Idaho National Laboratory Cultural Resource Management Plan

Archive and Literature Searches
The INL CRM Office maintains a comprehensive archive of all archaeological investigations
completed at INL, including information on all known archaeological resources. Maintenance of these
files is an important function of the INL CRM Office and accomplishes a number of goals, including:
Helping to ensure overall consistency in cultural resource management and data collection
Continuing refinement of overall INL CRM Office goals (see Appendix J), research designs (see
Appendix E), and historic contexts (see Appendix F)
Continuing refinement of the INL predictive model for prehistoric archaeological resources and
associated research goals
Preventing duplication of effort in archaeological resource identification
Contributing to overall compliance with 36 CFR Part 79, “Curation of Federally-Owned and
Administered Archaeological Collections.”
Archive, literature, and electronic database searches are the first step toward completing any kind of
archaeological investigation at INL. Archives maintained in the INL CRM Office and consulted at this
time may include:
INL CRM Office project files, which contain detailed information on all archaeological investigations
conducted at INL and all archaeological sites known to occur there
INL CRM Office electronic databases and geographic information systems (GIS) coverages
Archaeological sensitivity maps, which divide INL into four differing zones of sensitivity (very high,
high, medium, or low) based on the locational tendencies of prehistoric sites previously recorded
there
Historic land use maps, which depict early historic roads, rail lines, trails, and canals crossing INL,
along with structures and buildings, as described in various historical documents and sources
Maps and notes created by surveyors during the original land surveys that began in 1873 and many
subsequent land surveys of the INL area
Various INL-specific archives, including maps and documents describing post-1942 activities and
facilities
Archaeological reports, documents, and other literature of relevance to INL and the surrounding
region.
The archive and literature search is designed to evaluate previous efforts, identify cultural resource
themes within an area of interest, and assemble information about any archaeological resources that may
have been previously recorded there. In situations where an area of potential effect for a proposed project
is being assessed, the archive and literature search serves an important role in assessing the need for
additional archaeological survey, data recovery, and consultation.
Archaeological Surveys
Field activities conducted by the INL CRM Office or by any entity under permit through the INL
CRM Office will follow basic safety and security protocols for vehicle operation, communication, and
field work, including any unique health and safety requirements associated with specific INL facilities.
Archaeological surveys at INL may be conducted for a variety of reasons. Some are conducted in
advance of specific INL projects to assess the potential effects of the proposed activities. However, within
available funding, the INL CRM Office also conducts inventories to expand understanding of the overall
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