energy-related
traffic includingsurveying and seismic studies.An examination of the 1884 and 1912 GLO plats
for Tl9N,R99W shows the Union Pacific Railroad present to the southeast.No developmentwas
noted within Section 5 containing the bore hole.
An examination of the 1884 and 1912 GLO plats for T20N,Rl00W,shows limited
development in the area.The 1912 GLO shows a road in Section 31 that appears to have been
incorporated in the 1920s as part of the Lincoln Highway.
SURVEY METHODS
Extent of Survey Coverage
Standard 30-meter-wide transects were employed for coverage of both the 5-acre block
areas and 100 ft wide linear inventories.Where present,subsurface deposits exposed in cut banks,
road cuts,animal burrows,or animal trails were examined.Ant hills were examined for the
presence of micro-artifacts,includingpressure flakes or small beads.
Collection Policies
Collection policies employedby WAS are in line with policies established by the Wyoming
State BLM Office and BLM Field Offices.No collections were made during the current project.
WEATHER AND GROUND CONDITIONS
Weather conditions during the fieldwork phase of this project included typical summer
season conditions in south central Wyoming.Temperatures ranged between 65°and 95°
Fahrenheit (F),variable winds from the west and northwest ranged from 5 to 20 miles-per-hour
(mph)with occasional gusts up to 25 mph,cloud cover varied between partly cloudyto clear skies.
No rain showers occurred during the course of the fieldwork.No alterationsto standard WAS field
methodology resulted from these weather conditions.The field conditions prevalent during the
fieldwork phase of this project had no effect on the results of this project.
INVENTORY RESULTS
The Class III inventoryfor the GWW,SB to JB Geotechnical Bore Holes 3-155 and 03-
603A resulted in the identification of four variants of the Lincoln Highway (48SWl834).Three
variants consisting of a pre-1913 variant,1920's variant,48SW1834_158,and 1930's variant,
48SW1834_157 are associated with Bore Hole 3-155 (see Figure 2;Figure 13)and one 1920's
variant,48SW1834_144 was associated with Bore Hole 03-603A (see Figure 3).
48SW1834,The Lincoln Highway
Site Description
The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the United States.The
WyomingAssociation was a voluntarygroup formed in 1912 to promote the developmentof routes
through Wyoming.In 1913,The Lincoln HighwayAssociation endorsed a southerlyroute across
the state to connect Wyominginto the transcontinental system (Larson 1978:407).This route
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2017Go a gle Earth
Figure 13.Google Earth map showing the location of the proposed 3-155 bore hole,preferred overland access route,variants of the
Lincoln Highway,and numerous modern visual and physical impacts.
roughlyparalleled the Union Pacific Railroad corridor and the Overland Trail.Initiallythe Lincoln
Highway was nothing more than a designated ephemeral route,consisting of two-track roads,
township and countyroads,fencelines,and trails,with only a few portions in the Midwest being
paved (Francis 1994:2-3).Starting in the 1920s the federal government began to assume the
responsibility for maintaining the road systems.This resulted in the Lincoln Highway being
reengineered in 1920.The 1920s ushered in an era of various projects with upgraded roads
including a more regulated use of some form of paving and crown-and-ditch road embankments
for drainage.The Lincoln Highwaywas replaced by the construction of Highway30 around 1930.
In many areas,Highway 30 was built on top of the Lincoln Highway.Highway30 went through
a number of modifications includingbeing reengineered in 1937.The construction of Interstate
80 in the early 1960s ended the use of Highway 30.The interstate utilized some of the same
alignment as Highway30.Manyareas of Highway30 that were not incorporated into the interstate
system have been dismantled with the removal of bridges,culverts,and later the pavement.
Pre-1913 Variant of the Lincoln Highway (Bitter Creek NW195)
This segment appears to represent a pre-1913 alignment of what would become the 1920s
Lincoln Highway.The remains of this route in Section 31,T20N,Rl00W,corresponds to the
approximate route of the later 1920s Lincoln Highway.The earlier segment is offset along the
northern side of the 1920s alignment (see Figure 2).The earlier road consists of a low road bed
with a rock culvert that trends in a northwest-southeast direction on a broad upland plain.
