T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationThe survey of above-ground resources evaluated all properties within the APE that are at least 50 years old andretain some degree of their historical architectural integrity. Properties that are less than 50 years of age, buthave particularly important historical associations or architectural significance, were also evaluated. Forarchaeological sites the evaluation criteria included presence or absence of cultural material in meaningfulcontexts and analysis to assess the information potential of each site identified.The FAA entered into government to government consultation with the Narragansett Indian Tribe, represented bythe Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office (NITHPO). The NITHPO was invited, and accepted, toparticipate in consultation as part of the Coordination Group. Consultation has been ongoing since 2005 and hasincluded formal Coordination Group meetings and individual meetings between FAA and NITHPO. NITHPOidentified the importance of protecting archaeological sites and the need to monitor archaeological investigationsthat would be carried out during the course of the project. FAA and NITHPO reached agreement for NITHPO tomonitor subsurface archaeological investigations. The FAA also coordinated with RIHPHC on draft historical,architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources findings and draft reports.4.7.1.1 Study Area and Area of Potential EffectUnder Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, the APE is defined as “thegeographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause alterations in thecharacter or use of historical properties, if any such properties exist.” 203 The APE for the Improvement Programwas determined by the potential effects of the project to historical properties by:• A physical taking or modification or by a construction-related taking or modification to the historicalproperty (direct impacts); or• By affecting the qualities for which the historical property is eligible or listed in the NRHP (indirectimpacts), including the introduction to environmental impacts (e.g., increases in noise) or the potentialalteration or obstruction of the setting of those historical properties.Refer to Figure 4-19 for the location of the APE.4.7.2 Affected EnvironmentThis section provides a summary of the major themes and events of the area and provides a context forevaluating historical properties identified within the Airport APE.4.7.2.1 Historical ContextWhen the first Europeans arrived in Warwick between 1638 and 1640 they encountered at least four majorsubdivisions of the larger Narragansett Tribe: Shawmets, Potowomuts, Cowesetts, and Pawtuxets.Native American settlement at the time of European contact focused upon near-coastal and coastal confluencesof rivers and streams. A network of fields and collecting territories surrounded concentrations of dwellings. Theimportance of waterways in Native landscape perspectives is reflected in their use as territorial and boundarymarkers as lands were transferred from Native to European possession.203 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 36 CFR 800.16 (d).Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-44 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc