PPL - Bell Bend COLA, Rev. 1 - Part 11I - Phase 1a Cultural … · 2012. 12. 3. · PhaselaLetterReport,LEO Project,LuzerneCounty,Pennsylvania The410-acre(approximate)Alternative#1C(combinedAlternatives#1Aand#1B)consistsof

Phase laLetterReport,LEO Project,LuzerneCounty,Pennsylvania

FinalLetterReportPhase IACulturalResourcesReconnaissance

ofPPL Lands intheVicinityof

Susquehanna Steam ElectricStation

LuzerneCounty,Pennsylvania

for

UniStarNuclearDevelopment,LLC

AbstractGAl conducteda Phase IAculturalresourcesreconnaissanceofPPL Corporation(PPL)landinthevicinityoftheSusquehannaSteam ElectricStation(SSES),inLuzerneCounty,Pennsylvaniabeingevaluatedforpotentiallocationofa new nucleargeneratingunit,by UniStarNuclearDevelopment,LLC(UniStar)underan endeavorcurrentlytermedProjectLeo. The areasofinterestconsistofpotentiallysuitablelandswestoftheNorthBranchSusquehannaRiver,termedtheWest Alternative(subdividedintoAlternatives#1A,#1B,and #1C) and potentiallysuitablelandseastoftheriver,termedtheSoutheastAlternative,totalingapproximately760 acres.[Althoughno strictboundariesand acreageswereestablishedforthealternativesby UniStar,GAl has establishedapproximateboundariesandacreagesforconvenienceofdescriptionsinthisreportand anysitealternativescomparisonsbasedoninformationinthisreport.]Inaddition,GAl conducteda brieffieldviewofpotentialcoolingwaterintakeand dischargestructurelocationson theeastand westbanksoftheNorthBranchSusquehannaRiver,thelikelysourceand receivingwaterbodyforcoolingwater.Phase IAstudiesincludedpreliminarybackground,a geomorphologicaland archaeologicalreconnaissanceand an architecturalreview.FieldinvestigationswereperformedbetweenJune18 and 20,2007.

West Alternative

Phase IAbackgroundresearchdocumentedno previouslyrecordedarchaeologicalsitesorarchitecturalresourceswithintheareacomprisingtheWest Alternative.GAl'sarchitecturalreviewidentifiedsixpotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresourcesover50 yearsofagewithinthisalternative'sviewshed.TheseresourceswouldrequireNationalRegisterevaluationand documentationduringasubsequentarchitecturalsurvey.

Alternative#1A (assumedtobe approximately160-acresforthisreport)includesapproximately90acresofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalpotentialthatwouldrequiresubsequentsubsurfacearchaeologicalinvestigationstoidentifyculturalresources.The remainingarea(approximately70acres)consistsoflowpotentialwetlandsand steepslopesthatwouldnotrequiresystematicsubsurfacetestingduringsubsequentinvestigations.Phase IAarchaeologicalreconnaissanceidentifiedone possibleunrecordedhistoricarchaeologicalresourceintheareaofpotentialeffect(APE)thatmay requirefurtherinvestigation. Siteswithinthisuplandparcelarelikelytobe near-surfaceinnature.

Alternative#1B (approximately260-acres)containsapproximately140 acresofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalpotentialthatwouldrequiresubsequentsubsurfacearchaeologicalinvestigationstoidentifyculturalresources.Approximately60 acresofthisalternativeareconsideredlowpotentialduetothepresenceofwetlandsorsteepslopes;theselowpotentialsettingswouldnotrequiresystematicsubsurfacetestingduringsubsequentinvestigations.An areaofapproximately60 acresareaintheparcel'snortheastcornerhas been disturbedby a landfilland has no archaeologicalpotential.PhaseIAarchaeologicalreconnaissanceidentifiedtwopossibleunrecordedhistoricarchaeologicalresourcesintheAPE thatmay requirefurtherinvestigation.Siteswithinthisuplandareaaremostlikelytobenear-surfaceinnature.

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The 410-acre(approximate)Alternative#1C (combinedAlternatives#1A and #1B)consistsofapproximately230 acresofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalpotentialthatwouldrequiresubsequentsubsurfacearchaeologicalinvestigationstoidentifyculturalresources.A totalofapproximately120acresofwetlandsorslopesinexcessof15 percentinthisalternativehavelowarchaeologicalpotentialand wouldnotbe subjecttosystematicsubsurfacetestingduringsubsequentinvestigations.The 60acre(approximate)landfillintheparcel'snortheastcornerhas no archaeologicalpotential.Phase IAreconnaissanceidentifiedthreepossibleunrecordedhistoricarchaeologicalresourcesinAlternative#1C thatmay requirefurtherinvestigation.Siteswithinthisparcelarelikelytobe near-surfaceinnature.

The potentiallocationofcoolingwaterintake/dischargestructuresand pipelineson thewestbankfloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRiverhasa hightomoderatepotentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeply-buriedarchaeologicalsites.

SoutheastAlternative

The SoutheastAlternativeconsistsofapproximately350 acres,includingapproximately100 acresofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalpotentialrequiringsubsequentsubsurfacetesting.The remainderofthisalternative consistsofapproximately250 acresoflowarchaeologicalpotential,notsubjecttosystematicsubsurfacetesting,and aboutfiveacresofdisturbancethatwouldbe excludedfromsubsequentarchaeologicalinvestigations.Backgroundresearchdocumentedtwopreviouslyrecordedarchitecturalresourceswithinthisalternative.Phase IAarchaeologicalreconnaissanceidentifiedonepossiblehistoricarchaeologicalresourceintheprojectAPE thatmay requirefurtherinvestigation.Siteswithinthemajorityofthisalternativearelikelytobe near-surfaceinnature.The northwesternportionofthisparcel,on thelowterraceadjacenttoLittleWapwallopenCreekhas a potentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeplyburiedarchaeologicalsites.

GAl'sarchitecturalreviewidentifiedfourpotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresourcesover50 yearsofage withintheprojectviewshed,includingtheOldRiverChurch.TheseresourceswouldrequireNationalRegisterevaluationand documentationduringsubsequentarchitecturalsurvey.Inaddition,GAl identifiedone potentialculturalproperty(CouncilCup)withintheviewshedoftheSoutheastAlternative.Thisproperty,whichrepresentsa NativeAmericanmeetingplaceand overlook,wouldrequireevaluationand documentationduringsubsequentarchaeologicalinvestigations.

The potentiallocationofcoolingwaterintake/dischargestructuresand pipelineson theeastbankfloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRiverhasa hightomoderatepotentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeply-buriedarchaeologicalsites.One previouslyrecordedarchaeologicalsitelieswithintheareaofinterest.

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ProjectDescriptionThe areaunderreviewforProjectLeo (projectarea)consistsofPPL Corporation(PPL)landsituatedalongtheNorthBranchSusquehannaRiverinthevicinityoftheirSusquehannaSteam ElectricStation(SSES)justnorthoftheriver'sBellBend,approximately4.8kilometers(3miles)northeastofthetownofBerwickand 1.6kilometers(1 mile)northofthecommunityofBeach Haven (Figure1).UniStarisevaluatingpotentialsuitabilityofthisareafordevelopmentofa new nucleargeneratingunit(s).ThePhase IAstudyareacomprisestwoproposeddevelopmentalternatives,designatedtheWestAlternativeand theSoutheastAlternative.The WestAlternativeisan approximately408-acreparcellyingimmediatelywestoftheexistingSSES facilityand 1.6kilometers(1 mile)westoftheriver(seePhotograph1).The WestAlternativehasbeen furthersubdividedbyUniStarintothreealternatives-Alternative#1A(Southwest1 Unit),Alternative#1B (West1 Unit),andAlternative#1C (West2 Units).

