VAFB-2022-17: Archaeological Studies in 2019–2020 Supporting Section 106 Compliance for the Firebreaks and Access Roads Maintenance Program, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Santa Barbara County, California

Summary

This document is a Section 106 report that presents the study and results of the 2019–2020 Firebreaks and Access Roads Maintenance Program. Across Vandenberg Space Force Base (SFB), there is an extensive system of about 54 miles of firebreaks and 192 miles of associated roads. Many of these firebreaks and access roads are maintained on an annual basis. There are more than 2,100 archaeological resources on Vandenberg SFB, and firebreaks and access roads coincide with archaeological resources in 170 locations. There is potential for disturbances to archaeological resources resulting from firebreak and access road maintenance. Maintenance of firebreaks and access roads is an undertaking subject to compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. To support that compliance and augment work previously completed, the United States Space Force retained Argonne National Laboratory to complete study of 15 archaeological sites that are associated with firebreak maintenance.

During background research, two of the sites (CA-SBA-1998 and CA-SBA-1999) targeted for National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) evaluations were found to extend outside

Vandenberg SFB and thus could not be evaluated. Consequently, those sites were assumed to be eligible for the NRHP and testing was completed to assess effects from firebreak maintenance. CA-SBA-246/H, targeted for assumed eligibility for the NRHP, clearly had enough data potential to support an evaluation of eligibility and thus was evaluated. Archaeological testing was completed at two archaeological sites that have been determined eligible for the NRHP, CA-SBA-1993 and CA-SBA-512, to assess effects from firebreak maintenance.

The resulting purpose of the investigations was to conduct archaeological testing or use the results of previous testing to assess effects at 10 sites eligible or assumed eligible for the NRHP and evaluate the NRHP eligibility of 5 additional sites.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) - Cultural Resource Report

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Corinne Holloway

Record Identifiers

VAFB Document Number(s): VAFB-2022-17

File Information