Deposition consists of residuum,regolith,and colluvium.Vegetation includes sagebrush,
greasewood,pricklypear cactus,bunchgrass,and low forbs.
The segment consists of a roughly 900 ft long portion of a pre1913 road bed that is
approximately 5 to 6 m wide and up to .30 cm in height (Figures 14-15).The road bed does not
contain road base or borrow ditches.An intact rock culvert was noted in the northern portion of
the road segment.The rock culvert measured 4.3 m in length across the road bed,consisting of
four to five courses of dried laid tabular sandstone (Figures 16-17).The culvert is ca.26 cm in
depth and channel is ca.50 cm wide (Figure 18).Additional pieces of sandstone were laid across
the top of the road bed,extending ca.lm in each direction likely to solidify the sediment around
the structure.Wood planks or a wooden bridge likely spanned the culvert.
Modern impacts to the pre-1913 road resulted from the construction of the 1920s Lincoln
Highway,which has incorporated the majority of this alignment in this area.The northern extent
of the road has also been impacted by a pipeline corridor.A modern upgradedroad,that has now
been reclaimed bisects the pre-1913 road,ca.8 m northeast of the rock culvert.WAS has
recommended that the preferred overland access to the bore hole utilize this existing road to avoid
any additional impacts to the pre-1913 road alignment (see Figures 2 and 13).
Evaluation
The overall Lincoln Highway is evaluated as eligible for nomination to the NRHP with
SHPO concurrence under Criterion A.The pre-1913 segment noted in association with Bore Hole
3-155 has not been previouslydocumented.The segment is recommended as supporting the NRHP
status of the Lincoln Highway.
This evaluation follows the seven aspects of integrity contained in the National Park
Service,National Register Bulletin No.15,pages 44-45.
1.Location:Integrityof location is the place where the historic property was constructed or
the place where the historic event occurred.The pre-1913 segment retains Integrity of
Location.The segment contains intact road remains which represent the location of the
pre-1913 variant of the highway.
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Figure 14.Photographfacing southeast from the west end of the pre-1913s variant of the Lincoln
Highway.Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph
has not been modified.
Figure 15.Photographfacing northwest from the east end of the pre-1913s variant of the Lincoln
Highway.Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph
has not been modified.
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Figure 16.Photograph of rock culvert facing southeast along the pre-1913s variant of the
Lincoln Highway.Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The
photographhas not been modified.
Figure 17.Photograph of rock culvert facing northwest along the pre-1913s variant of the
Lincoln Highway.Note modern road bed that bisects the pre-1913 road alignment.
Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photographhas not been
modified.
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Figure 18.Photograph of rock culvert facing northeast along the pre-1913s variant of the
Lincoln Highway.Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The
photograph has not been modified.
1.Design:Integrity of design is the combination of elements that create the form,plan,space,
structure,and style of a property.The pre-1913 segment retains integrityof design in that
it remains a narrow 20 ft wide road for which it was originally intended in the 1910s.The
earthen roadbed does not contain a gravel base or asphalt.
3.Setting:Integrity of setting is the physical environment of an historic property.The
Integrity of Setting has been significantlyimpacted by modern development.The obvious
modern visual intrusion includes the Interstate 80 corridor immediately to the southwest
and a series of pipelines,buried cables,and improved countyroad located immediately to
the northeast.The modern development dominates the landscape.
4.Materials:Integrity of materials is the physical elements that were combined or deposited
during a particular period of time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form an
historic property.Integrity of Materials generally refers to components within a built
feature such as a building or a structure.No Lincoln Highwaymaterials were noted along
this segment.
5.Workmanship:Integrity of workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a
particular culture or people during any given period in history or prehistory.The segment
retains integrity of workmanship.This segment of the roadbed is a low narrow berm which
was built with minimal mechanization.
