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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation4.7.2.3 Identified Historical Architectural Resources Off-AirportThe following eight properties within the APE are located off-Airport (Figure 4-20):• Pawtuxet Village Historic District;• Christopher Rhodes House;• John Waterman Arnold House;• Warwick Civic Center Historic District;• Apponaug Historic District;• Caleb Greene House;• Cowesett Pound; and• Amasa Sprague Estate Stone Wall.4.7.2.4 Cemeteries Within the APEThe APE includes six historical cemeteries: two on the Airport property (Warwick Historical Cemetery No. 26and No. 81); and four (Warwick Historical Cemetery No. 63, No. 76, No. 77, and No. 78) within the non-Airportportion of the APE. Figure 4-20 shows these resources. None of these cemeteries are considered eligible forlisting in the NRHP, however, they are protected under state law (RI General Laws 42 45-1 et seq.; RI GeneralLaws 23-18-1 et seq.) and local ordinance (Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Warwick).Archaeological investigations at Warwick Historical Cemetery (WHC) 26, 76, 77, and 78 were completed inApril 2011. The boundaries of WHC 26 and 76 were determined, and the boundaries of WHC 77 and 78 havenot been confirmed. 204 The results of these surveys will assist FAA and RIAC in further consultation with theWarwick Historical Cemetery Commission (WHCC) and the NITHPO relative to potential impacts resultingfrom the T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program in accordance with Section 106 of the National HistoricPreservation Act, as amended, Rhode Island General Law 23-18-1 et seq., and Chapter 12 of the Code ofOrdinances of the City of Warwick. Details of the surveys are provided below.Archaeological investigations were undertaken between April 7 and 12, 2011 under Permit No. 2011-02 (issuedby the RIHPHC on January 7, 2011) to define the limits of the four historical cemeteries (WHC 26; WHC 76;WHC 77; and WHC 78 located in the APE. As required by Rhode Island General Law 23018-1 et. seq. andChapter 12, FAA and RIAC met with the WHCC. Machine-assisted topsoil removal exposed five unmarkedgraves north, east, and west of the upright burial markers. These grave shafts appeared as rectangular outlinesof mottled sands and gravels that had been dug into the underlying subsoil.Freeman Burial Lot (WHC 26)Machine-assisted topsoil removal at the Freeman Burial Lot (WHC 26) on the Airport property resulted in arefinement of the cemetery’s boundaries. The burial ground is larger than upright burial markers andmonuments indicate, measuring approximately 36 m x 25 m (118 ft x 88 ft). The discovery of five unmarkedgrave shafts indicates the potential for additional unmarked interments within the cemetery. Two areas ofNarragansett Indian Tribal concern were observed within the Freeman Lot (WHC 26) during the archaeologicalcemetery delineation.204 The exact boundaries of WHC 77 and 78 are not confirmed because permission has not been granted to strip top soils around the perimeter of visibleheadstones at these cemeteries. At this time the unconfirmed boundary for WHC 78 is the limits of the designated cemetery lot.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-46 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc