Potomac Waterfront Flood Mitigation Study - City of Alexandria

Technical Analyses Support
resource, while indirect effects can include actions, such as changes in noise or changes to
physical setting, which would diminish the historical integrity of a resource.
Although the proposed flood mitigation alternatives would be undertaken by the City of
Alexandria or private property owners, one or more alternatives or components of these
alternatives may use federal funding, such as a grant from FEMA, or may require a federal
permit, such as one from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). In either case,
the funding or licensing agency would be required to comply with Section 106 of the NHPA.
In addition to being a locally designated historic district, the Old and Historic Alexandria District
is listed in the NRHP, and as such, any undertaking affecting the district, or any contributing
resource in the district, would trigger Section 106 of the NHPA. Because Section 106 applies to
both NRHP-listed and NRHP-eligible properties, other potential historic properties in the project
area would need to be identified by a qualified cultural resource professional, and effects on
these properties considered in the process. This applies to both aboveground resources such as
buildings and belowground (archaeological) resources. In both cases, the funding or licensing
federal agency would be responsible for conducting studies to determine what historic properties
are present in the project area.
For aboveground resources such as buildings, pedestrian survey and historical research would be
undertaken, and a formal evaluation made as to whether or not the property meets the criteria for
listing in the NRHP in consultation with VDHR and other stakeholders. For archaeological
investigations in the state of Virginia, identification of historic properties is completed through a
systematic investigation in the form of a Phase I Identification and, if warranted, a Phase II
Evaluation.
If it is determined that an undertaking will have an adverse effect on a historic property,
landscape feature, or archaeological site, then federal agencies are required to consider ways to
avoid or minimize those adverse effects. This may include the relocation of the project to avoid
archaeological sites, or redesign to reduce the visibility of project components, incorporate
buffers, or use more historically sensitive approaches. If the adverse effects cannot be avoided or
minimized, then the funding or licensing agency must determine appropriate mitigation measures
in consultation with stakeholders and formalize them in a legally-binding Memorandum of
Agreement. For aboveground historic properties, mitigation measures could include recordation
of a historic property through written and photographic documentation, measured drawings,
architectural salvage, or public interpretation through exhibits or Web sites. For archaeological
resources, mitigation often takes the form of Phase III Treatment.
4.3 OVERVIEW OF NATURAL RESOURCES CONTEXT
Projects in Alexandria occurring in the Potomac River require authorization by USACE Norfolk
District, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), Virginia Marine Resources
Commission (VMRC) Habitat Management Division, and the City. Any proposed construction
on the Virginia shoreline requires both VDEQ and VMRC Water Protection Permits for impacts
to state-owned subaqueous bottom and/or tidal wetlands.
The National Park Service (NPS) owns Jones Point Park and the George Washington Memorial
Parkway. Any work that affects either property would require a temporary construction permit,
28-JUL-10\\ 4-6