Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

Two surveys conducted on Yukon Training Area revealed eight archaeological sites. Six of the sites arenot eligible for listing in the NHRP because they were located in highly disturbed areas. Two sites havenot been evaluated for eligibility.Two Nike Missile sites existed on Yukon Training Area, Site Mike and Site Peter. Each site consisted ofa Battery Control Area and a Launch Area. Due to clean-up activities in the late 1980s and early 1990s,these sites no longer have historic integrity and are not eligible for inclusion in the NHRP (Denfeld 1988,1994).An early mining study indicates that no significant mining activities occurred on Yukon Training Area(Neely 2001). The Pine Creek mining complex in the northeastern corner of Yukon Training Area waslisted as a potential historic property (Higgs et al. 1999); however, based on the early mining study (Neely2001), it is ineligible for listing in the NHRP. No other historic buildings are expected to exist on YukonTraining Area.SubsistenceFort Wainwright training areas fall within the traditional lands of Tanana and Tanacross Athabaskans.Traditional settlement patterns focused on a widely mobile and seasonal lifestyle, with the fall caribouand moose hunt playing a pivotal role in subsistence preparations for the winter while summer activitieswere focused on fish camps, berry/root collecting and sheep hunting (McKennan 1981). Fish and moosecontinue to play a primary role in Interior communities near Fort Wainwright training area lands,including Gerstle River and Black Rapids training areas (Martin 1983, Marcotte 1991, personalcommunication with tribal representatives from the Interior 2000 and 2001). Plant gathering continues tobe a focus in the spring, summer and fall, with residents from Dot Lake, for example, traveling as far asDonnelly Dome, Delta Junction and Eielson Air Force Base to collect berries, roots, and plant resources(Martin 1983).Due to the size and relatively remote location of Fort Wainwright, natural resources and wildlifepopulations are fairly well preserved. Customary and traditional use has been determined for thefollowing species: brown bear, moose, beaver, coyote, red fox, hare, lynx, marten, mink and weasel,muskrat, otter, wolf, wolverine, grouse, and ptarmigan. Subsistence permits can be obtained for the takeof these species.Donnelly Training AreaCultural ResourcesTwenty-three archaeological investigations have been conducted on Donnelly Training Area to date.Three hundred twenty sites were identified, with 13 of these comprising two archaeological districts.Sixty-six sites have been evaluated for NRHP listing, 25 of which are eligible. These investigations havecovered 45,810 acres (approximately 8%) of Donnelly Training Area. The majority of the archaeologicalsurveys conducted in Donnelly Training Area have been limited to Donnelly Training Area East, whichmakes up only 25% the training area. Because of its remote setting, the archaeology of Donnelly TrainingArea West is poorly understood and represents a gap in the understanding of the area’s prehistory.A study on early trails identified a number of historic trails on Donnelly Training Area (Neely 2002). Thisstudy, however, only identified the Donnelly-Washburn Winter Cut-Off Trail as having potentialeligibility for inclusion in the NRHP.It is expected that traditional cultural properties will be identified on Donnelly Training Area and willconsist of sites and landmarks that reflect the seasonality of subsistence activities. USARAK and the U.S._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 56