Photograph1.OverviewofWest Alternative,FacingNortheast.

The SoutheastAlternativeconsistsofan approximately353-acrearealocatedon theoppositesideoftheriver,0.6kilometers(0.4miles)eastoftheriverbank(seePhotograph2).Two additionalproposeddevelopmentalternatives(theNorthwestand NortheastAlternatives),borderingthenorthernedgeofthecurrentprojectarea,havebeen excludedfromconsiderationbyUniStarand areoutsidethescopeofthisstudy.AlsoassociatedwiththeWest and SoutheastAlternativesarepotentiallocationsofcoolingwaterintakeand dischargestructuresand associatedpipelines, situatedon/throughthefloodplaintotheeastand westbanksoftheSusquehannaRiver.

Photograph2.OverviewofSoutheastAlternativeandCouncilCup (background)from RiverLands Park,Facing

Southeast

The goalsofthePhase IAinvestigationweretoidentifypreviouslyrecordedculturalresourceswithintheWest and SoutheastAlternativesand tocharacterizethepotentialofeachalternativetocontainunrecordedarchaeologicalsitesand architecturalresources,inordertoprovideguidanceinratingtheselocationsforsubsequentdevelopment.

Phase IAtasksconsistedofpreliminarybackgroundresearch,a geomorphologicaland archaeologicalreconnaissanceand an architecturalreview.Thisstudywas conductedinaccordancewiththestandardsand guidelinesofthePennsylvaniaHistoricaland Museum Commission/BureauforHistoricPreservation(PHMC/BHP 1991)(StateHistoricPreservationOffice,SHPO.

Area ofPotentialEffectThe AreaofPotentialEffect(APE)forGAl'sPhase IAarchaeologicalreconnaissanceisdefinedas thefootprintsoftheWestAlternativeand SoutheastAlternative,totalingapproximately761 acres.Forarchitecturalresources,theAPE consistsofthe761-acreprojectfootprintplusthesurroundingviewshed.The viewshedisvariableinsizedue todifferencesintopography,butextendsatleast1,000feetbeyondtheprojectfootprint.

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P:l2007/C07081O.OO/GIS/ProjecUiles/Figure1_proUocation.mxd

FIGURE 1PROJECT LOCATION

DRAWN BY:AMLCHECKED:

DATE: 7/25/2007APPROVED:

UNISTAR NUCLEAR

DEVELOPMENT, LLC.gaiconsultants

6,000Feet

1,500 3,000o


Background ResearchGAl conductedpreliminarybackgroundresearchincludinga reviewofPennsylvaniaArchaeologicalSiteSurvey(PASS)files,historicstructurefiles,and NationalRegisteravailablethroughthePHMC/BHP's on-lineCulturalResourcesGeographicInformationServices(CRGIS).Datawascollectedon previouslyrecordedarchaeologicalsitesand historic/architecturalresourceslocatedwithinthetwoproposedprojectalternatives(WestAlternativeand SoutheastAlternative)and intheimmediateprojectvicinity [approximately1.6kilometer(1-mile)radius].GAl alsoexaminedreportsonculturalresourcestudiesoftheprojectvicinityprovidedby UniStar.The purposeofthistaskwas to1)identifypreviouslyrecordedculturalresourcesinthevicinityofthestudyareaand 2)assesstheprojectarea'spotentialforunrecordedculturalresources.

Backgroundresearchidentifieda totalof24 archaeologicalsitesand 4 architecturalresourceswithintheprojectvicinity(Figure2).The majorityofthearchaeologicalsitesoccuron floodplainseastandwestoftheNorthBranchSusquehannaRiver.The followingsectionsummarizestheresultsofbackgroundresearchfortheWestAlternative(resourceswestoftheriver)and theSoutheastAlternative(resourceseastoftheriver).

ThisPhase IAbackgroundresearchrepresentsa preliminaryreviewofpreviouslyrecordedculturalresources.Additionalworkfora selectedfacilitylocationwouldincludea reviewofPASS forms,HistoricResourceSurveyForms,and NationalRegisterformsatthePHMC/BHP inHarrisburgas wellas an examinationofhistoricmaps oftheprojectvicinity.

WestAlternative:BackgroundResearchResults

PreviouslyIdentifiedCulturalResources

Backgroundresearchidentifiedno previouslyrecordedculturalresourceswithinthefootprintofthe408-acreWestAlternative.However,13 archaeologicalsites(12prehistoricand 1 prehistoric/historic)and 2 architecturalresourceshavebeen mapped intheprojectvicinity,westoftheSusquehannaRiver(seeFigure2).

All13 archaeologicalsitesareopen airhabitationslocatedon thefloodplainorlowterracesadjacenttotheNorthBranchSusquehannaRiver(seeFigure2,Table1).Ten ofthesitesareclusteredalongtheriverbankbetweentheexistingSSES intakestructureand GouldIsland,2.1kilometers(1.3miles)tothenorth.Theyarepredominantlymulticomponentsitesranginginage fromtheEarlyArchaictoLateWoodlandperiods;one sitealsocontainsan historiccomponent(seeTable1).LateArchaic(n=8),unspecifiedArchaic(n=8),Transitional(n=6),and LateWoodland(n=5)componentsaremostcommon. Ofthese13 sites,fourareNRHP-listedoreligible,twohavebeen recommended as NRHPeligiblebytheSHPO, twoarerecommended as noteligibleand fivehaveinsufficientdatatomake arecommendation.

The twoarchitecturalresourcesrecordedinthevicinityoftheWestAlternativeconsistoftheNorthBranchPennsylvaniaCanal(141673)and a bridge(135820)(seeFigure2,Table2).The NorthBranchCanal,locatedon thefloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRiver,parallelstheriverandextendsfurthernorthand southofthecurrentprojectarea.Builtbetween1828and 1831,thiscanalisrepresentedbytheremainsofthecanalprism,towpath,locksand associatedfeatures.A HistoricResourceSurveyForm preparedfora sectionofthecanaland canallocksbetweenBeach Haven andBerwickrecommendedthatthisresourceiseligibletotheNRHP.

The recordedbridge(135820)issituatedalongNorthMarketStreet,91 meters(300feet)northoftheWestAlternative.Thisstonestructurewas builtin1937and isrecommended NotEligibletotheNRHP.