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6.Feeling:Integrity of feeling is a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of
a particular period of time.The pre-1913 segment does possess integrity of feeling.The
road segment recorded for this project is a portion of the abandoned pre-1913 segment of
the Lincoln Highwaywhich has seen little maintenance since it was abandoned prior to the
1920s.There is a sense of the dust,the heat,the cold,the rattle of cars,and the smells and
sounds of the automobile ride along the Lincoln Highwayduring the twentieth century.
7.Association:Integrityof association is the direct link between an important historic event
or person and an historic property.Impacts to setting have created a significant impact to
this segment of the road system however,the segment retains physical integrity and
therefore the Integrity of Association has not been completely impacted.The pre-1913
road can provide the direct link between the historic use of Lincoln Highway and the
modern road segment.
The pre-1913 Lincoln Highway segment is recommended as contributing to the NRHP
eligible Lincoln Highway.The segment consists of a shallow berm with a rock culvert.The
segment was abandoned in the 1920s when the later Lincoln Highway variant was built.The
alignment was likelystraightened in this area resulting is this 900 ft remnant not being incorporated
into the upgrade road bed.This segment sees little modem traffic.The segment retains Integrity
of Location,Design,Materials,Workmanship,Feeling,and Association.The segment design and
appearance is consistent with other pre-1920s Lincoln Highwaysegments recorded in the adjacent
area.The segment retains physical integrityin that there have been no significant alterations to the
road bed followingabandonment.The Integrity of Setting has been significantly impacted by
modem development.Visual impacts to the segment include Interstate 80,modem pipelines and
buried cables,fiber-optic lines,modem power lines,and a County Road.The Integrity of Setting
does not contribute to the NRHP status of this early segment of the Lincoln Highway.The
presence of a rock culvert also adds to the Integrity of Design,Materials,Workmanship,and
Association.The preferred overland access to Bore Hole 3-155 takes off from the 1930s segment
of the Lincoln Highway/wellmaintained countyroad (see Figure 1).
Effects and Recommendation
The original overland access to Bore Hole 3-155 crossed a contributingportion of pre-1913
segment of the Lincoln Highway.The preferred overland road will use a reclaimed road bed to
access the bore hole.This previouslydisturbed crossing is recommended as a non-contributing
portion of the pre-1913 Lincoln Highway (see Figure 13;Figure 19).Rubber-wheeled vehicles
leaving the roadbed and confined to the reclaimed road bed will create no adverse effect to the
Lincoln Highway.No further work is recommended.
1920's Variant of the Lincoln Highway,48SW1834_158,(Bitter Creek NW152)
The 1920's variant of the Lincoln Highway (48SW1834_158)has previously been
documented extending northwest-southeast through Sections 5 and 6,Tl9N,Rl00W,and Section
31,T20N,Rl00W (see Figure 2).The historic road consists of a 26 ft wide (8 m)low roadbed
with borrow ditches along both sides (Nelson 2009).The roadbed in this area appears to have
been covered with gravel and was oiled,but not paved (Figures 20-21).The historic road grade
has been impacted in numerous areas by pipelines,buried cables,fiber optic lines,overhead
powerlines,the 1930s variant of the Lincoln Highway/CountyRoad,and Interstate 80 (see Figure
2 and 13).
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Figure 19.Photograph of modern road bed/preferred overland access road from the 1920's
Lincoln Highway crossing facing northeast.Note location of pre-1913 Lincoln
Highway and rock culvert.Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.
The photograph has been modified with labeling.
The preferred Bore Hole 3-155 overland access route will cross the 1920s variant of the
Lincoln Highwayin the SE¼NW¼NW¼SE¼NW¼of Section 31,T20N,R100W,on an existing
bladedroad (see Figure 2 and 13).This segment of the Lincoln Highwayis located 400 ft northeast
of Interstate 80.The road is a discontinuous berm up to 0.5 m in height,that has been impacted
by a series of modern developments in the area.
