2017-09-11_PERMIT FILE - C1981019 (3)

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Cultural Resource HPTP for MK -1-082317 and MK -2-082317 Colowyo Coal based recordation forms. Form types include, but are not limited to, photographic logs, artifact catalogs, excavation unit, feature excavation, and daily progress tracking forms. The PI and data manager will be responsible for reviewing all forms and data collected in the field on a nightly basis to ensure collected data is correct as well as stored and filed properly. An electronic 1 by 1 m grid with a primary datum will be established over the site using a GeoExplorer 6000 series GeoXH GPS unit with centimeter accuracy. The Trimble will also be used for artifact point provenience, overall site mapping, and structural feature mapping. UTM coordinates will be recorded in NAD83, Zone 13 North. Once all shovel probes and currently exposed cultural manifestations have been documented, 1 by 1 m excavation units correlated to the overall gird will be opened to investigate any evaluative testing results and the first two site specific tasks outlined in the previous section will commence. The units will be excavated as outlined in Section 3.3.3.1. Photographs will be taken using a digital camera with at least a seven mega pixel resolution. Site overview photographic positions will be GPS point located. Project photologs will be maintained and record the date, camera, exposure number, subject, orientation, and GPS derived UTM coordinates for overview photographs. Collected artifacts will be placed in plastic bags with labels detailing the bag's content, catalog number, provenience information, name of collector, and date of collection. Collected artifacts will be transported to Tetra Tech's Salt Lake City office laboratory for cleaning and analysis. Collection process for surface artifacts will also be applied to subsurface artifacts. Artifacts recovered from screened matrix will be collected per general class with appropriate provenience information for sorting and analysis in a laboratory setting. 3.3.3.1 Unit Excavations Excavation units will be opened as needed to further investigate any subsurface cultural material encountered during evaluative testing. The PI will use professional judgement to determine if single, multiple, or even blocks of units are excavated in response to testing results or to further investigate results of unit excavations. All 1 by 1 m excavations will be completed using manual excavation techniques. A qualified archaeological technician will hand excavate using a flat bladed shovel and trowel as necessary. Each 1 by 1 m unit will be excavated in 10 cm arbitrary levels within natural stratigraphy. Excavation levels will be divided in less than 10 cm levels in cases where changes in natural or cultural stratigraphy are encountered. All removed matrix will be screened through % inch wire mesh and all artifacts collected from the screen. The backdirt pile(s) will be established in areas already disturbed and/or determined to be culturally sterile. The back dirt will be mechanically returned to all completed 1 by 1 m units when construction resumes at the end of data recovery work. Each 1 by 1 m excavation unit will be excavated below ground surface until either two 10 -cm culturally sterile levels are encountered or the PI determines further excavation is unwarranted. 3.3.3.2 Feature Excavation The discovered features at each site and any additional encountered subsurface features will be excavated using standard feature excavation methods. First, the entire horizontal extent of each feature will be exposed. For subsurface features discovered during testing, this will require the appropriate number of 1 by 1 m units to be opened to fully expose the feature within the disturbance area. The exposed feature will be mapped, photographed, and a feature form will be started. Once initial documentation is completed, the feature will be excavated by quarters within 10 cm arbitrary levels in natural/cultural stratigraphy. Profile maps will be completed after Tetra Tech August 31, 2017 13