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Table1.West Alternative:PreviouslyRecordedArchaeologicalSitesinProjectVicinity

Site

I

Name IL,odfocmI

SiteType

I

Age

I

Within

I

RecommendedNumber APE? NRHP Status

36LU0015 -- Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Habitation A,LA,LW No ListedorEliqible36LU0016 -- Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Habitation A,LA,EW, MW, LW No ListedorEliqible36LU0017 -- Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Habitation LA,A,Tr,LW No InsufficientData36LU0048 SES-16 Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Habitation Unknown Prehist No InsufficientData36LU0049 SES-8 Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Habitation A,LA,Tr,W, EW, LW No ListedorEliqible36LU0050 SES-10 Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Habitation A,LA No NotEliqible36LU0051 SES-11 Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Habitation W, LW No ListedorEliqible36LU0052 SES-14 Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Habitation, A,LA,Tr,EW, No InsufficientData

Historic Historic36LU0056 -- Floodplain Prehistoric Unknown Prehist No InsufficientData36LU0105 Ruben Floodplain! PrehistoricOpen Habitation A,Tr,W, EW, MW, No InsufficientData

Island LW36LU0183 Baluski Terrace PrehistoricOpen Habitation A,EA No NotEliqible36LU0191 -- Terrace PrehistoricOpen Habitation LA,Tr No Rec.Eligibleby

SHPO36LU0270 Beach Terrace PrehistoricOpen Site MA, LA,Tr No Rec.Eligibleby

Haven I SHPO

A=Archaic;EA=EarlyArchaic;MA=MiddleArchaic;LA=LateArchaic;W=Woodland;EW=EarlyWoodland;MW=Middle Woodland;LW=LateWoodland;Tr=Transitional

Table2.West Alternative:PreviouslyRecordedArchitecturalResourcesinProjectVicinity

Resource

I

Name

I

ResourceType

I

Date ITOWffih;pIWithin

I


135820 SR 7228Bridqe Bridqe 1937 Salem No NotEliqible141673 NorthBranchCanal;Wyoming Canal and Locks 1828,1831 Salem No Eligible

CanalCo.;PennsylvaniaCanalCo.

PriorCulturalResourcesInvestigations

A reviewofCRGIS dataindicatesthatfivepriorculturalresourceinvestigationshave been conductedwithinthevicinityoftheWest Alternative,westoftheriver.Phase Iand IIinvestigationsofproposedSalem Townshipsewage facilitiesinBerwickand Beach Haven was performedby Pan CulturalAssociates,Inc.,in2005 (Reinbold2005).Thissurveyrecordedtheremainsofa portionoftheNorthBranchCanal,identifiedone prehistoricsite(36LU270)and testedpreviouslyrecordedSite36LU191.Allresourcesarelocatedon lowterracesalongtheNorthBranchSusquehannaRiver.

A Phase Isurveyofthreelotson a terraceeastofBeach Haven was conductedby RichardGrubb&Associatesin1994.Thisstudyidentifiedone small,undated,prehistoricsite(sitenumbernotavailable)and recommended additionalPhase IIinvestigationsofthelocality.

Eightprehistoricsiteswere identifiedwithintheprojectvicinityby a Phase IsurveyoftheSSESfloodplainconductedby CommonwealthAssociatesInc.in1980 (Schuldenrein1981;Hays etal.1981).ThisprojectareaislocatedimmediatelyeastoftheexistingSSES facility.The eightidentifiedsitesarealllocatedadjacenttotheriverbankand include36LU15, 36LU16, 36LU17, 36LU48, 36LU49,36L1U50,36LU51,and 36LU52. Thesesitesrangeinage fromLateArchaicthroughLateWoodlandandHistoric.Thisstudyindicatedthatfloodplain/lowterracesettingsalongtheriverhavea highpotentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeplyburiedprehistoricarchaeologicalsites.

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In1995,AAR performeda Phase IsurveyoftheBaluskiFillArealocatedon theriverbanknearGouldIslandnorthofthecurrentprojectarea(Bohlin1995).Thisstudyidentifiedone prehistoricsite,36LU183.

A Phase IsurveyoftheWilliams-TranscontinentalGas PipelineCorporationLeidytoLong IslandExpansionwas conductedby BHE EnvironmentalInc.,in2005.Thisinvestigationstudiedtwoproposedloops,one ofwhich(theBerwickLoop)islocatedinan uplandsettingnorthofthepresentstudyarea.Twenty-threeculturalresourceswereidentifiedwithintheBerwickLoop,including18 stonewallremnants,twowells,a schoolhousefoundation,a cementwallfoundationand a bridge.Threeofthese resources(theschoolhousefoundationand thetwowells)wererecommended as potentiallyeligibletotheNRHP.

SoutheastAlternative:BackgroundResearchResults

PreviouslyIdentifiedCulturalResources

Phase IAbackgroundresearchindicatedthat11 archaeologicalsites(nineprehistoricand twoprehistoric/historic)and twoarchitecturalresourceshavebeen previouslyrecordedinthevicinityoftheSoutheastAlternative(seeFigure2).The twoarchitecturalresources(OldRiverChurchand a bridge)arebothlocatedwithintheboundaryoftheproposedSoutheastAlternative.The elevenarchaeologicalsitesarealllocatedinproximitytothisparcel.(Notealsothatone ofthesesiteslieswithinthepossibleintakestructurelocalityon theeastbankoftheriver.)A summary ofthese resourcesispresentedinTables3 and 4.

The 11 archaeologicalsitesintheprojectvicinityareallsituatedinfloodplainorlowterracesettingsalongtheeastbankoftheNorthBranchSusquehannaRiver(seeFigure2).Nineofthesesitesarerecordedas prehistoricopen habitations.The sitetypeforone (36LU43/KnouseSite)isidentifiedasspecializedprehistoric/historic/contactand one typeisprehistoric/historic.The majorityofsitesaremulticomponent,withprehistoriccomponentsdatingfromtheEarlyArchaicthroughLateWoodlandand Contactperiod.UnspecifiedArchaic(n=8),LateWoodland(n=6),unspecifiedWoodland(n=5),and EarlyWoodland(n=5)componentsaremostcommon atthesesites.

OfspecialinterestistheKnouseSite(36LU43),locatedon thefloodplainapproximately304 meters(1000feet)westoftheSoutheastAlternative(seeFigure2).ExcavationsofthisLateWoodland/Historic/Contactperiodsitein1978yielded21 NativeAmericanburialsand 14 featuresaswellas associatedartifactsincludinglithics,ceramics,bone,glassseedbeads,and metal(Mcintyre1979).

The CRGIS databaseindicatesthatall11 siteshaveyieldedinsufficientdatatomakerecommendationsas totheirNRHP eligibility.

Table3.SoutheastAlternative:PreviouslyRecordedArchaeologicalSitesinProjectVicinity

Site

I

Name IL,odfocmI

SiteType

I

Age

I

Within

I


36LUOO18 Yorkoski Floodplain PrehistoricOpen A No InsufficientDataHabitation

36LUOO19 StoneCrusher Floodplain PrehistoricOpen A,EA, LA,Tr,W, EW, LW No InsufficientDataHabitation

36LUOO20 -- Floodplain PrehistoricOpen A,Tr No InsufficientDataHabitation

36LUOO21 S. Floodplain Prehistoricand A,W, EW, MW, LW, Hist No InsufficientDataWapwallopen Historic

36LUOO22 -- Floodplain PrehistoricOpen A,MA, LA,W, EW, LW No InsufficientDataHabitation

36LUOO23 Smith Floodplain PrehistoricOpen A No' InsufficientDataHabitation

36LUOO24 Kibler Floodplain PrehistoricOpen Unknown Prehistoric No InsufficientDataHabitation

