SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 4 − Impact Methodology4.6 CULTURAL RESOURCES4.6.1 Resource-specific Impact Analysis MethodologyThe methods for assessing potential impacts on cultural resources include identifying significantcultural resources in the areas of potential effect (APEs) to determine potential direct and indirectimpacts on these resources. To identify cultural resources in the project areas, cultural resourcereports and other records were reviewed. In addition, federal, state, and local inventories of historicplaces, including the NRHP, were reviewed for information related to prehistoric and historicresources within the project areas.The first step in identifying impacts to cultural resources is the identification of the eligible culturalresources. Cultural resources may include historic structures, prehistoric and historic archaeologicalsites, and properties of traditional, religious, Native American human remains, associated andunassociated funerary objects and objects of cultural patrimony, or cultural significance (PTRCSs).Cultural resources were identified in available reports and documents. The next step is identifying anypotential for direct or indirect impacts. Impacts on cultural resources could include intrusion of newbuildings or structures that are not sympathetic to the historic characteristics of the site or district,renovation or demolition of historic buildings, ground disturbance at archaeological sites, removal ofobjects or artifacts from eligible sites, increased access to archaeologically sensitive areas, orrestriction of access to sacred sites. Any impact to cultural resources is potentially irreversible andirretrievable.Activities that could impact cultural resources include stationing, construction, training, systemsacquisition, management activities, and program implementation. Stationing entails the addition ofpersonnel resulting in increased overall use and traffic. This could result in accelerated disturbanceand degradation. Construction of operations facilities, maintenance and training support facilities,additional barracks, and a deployment staging area, could disturb or damage cultural resources.Increased frequency and intensity of training would result in more extensive and more frequentdamage to cultural resources.Impacts on cultural resources eligible for listing on the NRHP (historic properties) consist primarilyof adverse effects as defined in federal regulations implementing Section 106 of the NHPA. Anundertaking has an effect on a historic property when that undertaking may alter those characteristicsof the property that qualify it for inclusion on the NRHP. An undertaking is considered to have anadverse effect on a historic property when it diminishes the integrity of the property’s location,design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, or association. Adverse effects include, but are notlimited to:• Physical destruction, damage, or alteration of all or part of the property;• Isolation of the property or alteration of the character of the property’s setting when that charactercontributes to the property’s qualifications for the NRHP;• Introduction of visual, audible, or atmospheric elements that are out of character with theproperty, or changes that may alter its setting;• Neglect of a property, resulting in its deterioration or destruction; or• Transfer, lease, or sale of a property without adequate provisions to protect its historic integrity.Depending on the intensity of an impact and the importance of a site to a native population, even aminor impact could be significant. These impacts can be mitigated to a greater or lesser extent. TheFebruary 2008 4–10 2/25th SBCT Final EIS