2017-08-16_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A

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Cultural Resource Histonc Properties Treatment Plan for BK -1-072617 Colowyo Coal Company 3.3 Data Recovery Methodology Data recovery efforts will conform to standard archaeological excavation practice (ex. Renfrew and Bahn 1991) to yield information to support of the above research design. Some data recovery activities, such as excavation of the two discovered features and mechanical topsoil stripping will occur independent of the evaluative testing (see Section 3.3.2). Evaluative testing results will determine additional data recovery efforts within the Project disturbance area. 3.3.1 Data Recovery Scope Data recovery activities beyond evaluative testing will be limited to the disturbance area. Cultural resource components found to extend outside the disturbance area will be left intact for preservation and resource management. Tetra Tech will map, document, and describe the portions of the site extending outside the disturbance area to support the site's continued preservation and management. Documentation will include mapping, photographs, and verbal descriptions to allow for accurate relocation and future study if necessary. For the Project, remaining intact portions outside the disturbance area will be protected using existing avoidance measures for other NRHP eligible or Needs Data cultural resources on the Project have been subjected to including avoidance flagging and/or fencing. If intact portions of the site remain, the site will be added to Colowyo's list of sites requiring monitoring at regular intervals as outlined in Exhibit 5, Item 3 -Cultural Resource Protection Plan for the Collom Mine Expansion. 3.3.2 Site Specific Data Recovery Tasks The following site specific data recovery efforts will occur within the disturbance area independent of the evaluative testing results. These tasks will recover data in support of the research design from the site as it is current defined. The three site specific tasks are: A) Feature Data Recovery, B) Feature 1 Test Unit, and C) Mechanical Ground Stripping. The two features were exposed by ground stripping activities. Feature 1 is a possible thermal feature of dark stained sediment with charcoal and five reddened sandstone heat altered rock fragments (Figure 5). It measures 70 cm long by 54 cm wide. Feature 2 is a possible thermal feature of dark stained sediment with charcoal and six reddened sandstone heat altered rock fragments (Figure 6). It measures 79 by 60 cm. Each feature will be fully excavated as outlined in Section 3.3.3.2. As a precautionary measure, radiocarbon samples have already been recovered from each feature and will be processed upon execution of the HPTP. The recovered material and samples will be analyized as outlined in Section 3.4. A 1 by 1 m test unit will be excavated within the intact sediments south of Feature 1. The unit will be placed to ensure it ties into the overall site grid to be establised in support of all other data recovery efforts at the site. The unit will be exacavated using the methods outlined in Section 3.3.3.1. The excavated unit will provide a controlled means for defining the possible living surface in which the two features were utilized. If no other units are completed, the unit will provide sedimentary profiles of the intact sediments on site. The profiles will assist in the geoarchaeological and taphonomic assessments of the site. Once all other data recovery efforts, both site specific and general, have been completed, Tetra Tech will monitor Colowyo conducting finer grained mechanical top soil stripping to the remaining intact sediments to determine if any features, living surfaces, or artifacts are present within the Tetra Tech August 8, 2017