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SiteName

LandformSiteType Age

Within RecommendedNumber APE? NRHP Status

36LU0025 Heller Terrace PrehistoricOpen A No InsufficientDataHabitation

36LU0043 Knouse Floodplain Prehistoric LW, Historic,Contact No InsufficientData(Wapwallopen) Specialized

(burials),Historic36LU0090 Sapphire Floodplain PrehistoricOpen LA,Tr,W, EW, MW, LW No InsufficientData

Habitation36LU0188 Bam Field(B1) Terrace PrehistoricOpen A,EA, MA, LA,Tr,W, EW, LW No InsufficientData

Habitation

A=Archaic;EA=EarlyArchaic;MA=MiddleArchaic;LA=LateArchaic;W=Woodland;EW=EarlyWoodland;MW=Middle Woodland;LW=LateWoodland;Tr=Transitional

*36LU23 locatedwithinpossibleeastbankintakestructurelocality

As notedabove,thetwopreviouslyrecordedarchitecturalresourcesintheprojectvicinityeastoftheriverarebothlocatedwithinthefootprintoftheSoutheastAlternative(seeFigure2).TheseresourcesconsistoftheUnionReformed& LutheranChurch(knownas theOldRiverChurch)and a bridge(135679)(seeTable4).The OldRiverChurch,builtin1833,liesinthenorthwestcorneroftheSoutheastAlternative,alongRt.239. Itconsistsofa framestructureand associatedcemetery.ItsNRHP statusisundetermined.Thebridge(135679)islocatedinthenorthwestcorneroftheSoutheastAlternativeand carriesRt.239 overLittleWapwallopenCreek.Thisstructurewas builtin1940and isrecommended NotEligibletotheNRHP.

Table4.SoutheastAlternative:PreviouslyRecordedArchitecturalResourcesinProjectVicinity

R".,,,,,,I Name

I

Resource

I

Date

I

Township

I

Within IRocomm,"',dNumber Type APE? NRHP Status

135679 SR 239Bridge Bridge 1940 Conyngham Yes NotEligible086527 UnionReformed& LutheranChurch Church 1833 Conyngham Yes Undetermined

(OldRiverChurch)

PriorCulturalResourceInvestigations

A reviewoftheCRGIS databaseindicatesthata seriesofculturalresourceinvestigationshavebeenundertakenby SHE Environmental,Inc.,inassociationwiththeWilliamsGas Pipeline-Transcocorridor,locatednorthofthecurrentprojectarea.Phase Isurveyofthecorridoridentifiedtwoprehistoricsites,36LU90 and 36LU105. SubsequentPhase IIand IIIstudieswereconductedofthesesitesbetween1985and 1988.

In1978,salvageexcavationsofSite36LU43 (theKnouse Site)wereconductedinadvanceofPennsylvaniaPowerand Light'sproposeddevelopmentofa parcelon theeastsideoftheSusquehannaRiverfloodplain(Mcintyre1979).As notedabove,thissiteislocatedon thefloodplaindirectlywestoftheSoutheastAlternativeand yieldedburials,featuresand associatedartifacts.

Phase IAFieldMethodsGAl conductedPhase IAfieldinvestigationsoftheprojectarea,consistingofa geomorphologicalandarchaeologicalreconnaissanceand an architecturalreview,on June18-20,2007.

Geomorphologicaland ArchaeologicalReconnaissance

GAl'sin-houseprofessionalsoilscientistand theproject'sarchaeologicalfielddirectorperformedareconnaissanceoftheWest and SoutheastAlternativesinordertocharacterizethepotentialofeachof

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thetwoprojectareastocontainunrecordedculturalresources.Specificgoalsofthegeomorphologicaland archaeologicalreconnaissancewereto:

• Evaluatesurfacedisturbancesand landformage;

• Assessthepotentialforburiedarchaeologicalsites;and

• Refinepreliminaryestimatesofarchaeologicalsensitivityderivedfrombackgroundresearch.

DuringtheGeomorphologicalReconnaissance,GAl'ssoilscientistperformeda walk-overoftheprojectareatoidentifytheextentofsurfacedisturbances.Inconjunctionwiththegeomorphologicalassessment,GAl'sprojectarchaeologistconductedan ArchaeologicalReconnaissancetoground-truthpreliminaryassessmentsofarchaeologicalpotentialbasedon backgroundresearch.

Thisfieldreconnaissancealsoincludeda cursoryinspectionofpossibleproposedintakestructurelocationson theeastand westbanksoftheSusquehannaRiverand oftheNorthwestAlternativeandtheNortheastAlternative,alreadyexcludedfromconsiderationbytheclient.

Based on theresultsofthefieldreconnaissance,GAl characterizedtheprojectAPE intermsofitsarchaeologicalpotential:hightomoderatepotential,lowpotential,and disturbed/nopotential.Relativelyundisturbed,leveltogentlyslopinguplandssettingsaswellas floodplainsand lowterracesalongtheSusquehannaRiverand LittleWapwallopenCreekweredeterminedtohavehightomoderatearchaeologicalpotential.Steepslopes(slopesinexcessof15 percent),poorlydrained/wetlandareas,and highlyerodedfieldswereconsideredtohavelowarchaeologicalpotential.Areasdisturbedby grading,landfilland recentconstructionactivitiesweredeterminedtohavenoarchaeologicalpotential.Figure3 depictsarchaeologicalpotentialwithintheWest and SoutheastAlternativesand inpotentialcoolingwaterfacilitylocationsalongtheriver.

ArchitecturalReview

Inordertoconducta preliminaryassessmentofthepotentialoftheWestAlternativeand SoutheastAlternativetocontainhistoric/architecturalresourcesGAl compileddigitalphotographsofstandingstructureslocatedwithinand intheimmediatevicinity(viewshed)oftheseparcels.ThesephotographsweresubsequentlyreviewedbyGAl'sSeniorArchitecturalHistorianinordertoidentifystructuresthatareover50 yearsofage and providea preliminaryassessmentoftheireligibilitytotheNRHP. Figure3 depictsthelocationsofthesearchitecturalresources.

InaccordancewiththescopeofworkforthisPhase IAinvestigation,no PennsylvaniaHistoricResourceSurvey(PHRS)formswerecompletedforthesestructures

Phase IAFieldResults:West AlternativeThe WestAlternative(Alternative#1)isan approximately408-acreparcelsituatedinan uplandsettingwestand southwestoftheexistingSSES facility.Itisboundedby Beach GroveRoad tothenorth,NorthMarketStreettothewestand ConfersLane totheeast.WalkerRun and an unnamed tributaryoftheNorthBranchSusquehannaRiverextendintothewesternedgeoftheAPE; a wetlandismappedbetweenthesetwostreams.Land usewithintheAPE includeswoodlands,agriculturalfieldsandorchards.A powerlinerow-of-wayextendsthroughthenortheastportionoftheAPE. The northeastcorneriscoveredby a largelandfillassociatedwiththeexistingpowerplant.Elevationsrangefrom201 meters(660feet)alongthestreamsinthesouthwestportionoftheparcelto244 meters(800feet)on a seriesofuplandknobsinitsnorthernhalf.