Evaluation
The Lincoln Highway has previouslybeen evaluated as eligible for nomination to the
NRHP with SHPO concurrence.Segment 48SW1834 158 has been previouslydetermined as
non-contributingwith SHPO concurrence (Nelson 2009)¯
The proposed Bore Hole 3-155 overland
access will cross the non-contributing1920s variant of the Lincoln Highwayon an existing bladed
road.The segment was abandoned in the late 1930s when the later Lincoln Highway alignment
was constructed.The segment is located in an area that exhibits poor integrity of setting due to
extensive modern development and exhibits considerable physical impacts by numerous pipeline
corridors,telephonelines,natural erosion,an improved county road and Interstate 80.This variant
is considered noncontributingwith SHPO concurrence and does not contribute to the overall
NRHP eligibilityof the Lincoln Highway.WAS concurs with this recommendation.
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MODERN
ROAD BEDI
PREFERRED
OVERLAND
ACCESS ROAD
Figure 20.Photograph north of Bore Hole 3-155 facing southeast along the 1920's Lincoln
Highway,which consists of a crown-and-ditch road berm.Note modern road
disturbance.Photo takenby Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph
has been modified with labels.
Figure 21.Photograph north of Bore Hole 3-155 facing northwest along the 1920's Lincoln
Highway,which consists of a crown-and-ditch road berm.Photo taken by Matthew
Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph has not been modified.
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Effects and Recommendation
This 1920s segment does not contribute to the NRHP eligibilityof Lincoln Highway.The
portion of the historic road has been heavily physically and visually impacted by modern
development.The preferred overland access to the proposed Bore Hole 3-155 will utilize a
reclaimed crowned-and-ditched road to cross this non-contributingsegment (see Figures 2 and
13).Based on the non-contributingstatus of this segment of the Lincoln Highway,the proposed
undertaking will result in no adverse effect.No further work is recommended.
1920's Variant of the Lincoln Highway,48SW1834_144,(Bitter Creek NE 22)
The proposed Bore Hole 03-603A overland access route will take-off from the 1920's
variant of the Lincoln Highway located on public land in the NE¼SW¼NE¼SE¼NW¼of
Section 31,T20N,Rl00W (see Figure 3).This variant of the Lincoln Highway(48SWl834_144)
has previously been documented by Mariah in 1993,URS in 2010,and WAS in 2012.This
segment consists of a portion of the Lincoln Highwaybuilt to 1920's standards.While the segment
does not correspond to the plot of the existing road on the Wyoming State HighwayDepartment
plats,the segment can be directly linked to know 1920s Lincoln Highway segments at both the
west and east ends (Johnson 2012).The segment is approximately 24 ft wide,consisting of a low
berm with a borrow ditches along both sides (Figure 22 and 23).The road appears to have been
cut into the side of the ridge along the southside of the road as it trends upslope to the east from
the bore hole take-off (see Figure 3).The roadbed in this area appears to have been covered with
gravel and was oiled,but not paved.The segment has not been extensively modified since its
abandonment and is now overgrown with vegetation.
A stone viaduct feature associated with the 1920s Lincoln Highway at an ephemeral
drainage crossing is located ca.400 ft west of the bore hole access road take-off (see Figure 1),
and 350 ft northwest of the bore hole (Figure 24).The viaduct consists of a concrete pad
approximately 12 inches thing laid atop two masonry abutments.The masonry is bonded with
concrete.Access to the bore hole location will come from the east and not cross the viaduct
Evaluation
The Lincoln Highway has previouslybeen evaluated as eligible for nomination to the
NRHP with SHPO concurrence.48SWl834 144 is a contributing segment of the 1920s variant
that consists of a shallow berm with borrow ditches on both sides.The segment was abandoned
in the late 1930s when the later Lincoln Highwayvariant was built.The 1920's variant sees limited
modern traffic.This segment retains integrity of Location,Design,Materials,Workmanship,
Feeling,and Association.While the segment does not correspond to the plot of the existing road
on the Wyoming State Highway Department plats,the segment can be directly linked to know
1920's Lincoln Highway segments at both the west and east ends.The segment retains physical
integrityin that there have been no significant alterations to the road bed followingabandonment.
