Draft Environmental Impact Report - California Off Highway Vehicle ...

3.6 Cultural Resources
General Plan Impact Analysis
IMPACT
3.6-1
Degradation of Cultural Resources
A Determination of Eligibility Statement was prepared for the State Historic Preservation Officer
(SHPO) and submitted on June 16, 2010. This statement described cultural resources found on the
SVRA and the condition of these resources. SHPO concurred that cultural resources found at the
SVRA are not eligible as a historical resource defined by PRC 5020.1[j].
However, cultural resources could be discovered inadvertently during construction activities
proposed and envisioned within the General Plan.
The OHMVR Division Cultural Resource Management Program promotes the protection,
preservation, and interpretation of cultural resources throughout the OHMVR Division’s park
units. In addition, the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan includes specific goals and guidelines for the
preservation, avoidance, and protection of cultural resources that may be present within Clay Pit
SVRA. CR Guideline 1.1 requires that known resources be evaluated and protected according to
PRC 5024 and OHMVR practice, while CR Guideline 1.2 does the same for any cultural resources
that may be discovered in the future. CR Guideline 1.3 addresses the inadvertent discovery of
human remains during projects proposed and envisioned under the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan.
Following PRC 5024 requirements, the OHMVR Division is mandated to conduct a full CRHR
evaluation study of any cultural resource and obtain a DOE from the SHPO. Therefore, prior to the
commencement of ground‐disturbing activities in the vicinity of known resources, OHMVR
Division Cultural Resource Management Program specialists will conduct an evaluation of the
resource and obtain a DOE from the SHPO for listing the resource on the NRHP/CRHR. If the
resource is determined to be eligible for NRHP/CRHR listing, an OHMVR Division archaeologist or
other qualified cultural resource professional will develop and implement protection measures
consistent with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Secretary of the
Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and CEQA. These measures could
include, but would not necessarily be restricted to: project planning designed to avoid the
resource, archival research, additional in‐field documentation, or interpretive signage.
Oversight by the OHMVR Division Cultural Resource Management Program, and implementation
of the goals and guidelines set forth within the Clay Pit SVRA General Plan would serve to protect
known and yet‐to‐be discovered cultural resources at the SVRA through active stewardship,
monitoring, and management. Required compliance with federal and state cultural resource
regulations and management goals would also minimize the potential for substantial adverse
effects on known or unknown prehistoric and historic resources present within the project site
from future development and improvements within the SVRA. Therefore, potential impacts from
implementation of the General Plan on cultural resources would be less than significant.
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
February 2012 3.6-8 Draft EIR