GeomorphologicalreconnaissanceindicatedthatnearlyalloftheWestAlternativeconsistsofhighPleistoceneterracesand isolatedknobs(terracestraths).The parcel hasbeen cultivatedand fieldsalongitssouthernedgearehighlyeroded,withB horizonexposedon thesurface.Wetlands,mappedon theU.S.G.S.topographicquadrangleand identifiedinthefieldbywetlandvegetation,wereobservedinthesouthwesternportionofthisalternative.Itispossiblethatthisareamay haveaperchedwatertabledue totheexistenceoffragipansubsoils.Due toitsuplandsetting,soilswithintheWestAlternativeareexpectedtobe shallowinnature.Thisareahasno potentialfordeepsoils.

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Based on informationprovidedby UniStarduringPhase IAfieldwork,theWestAlternativehasbeensubdividedintoAlternative#1A (Southwest1 Unit),Alternative#1B (West1 Unit)and Alternative#1C(West2 Units).Alternative#1A isan approximately153 acreparcelcomprisingthesouthernportionoftheWestAlternative,inthesouthwestcornerofthePPL land.Alternative#1 B, an approximately255acreparcel,encompassesthenorthernportionoftheWestAlternative.The formerKisnerFarmstead(seeFigure3)markstheapproximateboundarybetweentheAlternatives#1A and #1B. Alternative#1C representstheentire408-acreWestAlternative(Alternatives#1A and #1B combined).

The followingsectionspresenttheresultsofarchaeologicalreconnaissancebysubsections:Alternative#1A,Alternative#1B and Alternative#1C.

Alternative#1A-ArchaeologicalPotential

Based on theresultsofPhase IAarchaeologicalreconnaissance,theapproximately153-acreAlternative#1A (southernportionoftheWestAlternative)includes86.5acresofhightomoderatearchaeologicalpotentialand 67.1acresoflowarchaeologicalpotential(seeFigure3).Thisalternativecontainsno significantareasofdisturbance/noarchaeologicalpotential.

AreasofhightomoderatearchaeologicalpotentialwithinAlternative#1A consistofrelativelylevelwoodlanduplandsaswellas relativelylevelagriculturalfieldsbothinuplandsalongthestreams(Photograph3).Theseareasareconcentratedintheeasternportionofthisalternative.

Photograph3.OverviewofAlternative#1A,ShowingHigh-ModeratePotentialintheWooded Uplandsand

AgriculturalFields,FacingNorth.

Wetlandsidentifiedinthewesternportionofthisalternativeand alongitsnorthernborderhavea lowarchaeologicalpotential(seePhotograph4).

Photograph4.OverviewofAlternative#1A,ShowingLowPotentialina WetlandSetting,FacingSouthwest.

Archaeologicalreconnaissanceidentifiedone possibleunrecordedhistoricarchaeologicalsiteswithintheAlternative#1A-theSinkHouse Site.The SinkHouseSiteisrepresentedby a fieldstonewallobservedalongConfersLane intheeasternportionofthissection,inalocalitydescribedas thelocationoftheformerSinkresidence(seePhotograph5).Thisstonewallmayrepresenttheremainsofa foundationora fieldwall.

Photograph5.OverviewofAlternative#1A,ShowingStoneWallAssociatedwiththeSinkHouse Site,Facing

North.

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Anotherpossiblearchaeologicalresource,theShortzHouse SiteislocatedimmediatelyeastoftheAPE alongConfersLane.ThispossiblesiterepresentsthelocationoftheformerShortzHouse,identifiedby PPL (seeFigure3). No surfaceremainswereobservedinthislocalityduringfieldreconnaissance.

Due totheprojectarea'suplandsetting,itisexpectedthatarchaeologicalresourceswillbe nearsurfaceinnature.No deeplyburiedarchaeologicalsitesareexpectedinthisarea.

Alternative#1B-ArchaeologicalPotential

GAl'sPhase IAreconnaissanceindicatesthattheapproximately255-acreAlternative#1B (thenorthernportionoftheWestAlternative)encompasses138.2acresofhightomoderatearchaeologicalpotential,55.0acresoflowarchaeologicalpotentialand 61.5acresofdisturbance/noarchaeologicalpotential(Figure3).Areasofhightomoderatearchaeologicalpotentialinthissectionincludewoodlandsand appleorchardssituatedon uplandssouthofBeach GroveRoad (seePhotograph6)aswellas agriculturalfieldsassociatedwiththeformerKisnerfarmsteadinitssouthcentralportion.

Photograph6.OverviewofAlternative#1B,ShowingHigh-ModeratePotentialinUplandAgriculturalFields,

FacingSouth.

SteepsideslopeswithinAlternative#1B havelowarchaeologicalpotential.Wetlandsidentifiedinfieldsand woodlandsalongthesouthernedgeofthissectionalsohavea lowpotentialforarchaeologicalsites.

The northeastcornerofthissection,adjacenttoConfersLaneand theexistingSSES facility,hasbeenextensivelydisturbedbygradingand landfillactivitiesand isconsideredtohaveno archaeologicalpotential(seePhotograph7).

Photograph7.OverviewofAlternative#1B, ShowingLowPotentialon SteepSlopes(Background)andHigh

ModeratePotentialinAgriculturalFields(Foreground),FacingNorth.

Based on Phase IAarchaeologicalreconnaissanceand informationprovidedby PPL regardingformerstructures,twopossibleunrecordedhistoricarchaeologicalresources-theKisnerFarmsteadand theJohnson/FolkBarn-occurwithinAlternative#1B. TheformerKisnerFarmstead,locatedeastofNorthMarketStreet,consistsofpilesofrubbleand gravel;nofoundationswereidentified.Photographsoftheformerfarmstead,providedby PPL, indicatethatthiscomplexincludeda dwellingand associatedagriculturaloutbuildings(seePhotograph8).

Photograph8.OverviewofKisner(Alternative#1B)PriortoDemolition,FacingEast.

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The formerJohnson/FolkBarn,situatedatthenorthernedgeofAlternative1B alongBeach GroveRoad,isrepresentedby an earthenramp. No structuralremainswereobservedon thegroundsurfaceinthislocality.

Due totheprojectarea'suplandsetting,itisexpectedthatarchaeologicalresourceswillbe nearsurfaceinnature.No deeplyburiedarchaeologicalsitesareexpectedinthislocality.

Alternative#1C-ArchaeologicalPotential

Alternative#1C representstheentire408-acreWestAlternative(Alternatives#1A and #1B combined).Based on theresultsofPhase IAreconnaissance,Alternative#1C consistsof225 acresofhightomoderatearchaeologicalpotential,122 acresoflowarchaeologicalpotentialand 61 acresofdisturbance/nopotential.Inaddition,thisalternativeincludesthreepossibleunrecordedarchaeologicalresources(theKisnerFarmstead,theJohnson/FolkBarn,and theSinkHouse)allrepresentingthelocationofformerstructures.(ThesepossiblearchaeologicalresourcesaredescribedaboveforAlternatives#1A and #1B.)

IntakeStructure--WestAlternative

AlthoughitislocatedoutsidetheAPE forthecurrentPhase IAstudy,attherequestofUniStarGAlconducteda brieffieldviewoftheproposedintakestructurelocationfortheWestAlternative.Basedon preliminaryinformationprovidedby UniStar,thisstructurewouldbe situatedon thewestbankfloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRivereithernorthorsouthoftheexistingSSES intakestructure(seePhotograph9).

Photograph9. OverviewofPossibleIntakeStructureLocation,West BankoftheSusquehannaRiver,Facing

North.