The segment also contains a stone and concrete viaduct which enhances the Integrity of Design,
Materials,and Workmanship as well as the Integrity of Feeling and Association.The Integrity of
Setting has been significantly impacted by modern development.Visual impacts in the area
include Interstate 80,modern pipelines and buried cables and fiber-optic lines,and overhead
powerlines.The Black Butte Coal mine pits are located immediately south of Interstate 80 and
well field development associated with the Patrick Draw Field is present to the southeast.The
Integrityof Setting does not contribute to the NRHP status of this segment ofthe Lincoln Highway.
Effects and Recommendation
This 1920s segment of the Lincoln Highway is considered eligible for the NRHP with
SHPO concurrence.In consultation with the BLM,RSFO,this segment of road in the eastern
portion of Section 31,T20N,Rl00W,can be used to access the bore hole from the east.The
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Figure 22.Photograph facing southwest at the overland access take-off for Bore Hole 03-603A
along the 1920's variant ofthe Lincoln Highway.Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman
on August 4,2017.The photograph has not been modified.
Figure 23.Photograph facing northeast at the overland access take-off for Bore Hole 03-603A
along the 1920's variant ofthe Lincoln Highway.Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman
on August 4,2017.The photograph has not been modified.
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Figure 24.Photographfacing northwest from bore hole location towards the concrete and stone
viaduct.Photo taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph has
been modified with labels.
equipment is not allowed to cross the stone and cement viaduct to the west of the bore hole.The
overland access to Bore Hole 03-603A takes off from the 1920s segment of the Lincoln Highway
2 (see Figures 22 and 23).Rubber-wheeledvehicles leaving the roadbed along the overland access
route will create no adverse effect to the Lincoln Highway.In consultation with the BLM,RSFO,
a monitor of the activities associated with the mobile,rubber-tired drillingrig during the drilling
of Bore Hole 03-603A is recommended to avoid any potential adverse effects to this segment of
the Lincoln Highway.Based on these recommendations,the proposed undertaking will result in
no adverse effect.
1930's Variant of the Lincoln Highway,48SW1834_157,(Bitter Creek NW 180)
The 1930's variant of the Lincoln Highway (48SW1834_157)has previously been
documented by TRC-Mariah in 2000.The proposed Bore Hole 3-155 overland access route will
take-off from the 1930's variant of the Lincoln Highwaylocated on public land in the NE¼SW¼
NE¼SE¼NW¼of Section 31,T20N,Rl00W (see Figure 2).This segment of the Lincoln
Highwayhas been incorporated into an Interstate 80 service road that trends northwest -southeast
through Section 31.The portion of the road to the northwest provides alternative access to Point
of Rocks,Jim Bridger Power Plant and Coal Mine.The road extends to the southeast under the
interstate and continues east towards Bitter Creek.The Lincoln Highway in this area consists of
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an updated,crown-and ditched two-lane road (Figures 25-26).The road is well maintained with
both sides of the road impacted by the construction and maintenance of buried pipelines and fiber
optic cable corridors (see Figure 2 and 13).
Evaluation
The Lincoln Highway has previouslybeen evaluated as eligible for nomination to the
NRHP with SHPO concurrence.48SW1834 157 has been previously determined as non-
contributing.The proposed Bore Hole 3-155
ov¯rland
access will exit along the south side of the
non-contributing1930s variant of the Lincoln Highway which is now an upgraded,modern
crowned-and-ditchedroad.The well-maintained road is currentlyused as the Interstate 80 service
road that provides access to Jim Bridge Power Plant,Coal Mine,Point of Rocks,and the
surrounding area.Both sides of the road have been impacted by the construction and maintenance
of buried pipeline and fiber optic lines.48SW1834_157 is considered noncontributing with SHPO
concurrence and does not contribute to the overall NRHP eligibilityof the Lincoln Highway.WAS
concurs with this recommendation.
Effects and Recommendation
This 1930s segment does not contribute to the NRHP eligibilityof Lincoln Highway.The
portion of the historic road has been incorporated into a well-traveled service road of Interstate 80.
