Final Report Historical Structures Assessment Report for the Muddy ...

Historic Structures Assessment Report for the Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility Project Relicensing Application
Lancaster and York Counties, Pennsylvania
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon) has initiated with the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) the process of relicensing the 800-megawatt Muddy Run Pumped Storage Project
(Project). The current license for the Muddy Run Project was issued on September 21, 1964 and expires
on August 31, 2014. FERC issued the final study plan determination for the Muddy Run Project on
February 4, 2010, approving the revised study plan with certain modifications. FERC’s final study plan
determination required Exelon to conduct an Archaeological and Historic Cultural Resource Review and
Assessment. This report provides a preliminary, planning level survey limited to the historic architectural
survey conducted in Martic and Drumore Townships in Lancaster County and Lower Chanceford and
Peach Bottom Townships in York County, Pennsylvania.
Between October 2010 and September 2011, TRC conducted an architectural survey within the Project
Area of Potential Effect (APE), defined as “…the lands enclosed by the project’s boundary and lands or
properties outside of the project’s boundary where project construction and operation or project-related
recreational development or other enhancements may cause changes in the character or use of historic
properties, if any historic properties exist." The Muddy Run Project APE consists of all lands enclosed
by the project boundary, as depicted on figures in this report, and in the initial filing. The architectural
survey identified resources in the APE listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic
Places (NRHP), as well as those resources that may be eligible for listing in the NRHP pending further
investigation.
The survey consisted of background research on previously identified architectural resources in the APE,
preparation of an historic context developed from the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission
(PHMC) thematic contexts, and a field survey of any resources 50 years or older within the APE. There
are no NRHP-listed architectural resources or architectural resources determined NRHP-eligible by the
PHMC within the APE. The one previously identified resource within the APE, the Ritchie-Robinson
House (PHMC ID# 118594) located at the southern end of the Project transmission line, is not
recommended eligible for the NRHP either individually or as part of any potential rural historic district.
The farm does not possess a strong representation of a range of typical buildings and landscape features
that illustrate important changes over time in the region’s agricultural history. There are no other
architectural resources 50 years or older in the APE.
The Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility, built between 1964 and 1968, was the largest pumped storage
facility in the world on its completion. The Muddy Run facility may be NRHP-eligible under Criteria A
(energy production) and C (engineering), Criteria Consideration G, which recognizes significant
architectural resources less than 50 years old. In accordance with the comments of the PHMC, TRC
recommends further research and field survey to complete the PHMC Historic Structures Resource (HSR)
form for the Muddy Run facility and to evaluate its eligibility for the NRHP.
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