The potentiallocationforcoolingwaterfacilitiesconsistsofrelativelylevelwoodlandsand agriculturalfieldswitha hightomoderatepotentialforbothnear-surfacearchaeologicalsitesand fordeeplyburiedarchaeologicalsites.As notedinthepreviousbackgroundresearchsection,13 previouslyrecordedarchaeologicalsitesarelocatedon thewestbankfloodplainintheprojectvicinity.

Inaddition,thepotentiallocationforcoolingwaterfacilitiesliesimmediatelad'acenttotheremainsofthepreviouslyrecordedNorthBranchPennsylvania ~

Canal(141763).Portionsofthisresourceorassociatedfeaturesmay existwithinthisarea(Photograph10).TheNorfolkSouthern/PennsylvaniaRailroadislocated183meters(600feet)tothewestofthethislocationand itispossiblethatarchaeologicalremainsassociatedwiththisresourcemay alsooccurwithintheparcel.

Photograph10. OverviewoftheNorthBranchPennsylvaniaCanal,FacingSouth.

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Phase IAFieldResults:SoutheastAlternative

ArchaeologicalPotential

The SoutheastAlternativeconsistsofa 352-acreparcellocatedina predominantlyuplandsettingeastoftheSusquehannaRiver.Route239 formsitswesternboundaryand LittleWapwallopenCreek,whichflowswestwardtoemptyintotheSusquehannaRiver,liesjusttoitsnorth.The northwestcornerofthisparcelextendstothecreekitself.Land usewithintheSoutheastAlternativeincludeswoodlands,agriculturalfields,and utilitydevelopments.An existingPP&L substationislocatedon anuplandbenchinthesouthwestportionoftheparcel;an accessroadleadsfromRoute239 tothesubstation(Photograph11).One electricutilityright-ofway bisectsitswesternhalfand a secondright-of-waycutsthroughitseasternand northernportions.The OldRiverChurch,a recordedarchitecturalresource,islocatedalongRoute239. ElevationswithintheSoutheastAlternativerangefrom152 meters(500feet)alongLittleWapwallopenCreekto305 meters(1000feet)on theuplandsideslopeinitssoutheastcorner.

Photograph11.OverviewoftheExistingSubstation(Disturbed/NoPotential),FacingSouth.

Phase IAgeomorphologicalreconnaissanceconfirmedthattheSoutheastAlternativeencompassesanuplandsettingcharacterizedbysteepsideslopes,benchesand highterraces.Soilson uplandbenchesand slopesarelikelytobe shallow.InthenorthwestcornerofthisalternativethelowterraceadjacenttoLittleWapwallopenCreekmay havedeepsoilswitha potentialfordeeplyburiedarchaeologicaldeposits.DisturbancesintheAPE includeconstructionofthesubstationandinstallationoftheassociatedpowerlinesaswellas limitedlogging.

Based on theresultsofGAl'sPhase IAreconnaissancetheSoutheastAlternativeconsistsof102 acresofhightomoderatearchaeological,246 acresoflowpotential,and 5.0acresofdisturbance/nopotential.Woodlandsand agriculturalfieldson uplandbenches,locatedprimarilyinthewestcentralportionoftheAPE, havea hightomoderatepotentialfornearsurfacearchaeologicalsites(seeFigure3 andPhotograph12).The lowterracealongLittleWapwallopenCreekinthenorthwestcorneroftheparcelhas a hightomoderatepotentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeplyburiedarchaeologicalsites.

Photograph12.OverviewoftheSoutheastAlternative,ShowingHigh-ModeratePotentialina Wooded Upland

Setting,FacingSouth.

Steepsideslopes(inexcessof15 percentslope)foundthroughoutthesoutheasthalfoftheparcelandalongitsnorthernand westernedgeshavea lowarchaeologicalpotential(seeFigure3).

The areaoftheexistingsubstationhasbeen heavilydisturbedby constructionactivitiesand isconsideredtohaveno archaeologicalpotential(seeFigure3 and Photograph11).

The previouslyrecordedOldRiverChurchand Cemetery(086527),notedabove,islocatedwithintheAPE oftheSoutheastAlternative(Photograph13).Althougharchaeologicalreconnaissancedidnotidentifysurfaceevidenceoffoundationsorculturalfeaturesinthislocality,itispossiblethatarchaeologicalremainsassociatedwiththisarchitecturalresourcemay alsobe present.

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Photograph13.OverviewoftheOldRiverChurchandCemetery,FacingSoutheast.

OtherCulturalResource

Alsoidentifiedduringthecourseofthearchitecturalreviewoftheprojectviewshed,GAl identifiedonepotentialtraditionalculturalproperty,CouncilCup (seePhotograph14).CouncilCup representsaNativeAmericanmeetingplaceand overlook.Itissituatedon a knollapproximately610 meters(2000feet)southofthefootprintoftheSoutheastAlternative.Withanelevationof1200feet,thislocalityisone ofthehighestpointsintheareaand commands an extensiveviewofthesurroundingrivervalleyand ridges.A placarddescribingthesiteiscurrentlylocatedon thetopoftheknoll.Basedon informationprovidedby PPL,a foundationobservedontheknollrepresentstheremainsofa structure(possiblepicnicpavilion)builtinthe1930sand demolishedinthe1960s.

Photograph14.OverviewfromCouncilCup,FacingNorth.

IntakeStructure- SoutheastAlternative

GAl performeda brieffieldviewofthepotentiallocationofcoolingwaterintakeand dischargestructuresand associatedpipingon theeastbankfloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRiver,directlywestoftheSoutheastAlternativeAPE (seeFigure3 and Photograph15).

The proposedlocationencompasseslevelagriculturalfieldsand woodlandsbetweentheriverbankand theCanadianPacificRailway(formerDelawareand HudsonRailway).Thislocationhasa hightomoderatepotentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeplyburiedarchaeologicalsites(seeFigure3).

Photograph15.OverviewofPossibleIntakeStructureLocation,EastBankoftheSusquehannaRiver,Facing

North.

As documentedby backgroundresearch,11 previouslyrecordedarchaeologicalsiteshavebeen recordedon theeastbankfloodplainintheprojectvicinity,betweenWapwallopenCreekand GouldIsland.One ofthesesites,36LU23-anArchaicperiodprehistoricsite,lieswithintheproposedintakestructurelocality.Thispreviouslyrecordedsitemay beimpactedby constructionofthecoolingwaterfacilitiesinthisarea.Inaddition,theCanadianand

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PacificRailwaylocated152 meters(500feet)totheeastand itispossiblethatunrecordedarchaeologicalremainsassociatedwiththisrailroadmay occurinthislocation.

ResultsofArchitecturalReview

WestAlternative

Based on theresultsofGAl'sarchitecturalreview,sixpotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresourcesaresituatedwithintheviewshedoftheWestAlternative.Theseincludethe"BeachGrove"cemetery,anunnamed residence,an unnamed farmstead,theValleyPike,NorfolkSouthern/PennsylvaniaRailroadSunburyDivision,and theNorthBranchCanal(seeFigure2).AlloftheseresourcesarelocatedoutsidethefootprintoftheWestAlternative.The viewshedofeachofthese resourceswouldpotentiallybe affectedbythedevelopmentoftheWestAlternative.