This segment is a maintained crowned-and-ditched road that has been impacted by ground
disturbance associated with buried pipeline and fiber optic cable corridors on both sides of the road
and Interstate 80 visible to the south.Overland access to the proposed Bore Hole 3-155 takes off
from this non-contributingsegment (see Figures 25 and 26).Based on the non-contributingstatus
of this segment of the Lincoln Highway,the proposed undertaking will result in no adverse effect.
No further work is recommended.
CONCLUSIONS/SUMMARY
The Class III inventory of proposed Bore Holes 3-155 and 03-603A and associated
overland access routes along the GWW,SB to JB transmission line resulted in the documentation
of four variants of the Lincoln Highway(48SW1834).
Bore Holes 3-155 and 03-603A will utilize the Lincoln Highway as a take-off point for
overland access to the bore hole locations.Bore Hole 3-155 will take-off from a noncontributing
1930s variant of the Lincoln Highwayand also cross a contributing pre-1913 variant of the Lincoln
Highway and a non-contributing1920s variant of the Lincoln Highway.An overland access
reroute is recommended for Bore Hole 3-155 which will keep the preferred overland access
confined to an existing road bed over a non-contributingsegment of the pre-1913 variant of the
Lincoln Highway.Bore Hole 03-603A will take-off from a contributing 1920s variant of the
Lincoln Highway.
It is recommended that an archaeologist monitor the mobile,rubber-tired drilling rigs
overland access and drillingof both Bore Hole 06-603A to help prevent any inadvertent adverse
effects.The monitor will ensure the proposed undertaking will result in no adverse effect.The
objectives of the inventoryhave been met.Our confidence is high that the mostlyresidual rocky
sediment exhibits little potential to contain intact buried cultural materials.
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Figure 25.Photograph facing southeast at the access take-off for Bore Hole 3-155,along the
1930's Lincoln Highwaywhich consists of a crown-and-ditch two-lane road.Photo
taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph has not been
modified.
Figure 26.Photograph facing northwest at the access take-off for Bore Hole 3-155 ,along the
1930's Lincoln Highwaywhich consists of a crown-and-ditch two-lane road.Photo
taken by Matthew Kautzman on August 4,2017.The photograph has not been
modified.
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REFERENCES CITED
Bureau of Land Management
2013 Final Programmatic Agreement Among the Bureau of Land Management,the
USDA Forest Service,Advisory Council on Historic Preservation,the Idaho State
Historic Preservation Officer,The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer,
the Bureau of Reclamation,the National Park Service,the U.S.Army Corps of
Engineers,Idaho Power,and Rocky Mountain Power Regarding Compliance With
the National Historic Preservation Act for the Gateway West Transmission Line
Project.Bureau of Land Management Cheyenne,Wyoming.
Fenneman,N.M.
1931 Physiography of Western United States.McGraw Hill Book Company,New York.
Francis,Julie
1994 Historic Context and Evaluation ofAutomobile Roads in Wyoming.MS.On file,
Western Archaeological Services.
Johnson,David E.
2012 Historical Assessment of Lincoln Highway Segments in and Adjacent to the
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Monell and Arch Units Sweetwater County,
Wyoming.Western Archaeological Services,Rock Springs,Wyoming.
Larson,Taft Albert
1978 History of Wyoming.Universityof Nebraska Press,Lincoln,Nebraska.
Love,John.D.,and Anne.C.Christiansen
1985 Geological Map of Wyoming.Department of Interior,U.S.Geological Survey,
Reston,Virginia.
National Park Service
1997 National Register Bulletin 15:How to Apply the National Register Criteria for
Evaluation.U.S.Department of the Interior,National Park Service,Interagency
Resource Division.Government Printing Office,Washington,D.C.
Nelson,Mark
2009 WyomingCultural Properties Form:Site 48SW1834.On file at WyomingSHPO
CRO,Laramie,Wyoming.
WyomingState Historic PreservationOffice Website
2017 http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/Images/geomap.jpg.Accessed on August 11,2017.
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