Final FONSI and EA for hot cargo pad on Kirtland AFB - Kirtland Air ...

<strong>Final</strong> <strong>EA</strong> Addressing Construction, Operation, <strong>and</strong> Maintenance of a Hot Cargo Pad
The resource is associated with the lives of people significant in the past (criterion B).
The resource embodies distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction;
represents the work of a master; possesses high artistic value; or represents a significant <strong>and</strong>
distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction (criterion C).
The resource has yielded, or might be likely to yield, in<strong>for</strong>mation important in prehistory or
history (criterion D).
In addition to meeting at least one of the above criteria, a cultural resource must also possess integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, <strong>and</strong> association. Integrity is defined as the
authenticity of a property’s historic identity, as evidenced by the survival of physical characteristics it
possessed in the past <strong>and</strong> its capacity to convey in<strong>for</strong>mation about a culture or group of people, a historic
pattern, or a specific type of architectural or engineering design or technology. Location refers to the
place where an event occurred or a property was originally built. Design considers elements such as plan,
<strong>for</strong>m, <strong>and</strong> style of a property. Setting is the physical environment of the property. Materials refer to the
physical elements used to construct the property. Workmanship refers to the craftsmanship of the creators
of a property. Feeling is the ability of the property to convey its historic time <strong>and</strong> place. Association
refers to the link between the property <strong>and</strong> a historically significant event or person.
Cultural resources meeting these st<strong>and</strong>ards (i.e., age, eligibility, <strong>and</strong> integrity) are termed “historic
properties” under the NHPA. Sites or structures that are not considered individually significant can be
considered eligible <strong>for</strong> listing in the NRHP as part of a historic district. According to the NRHP, a
historic district possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures,
or objects that are historically or aesthetically united by plan or physical development.
Typically, cultural resources are grouped into three separate categories: archaeological, architectural, or
sites that have a traditional religious or cultural significance to Native American tribes. Archaeological
resources are defined as areas that have altered the l<strong>and</strong>scape. Architectural resources are built structures
of significance. In general, these architectural resources are typically more than 50 years old but newer
structures can be evaluated under the entire above criterion. Resources of traditional, religious, or cultural
significance to Native American tribes can include architectural or archaeological resources, sacred sites,
neighborhoods, geographic l<strong>and</strong>marks, flora or faunal habitats, mineral localities, or sites considered
essential <strong>for</strong> the preservation of traditional culture.
The <strong>EA</strong> process requires the assessment of potential impacts on cultural resources. In addition, under
Section 106 of the NHPA, Federal agencies must take into account the effect of their undertakings on
historic properties <strong>and</strong> allow the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) an opportunity to
comment. Under this process, the Federal agency evaluates the NRHP eligibility of resources within the
proposed undertaking’s area of potential effect (APE) <strong>and</strong> assesses the possible effects of the proposed
undertaking on historic resources in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) <strong>and</strong>
other parties. The APE is defined as the geographic area(s) “within which an undertaking may directly or
indirectly cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist.”
Under Section 110 of the NHPA, Federal agencies are required to establish programs to inventory <strong>and</strong>
nominate cultural resources under their purview to the NRHP.
3.8.2 Existing Conditions
Current underst<strong>and</strong>ing of Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB history <strong>and</strong> prehistory reflects archival data, data collected during
surveys, limited test <strong>and</strong> block excavations, as well as in<strong>for</strong>mation derived from comparisons with
archaeological sequences developed <strong>for</strong> the middle Rio Gr<strong>and</strong>e. The prehistoric chronological sequence
used at Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB is based primarily on projectile point <strong>for</strong>ms <strong>and</strong> supported in part by radiocarbon
Kirtl<strong>and</strong> AFB, NM January 2011
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