Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRS_Boeing Apron R Crew Shelter IDP PLAN_250523_V1.pdf PO Box 782, Blaine, WA 98231-0782 www.draytonarchaeology.com May 22, 2025 Don Davis, P.E. | Senior Project Engineer SITTS & HILL ENGINEERS, INC. 4815 Center Street Tacoma, Washington 98409 RE: Inadvertent Discovery Plan for the IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, King County Washington Mr. Davis, Please find for review Drayton Archaeology’s (Drayton) proposed cultural resources inadvertent discovery plan (IDP) for the above-noted project. Sitts & Hill Engineers, Inc. plans for the construction of six (6) crew shelters and tool cabanas along the northern portion of the Boeing Renton Campus (TPN: 0723059001), Renton, King County in Section 7/8, Township 23 North, Range 5 East of the Willamette Meridian (Figures 1 and 2). The project will involve the installation of four (4) 3.66 x 9.14 meter (m) (12 x 30 foot [ft]), one (1) 3.66 x 12.19 m (12 x 40 ft), and one (1) (3.66 x 17.01 m (12 x 56 ft) prefabricated shelter buildings placed on existing concrete paving. (Figures 3 – 5). The project is subject to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The regulations would be under compliance with the Washington State Code 43.21C, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) through the City of Renton (City), and if archaeological resources are encountered, through RCW 27.53 through Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). It is the responsibility of the agency to ensure proper consideration for cultural resources and to develop an archaeological survey and mitigation strategies, as needed. IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Report 0525H 2 INTRODUCTION Due to an overriding concern for the discovery and protection of heretofore unknown cultural deposits and/or items, this formal Inadvertent Discovery Plan (IDP) is being offered to guide project personnel during construction work for the proposed Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington. This IDP should be kept on-site until work is completed. Appendix A has photos and descriptions of precontact material or deposits that may be encountered. This list is not exhaustive but can be used as a general guide to better understand the context for encountering precontact items of significance. Based on the preceding background review, Drayton concludes that the project is located within an area of moderate probability for historic-era or precontact cultural deposits, structures, or isolated items. The project is situated in Renton which is heavily developed. No ethnographic or precontact archaeological sites have been previously recorded in the project area. If cultural resources were to be present in the project, they could be expected to be located near the present ground surface, as review of the environmental context indicates little soil development has occurred in the local area since the last glaciation. Types of cultural resources that may be encountered in the project could include features representing a range of hunting, fishing, plant gathering, and/or ceremonial activities. Activities associated with the development of Renton, including, but not limited to, debris scatters or artifacts associated with commercial development, construction of residences, transportation, or infrastructure are also likely. This IDP outlines cultural resource oversight measures to ensure the proposed ground disturbance complies with state laws protecting archaeological resources on private land. The plan describes the steps and actions that must be taken in the event of an inadvertent discovery of any cultural resources, including human remains, during excavation. Below is a list of tasks recommended and necessary for completing the proposed work in accordance with regulatory mandates. REGULATORY CONTEXT The project is subject to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). SEPA requires that impacts on cultural resources be considered during the public environmental review process. Under SEPA, the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) is the sole agency with technical expertise regarding cultural resources and provides formal opinions to local governments and other state agencies on a site’s significance and the impact of proposed projects upon such sites. Washington State law provides for the protection of all archaeological resources under RCW Chapter 27.53, Archaeological Sites and Resources, which prohibits the unauthorized removal, theft, and/or destruction of archaeological resources and sites. This statute also provides for prosecution and financial penalties covering consultation and the recovery of archaeological resources. Additional legal oversight is provided for Indian burials and grave offerings under RCW Chapter 27.44, Indian Graves and Records. RCW 27.44 states that the willful removal, mutilation, defacing, and/or destruction of Indian burials constitute a Class C felony. A recent addition to IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Report 0525H 3 Washington legal code, RCW 68.50.645, Notification, provides a strict process for the notification of law enforcement and other interested parties in the event of the discovery of any human remains regardless of