Cultural Resource Survey for Proposed Improvements to the Person to Sandia Stations 115 kV Transmission Line, Bernalillo County, New Mexico

Summary

A Class I survey performed on July 11, 1994 indicated 29 previously recorded sites located within 1.0 mi (1.6 km) of the survey routes. Fourteen sites were shown to be located near the transmission line corridor, with four of these within the right-of-way. Undertaken between July 14 and 19, 1994, the Class III survey of the route included a 100 ft (30 m) wide corridor with a 150 x 150 ft ( 46 x 46 m) area examined around each structure. The survey totaled 81.2 acres (32.9 ha) of which 46.1 acres (18.7 ha) were on Kirtland Air Force Base. The survey located no previously undocumented archaeological sites. Four documented sites (LA 69738, LA 69739, LA 103163, and LA 103164), 17 isolated cultural occurrences, and one isolated paleontological occurrence were found within the right-of-way. Recordation of the isolated cultural occurrences has exhausted their data potential, and they are not considered eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. No further archeological work is recommended for these isolates.

Site LA 69738 bas been previously tested and evaluated as eligible to the National Register of Historic Places by the Office of Cultural Affairs in 1989; however, the Public Service Company of New Mexico's undertaking was determined to have no effect on the value of the cultural resources of the site. If the present project stays within the 50 ft (15 m) corridor established in 1989, it is recommended that the determination of no effect be extended to this project.

LA 103163 was not considered eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. LA 103164 and LA 69739 have data potential beyond that documented by survey and, therefore, are considered to be significant cultural resources eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Vehicular traffic should be routed to avoid these sites. If impact to the resources cannot be avoided, a program of site testing and/ or mitigation should be initiated.

Additionally, one paleontological locale was documented along the piedmont scarp of Tijeras Arroyo. The fossilized bone fragments were found in the Sierra Ladrones Formation near the New Mexico Museum of Natural History fossil locality 1458. The find was reported to the Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the museum. Although avoidance of this area is recommended, no further paleontological investigations prior to the undertaking are recommended.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Kirtland Air Force Base CRM Manager

Record Identifiers

MAI Project No.(s): 1203

File Information