The Beach Grovecemetery,locatedalongBeach GroveRoad northeastoftheWestAlternative,consistsofinternments,some ofwhichdatefromthenineteenthcentury(Photograph16).

Photograph16.Overviewofthe"BeachGrove"Cemetery,FacingWest.

The unnamed residenceislocatedattheintersectionofNorthMarketand Beach GroveRoad. Itisframedandweatherboarded.Itstandstwostorieshighwiththeeavewallfrontingtheroadway(Photograph17).

The unnamed farmstead,situatedalongNorthMarketStreet,consistsofa front-gable,two-story,framedandweatherboardeddwelling,alongwithancillaryagriculturaloutbuildings,some ofwhichdatefromthe1980s(Photograph18).

Photograph17.OverviewoftheUnnamed ResidenceattheIntersectionofNorthMarketSt.andBeach GroveRd.,

FacingNorth.

The NorthBranchCanalislocatedon thefloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRivereastoftheexistingSSES facility.Builtin1828,thisresourceconsistsofthecanalprismand towpath(seePhotograph10).

The ValleyPike(U.S.Route11),alsolocatedon thefloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRiver,isacontemporaryroadwaybuiltabovethealignmentoftheSusquehannaand TiogaTurnpike,a historicPennsylvaniaturnpikedatingfromcirca1810.

Photograph18.OverviewoftheUnnamed FarmsteadAlongNorthMarketSt.,FacingSouth.

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The NorfolkSouthern/PennsylvaniaRailroadSunburyDivisionisa railwaydatingfromthe1870s.Itwas builttohaulcoalfromtheanthracitefieldsoftheWyoming Valley.

GAl'sarchitecturalreviewindicatesthatsixpotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresourcesover50 yearsofage occurwithintheviewshedoftheWestAlternative.Ifno formalDeterminationofEligibilityexistsfortheresources,orifPennsylvaniaHistoricResource(PHRS)formshavenotbeen completed,theseformswouldneedtobe preparedas partoffutureculturalresourcework.GAl recommendsareconnaissance-levelfieldevaluationoftheresourcestodeterminetheireligibilityforlistingintheNRHP and topreparea PHRS Form foreach resource


GAl'sarchitecturalreviewindicatesthattheviewshedoftheSoutheastAlternativeincludesfourpotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresources.The architecturalresourcesincludetheOldRiverChurchand Cemetery(UnionReformedand LutheranChurchatWapwallopen),theHess Farmstead,anunnamed farmsteadand theCanadianPacific/Delaware& Hudson Railway.The viewshedoftheseresourceswouldpotentiallybe affectedby thedevelopmentoftheSoutheastAlternative.

The OldRiverChurchand Cemetery(UnionReformedand LutheranChurchatWapwallopen),locatedwithinthefootprintoftheSoutheastAlternative,isa houseofworshipdatingfrom1833(seePhotographs13 and 19).Thisframebuildingfeaturestheworkmanshipofskilledmastercarpenters.

Photograph19.OverviewoftheOldRiverChurch,FacingSoutheast.

The Hess Farmstead,whichwas notphotographed,isapotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresourcewithagriculturalassociations.ThisfarmsteadislocatedwithinthefootprintoftheSoutheastAlternative.

The unnamed farmsteadissituatedeastofRoute239southoftheSoutheastAlternative(Photographs20-23).Itconsistsoftwoprimaryresidencesand ancillaryagriculturaloutbuildings(abarn,a garage,and a shed).

Photograph20. OverviewofUnnamed Farmsteadon Rt.239,Residence,FacingNortheast.

The CanadianPacific/Delaware& Hudson RailwaywasbuilttohaulcoalfromtheanthracitefieldsoftheWyoming Valley.Thisrailwaydatesfromthe1870s.ItislocatedalongtheeastbankoftheSusquehanna,westofthisalternative.

Photograph21.OverviewofUnnamed Farmsteadon Rt.239,TenantHouse,FacingNortheast.

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Northeast Alternative--ExcludedThe proposedNortheastAlternative,alsocurrentlyexcludedfromdevelopmentconsiderationby UniStar,liesimmediatelynorthoftheSoutheastAlternativeandLittleWapwallopenCreek.Based on GAl'sbrieffieldview,thisalternativeliesinan uplandsettingconsistingalmostentirelyofsteepsideslopes(Photograph25).Relativelyleveltogentlyslopingknolltopsoccurinthenortheastportionofthisalternative.

Photograph25.OverviewofNortheastAlternative,FacingNorth.

GAl'sarchitecturalreviewindicatesthatfourpotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresourcesover50yearsofage occurwithintheviewshedoftheSoutheastAlternative.Ifno formalDeterminationofEligibilityexistsfortheresources,orifPennsylvaniaHistoricResource(PHRS)formshavenotbeen completed,theseformswouldneed tobe preparedas partoffutureculturalresourcework.GAl recommendsa reconnaissance-levelfieldevaluationoftheresourcestodeterminetheireligibilityforlistingintheNRHP and topreparea PHRSForm foreach resource.

NorthwestAlternative--ExcludedThe proposedNorthwestAlternative,currentlyexcludedfromdevelopmentconsiderationby UniStar,issituatednorthoftheWest Alternativeand theexistingSSESfacility.GAl'sbrieffieldviewofthisalternativeindicatesthatitoccupiesan uplandsettingnorthofBeach GroveRoad. Itconsistslargelyofsteepwooded sideslopesaswellas relativelyleveltogentlyslopingknolltopsandbenches(Photograph24).

Photograph24.OverviewofNorthwestAlternative,FacingWest.

Photograph23.OverviewofUnnamed Farmsteadon Rt.239,Garage,FacingNortheast.

Photograph22.OverviewofUnnamed Farmsteadon Rt.239,Barn,FacingNortheast.

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Summary and Conclusions

WestAlternative

Phase IAbackgroundresearchdocumentedno previouslyrecordedarchaeologicalsitesorarchitecturalresourceswithinthefootprintoftheWestAlternative.GAl'sarchitecturalreviewoftheWestAlternativeidentifiedsixpotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresourcesover50 yearsofage withintheprojectviewshed,fiveofwhichhavenotbeen previouslydocumented.Theseresources("BeachGrove"Cemetery,an unnamed residence,an unnamed farmstead,ValleyPike,NorfolkSouthern/PennsylvaniaRailroad,and theNorthBranchCanal)wouldrequireNationalRegisterevaluationand documentationduringa subsequentarchitecturalsurvey.

The possiblelocationofcoolingwaterfacilitieson thewestbankfloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRiverhasa hightomoderatepotentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeply-buriedarchaeologicalsites.Thirteenpreviously-recordedarchaeologicalsiteshavebeen identifiedon thislandformintheprojectvicinity,nineofwhichareclusteredbetweentheexistingSSES facilityandGouldIsland.

Alternative#1A

GAl'sPhase IAstudyindicatesthatthe153-acreAlternative#1A includes86 acresofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalpotentialthatwouldrequiresubsequentsubsurfacearchaeologicalinvestigationstoidentifyculturalresources(Table5).The remaining67 acresofthisalternativeconsistofsettingswithslopesinexcessof15 percentorwetlands,consideredtohavea lowarchaeologicalpotential.Theselowpotentialsettingswouldnotrequiresystematicsubsurfacetestingduringsubsequentinvestigations.GAl'sgeomorphologicalreconnaissanceindicatesthatdue toitsuplandsetting,siteswithinthisparcelarelikelytobe near-surfaceinnature.

