xs7hy9e06w?redirect_to=http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/blm_library/tech_notes.Par.29872.File.dat/TN_444

Dry Lake Cultural Resources
Following the process for evaluating cultural resources outlined in Appendix E of the BLM technical reference, titled “Procedural Guidance for
Developing Solar Regional Mitigation Strategies” the BLM interdisciplinary team determined cultural resources at the Dry Lake SEZ could most
likely be mitigated onsite and would not require regional mitigation.
At the time of the pilot Dry Lake SEZ Solar Regional Mitigation Planning Project, a relatively high percentage of the Dry Lake SEZ (well over 20%)
had been previously surveyed and/or had been previously disturbed during other industrial activities (e.g., power generation, transmission,
mining/milling) with few known sites recorded. A segment of the Old Spanish Trail/Mormon Road (not identified as part of the congressionally
designated national historic trail) was previously evaluated and determined significant; it is listed as part of a National Register historic district.
Because of its proximity to two washes already established as avoidance areas and a set of existing transmission line rights-of-way, it was
determined by the interdisciplinary team that any potential impacts on the cultural site (road) are “avoidable,” and no development with the
potential to impact the site would be approved in that portion of the SEZ (see Section 2.4.1.2). No other National Register-eligible sites were
known within the SEZ at the time of the pilot. An archaeological inventory of the unsurveyed portions of the SEZ is scheduled to be completed
prior to offering the SEZ for competitive lease.
In the case of the pilot, it was determined by the interdisciplinary team that a regional approach to mitigation planning did not make sense for
the Dry Lake SEZ because other SEZs would not likely benefit (not in same region) and because little cost savings and efficiency could be gained
with so little survey needed. It was also assumed that the few significant sites that might be found in the SEZ during the future inventory could
be mitigated most effectively onsite (i.e., within the SEZ) using traditional methods and in consultation with the state historic preservation
officer and tribes. The cultural resource mitigation planning for the Dry Lake SEZ was able to be stopped at this point, and it was concluded that
standard procedures for addressing cultural resource impacts made the most sense; the standard procedures would complete the inventory and
evaluation and mitigate for any significant sites within the SEZ.
In addition, consultation with the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians and other tribes had not identified archaeological/cultural resources significant
to them in the SEZ, although resources in the surrounding areas had been identified through an ethnographic study (SWCA and University of
Arizona 2011). At the time of the pilot, the BLM was still seeking clarifications from the Moapa on whether portions of the Salt Song Trail or other
traditional trails crossed the SEZ and whether cultural resource impacts of interest to the tribe were possible. This issue has not yet been resolved.
Based on feedback during the pilot Dry Lake SEZ Solar Regional Mitigation Planning Project workshops, the Moapa were most concerned about
impacts on habitat, wildlife, and water use.
2.4.3.1 Identification of
Unavoidable Impacts
The following methodology
was used to identify unavoidable
impacts:
• The interdisciplinary team
verified/augmented the affected
environment and impacts
presented in the Final Solar PEIS
(for completeness, reviewed
analysis in both the Draft and
Final Solar PEIS).
- Reviewed the affected
environment and the direct,
indirect, and cumulative
impacts for each resource
value presented in the Final
Solar PEIS.
- Evaluated whether the
description of the affected
environment and impacts
was comprehensive and
accurate and whether
more detailed information
was available that could
influence the description of
impacts as provided in the
PEIS. Where applicable, new
information was documented
(see Appendix A, Impact
Assessment Summary Table).
• The team verified/augmented
the programmatic and SEZspecific
design features
presented in Appendix A of the
Final Solar PEIS.
- Reviewed the programmatic
and SEZ-specific design
features presented in the
Final Solar PEIS, determined
which design features
are applicable to the Dry
Lake SEZ, and determined
if there are additional
measures that could be
implemented to avoid and/
or minimize impacts onsite.
Where applicable, this was
22 • REGIONAL MITIGATION STRATEGY FOR THE DRY LAKE SOLAR ENERGY ZONE • TECHNICAL NOTE 444