Phase IAarchaeologicalreconnaissanceidentifiedone possibleunrecordedhistoricarchaeologicalresource(theSinkHouse Site)intheprojectAPE thatmay requirefurtherinvestigation.

Table5.Phase IASummary ofWest and SoutheastAlternativesa

Southeast 353 102 246 5 2 4

West

#1A 153 86 67 0 0 1 NA#1B 255 138 55 61.5 0 2 NA#1C 408 224 122 61.5 0 3 6 0

a Allacreagesareapproximationstofacilitatediscussionand comparisonofalternatives.

Alternative#1B

Based on theresultsofGAl'sPhase IAinvestigationAlternative#1B isa 255-acreparcelcontaining138 acresofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalpotentialthatwouldrequiresubsequentsubsurfacearchaeologicalinvestigationstoidentifyculturalresources(seeTable5).Ofthesinglealternativesexamined(exclusiveofthecombinedAlternative#1C),Alternative#1B hasthegreatestacreageofhightomoderatearchaeologicalpotential.Fifty-fiveacresofthisalternativeareconsideredlowpotentialdue tothepresenceofwetlandsorslopesinexcessof15 percent.Settingsoflowarchaeologicalpotentialwouldnotrequiresystematicsubsurfacetestingduringsubsequentinvestigations.A 61-acreportionintheparcel'snortheastcornerhas been heavilydisturbedby a

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landfilland has no archaeologicalpotential.Geomorphologicalreconnaissanceindicatesthatdue toitsuplandsetting,siteswithinthisparcelaremostlikelytobe near-surfaceinnature.

Phase IAarchaeologicalreconnaissanceidentifiedtwopossibleunrecordedhistoricarchaeologicalresources(theKisnerFarmsteadSiteand theJohnston/FolkBarnSite)intheprojectAPE thatmayrequirefurtherinvestigation.

Alternative#1C

GAl'sPhase IAstudyindicatesthatthe408-acreAlternative#1C (combinedAlternatives#1A and #1B)consistsof225 acresofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalpotentialthatwouldrequiresubsequentsubsurfacearchaeologicalinvestigationstoidentifyculturalresources.A totalof122acresofwetlandsorslopesinexcessof15 percentinthisalternativehavelowarchaeologicalpotentialand wouldnotrequiresystematicsubsurfacetestingduringsubsequentinvestigations.As notedforAlternative#1B,a 61-acreportionintheparcel'snortheastcornerhas been heavilydisturbedby a landfilland hasnoarchaeologicalpotential.Geomorphologicalreconnaissanceindicatesthatdue toitsuplandsetting,siteswithinthisparcelwouldbe near-surfaceinnature.

Alternative#1C containsthreepossibleunrecordedhistoricarchaeologicalresources(theKisnerFarmsteadSite,theJohnston/FolkBarnSiteand theSinkHouse Site)intheprojectAPE thatmayrequirefurtherinvestigation.


Based on theresultsofGAl'sPhase IAstudy,the353-acreSoutheastAlternativecontains102acresofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalpotentialthatwouldrequiresubsequentsubsurfacearchaeologicalinvestigationstoidentifyunrecordedculturalresources(seeTable5).The remainderofthisalternativeconsistspredominantlyofsettingswithslopesinexcessof15 percent(246acres)whichwouldnotrequiresystematicsubsurfacetesting.The parcelalsoincludesfiveacresofdisturbance;inaccordancewithstateguidelines,theseportionsoftheprojectareawouldbe excludedfromsubsequentarchaeologicalinvestigations.GAl'sgeomorphologicalreconnaissanceindicatesthatsiteswithinthemajorityofthisalternativewillbe near-surfaceinnature.The northwesternportionofthisparcel,on thelowterraceadjacenttoLittleWapwallopenCreekhasa potentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeplyburiedarchaeologicalsites.

Backgroundresearchdocumentedtwopreviouslyrecordedarchitecturalresourceswithinthisalternative(OldRiverChurchand a bridge).The Phase IAarchaeologicalreconnaissanceidentifiedone possiblehistoricarchaeologicalresource(associatedwiththeOldRiverChurch)intheprojectAPEthatmay requirefurtherinvestigation.

Phase IAinvestigationsalsoidentifiedfourpotentiallysignificantarchitecturalresourcesover50 yearsofagewithintheprojectviewshed,threeofwhichhavenotbeen previouslydocumented.Theseresources(OldRiverChurchand Cemetery,Hess Farmstead,unnamed farmstead,and theCanadianPacific/Delawareand Hudson Railway)wouldrequireNationalRegisterevaluationand documentationduringthesubsequentarchitecturalsurvey.

Inadditiontothearchitecturalresources,GAl identifiedone potentialculturalproperty(CouncilCup)withintheviewshedoftheSoutheastAlternative.Thisproperty,whichrepresentsa NativeAmericanmeetingplaceand overlook,wouldrequireevaluationand documentationduringsubsequentarchaeologicalinvestigations.

The possibleintakestructurelocalityon theeastbankfloodplain/lowterraceoftheSusquehannaRiverhas a hightomoderatepotentialforbothnear-surfaceand deeply-buriedarchaeologicalsites.Onepreviouslyrecordedarchaeologicalsitelieswithinthefootprintofthisproposedlocality.Eightadditionalpreviouslyrecordedarchaeologicalsitesarelocatedon thefloodplainbetweenWapwallopenCreekand GouldIsland.

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References

Hayes,DR.,D.C.Roper,J.Schuldenrein,and W.R. Stinson1981 ArchaeologicalInvestigationsattheSusquehannaSES:The SusquehannaSES

Floodplain.PreparedforthePennsylvaniaPowerand LightCompany byCommonwealthAssociatesInc.,Jackson,Michigan.

Mcintyre,Jamie1979 The KnouseSite:An HistoricalSiteinLuzerneCounty,Pennsylvania.

PennsylvaniaHistoricaland Museum Commission-BureauforHistoricPreservation(PHMC)1991 CulturalResource Management in Pennsylvania:GuidelinesforArchaeological

Investigations.Harrisburg.

PPL Susquehanna,LLC2006 AppendixE:Applicant'sEnvironmentalReport-OperatingLicenseRenewalStage,

SusquehannaSteam ElectricStation.PreparedfortheU.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommissionby PPL Susquehanna,LLC.

Schuldenrein,Joseph1981 ManagementSummary,ArchaeologicalInvestigationsattheSusquehannaSteam

ElectricStation,The SusquehannaSES Floodplain.PreparedforthePennsylvaniaPowerand LightCompany by CommonwealthAssociatesInc.,Jackson,Michigan.

UnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey1955 Sybertsville,Pennsylvania,15-MinuteTopographicQuadrangle(Photorevised1969

and 1977).1955 Berwick,Pennsylvania,15-MinuteTopographicQuadrangle(Photorevised1969and

1976).

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Documents

PPL - Bell Bend COLA, Rev. 1 - Part 11I - Phase 1a Cultural … · 2012. 12. 3. · PhaselaLetterReport,LEO Project,LuzerneCounty,Pennsylvania The410-acre(approximate)Alternative#1C(combinedAlternatives#1Aand#1B)consistsof