perceived patrimony. IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Report 0525H 4 Figure 1. A portion of the Mercer Island (2023), WA 7.5’ USGS quad map of the project area. IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Report 0525H 5 Figure 2. An aerial image illustrating the project area. Dr a y t o n A r c h a e o l o g y R e p o r t 0 52 5 H 6 Figure 3. Site plan, courtesy of the client. Dr a y t o n A r c h a e o l o g y R e p o r t 0 52 5 H 7 Figure 4. Site plan, courtesy of the client. Dr a y t o n A r c h a e o l o g y R e p o r t 0 52 5 H 8 Figure 5. Site plan, courtesy of the client. IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 9 IDP PROVISIONS AND METHODOLOGY: 1 Inadvertent Discovery Plan The Parties of this proposed work, for the purposes of activities under the IDP are your firm, any subcontractors, and the DAHP, collectively referred to as the ‘Parties’ below. The following inadvertent discovery procedures are intended to act as a guide if heretofore unknown cultural resources are encountered during the work. 1.1 If any contractor or subcontractor believes that they have uncovered any cultural deposits, artifacts, or unidentified mammalian bone at any point during work, all activities adjacent to that discovery shall cease for inspection. If archaeological materials are located, the crew supervisor shall contact Drayton’s principal investigator or project manager. The Drayton principal or project manager will notify the Parties that archaeological materials have been located. Should those materials be determined intact (primary deposition and retaining scientific and/or cultural significance) and disturbance would require continued work, damage mitigation would be necessary. The procedures for mitigation would be discussed and agreed upon under an Emergency Site Disturbance and Excavation Permit through the DAHP, under RCW 27.53. A cultural resource discovery could be precontact or historic and could consist of, but not limited to: ▪ archaeological strata or facies of shell or other anthropogenic soils, ▪ areas of charcoal or charcoal – stained soil and stones, ▪ stone tools or waste flakes (i.e., an arrowhead, or stone chips), ▪ bones, burned rocks, or other food-related materials in association with stone tools or flakes, ▪ concentration(s) – cluster(s) of tin cans or bottles, logging or agricultural equipment older than 50 years, ▪ structures or structural remains related to early clearing/farming in the area. 1.2 To protect the integrity of discovery, the first protective step is ceasing all work in an area of stoppage adequate to provide for the total security, protection, and integrity of the resource. If site boundaries are not immediately discernible and a concerted effort is needed to define the boundaries, and extent of the material, a halt to all project work might be necessary. Vehicles, equipment, and unauthorized personnel will not be permitted to traverse the discovery site. Work in the immediate area will not resume until the treatment of the discovery has been completed following provisions for treating archaeological or cultural material as set forth in this document and all parties notified. 1.3 Where cultural resources are encountered during construction, but additional project effects on the resources are not anticipated, construction may continue under monitoring while documentation and assessment of the cultural resources proceed. Work will continue to the extent that no additional impacts to resources can take place. The total area of work stoppage will be adequate to provide for the security, protection, and integrity of the discovery in accordance with Washington State Law. Construction may continue at the discovery location only after the process outlined in this plan is IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 10 followed and the parties are satisfied adequate measures to secure or salvage the archaeological data have been made. 1.4 Routine documentation of cultural material not threatened by project work should not impact construction schedules. Where complex or extensive cultural remains are encountered, the Drayton Principal will determine the appropriate level of documentation and treatment of the resource after consultation with the DAHP and all Parties. Material(s) determined to be of compromised integrity (disturbed) will be inspected for human remains and/or formed artifacts. It is understood the removal of intact human burials or interment features would require special provisions under a DAHP permit. 1.5 Drayton will ensure the proper documentation and assessment of any encountered intact cultural resource with input from all Parties. All precontact and historic cultural material discovered during monitoring would be recorded by a Drayton archaeologist to update the State of Washington cultural resource site form for any sites encountered. Site overviews, features, and artifacts will be photographed; stratigraphic profiles and soil/sediment descriptions will be prepared from subsurface exposures. Shellfish/Feature/Soil samples would be collected and processed to determine the types and quantity of constituents present. Discovery locations would be documented on scaled site plans and site location maps. 1.6 If assessment activity exposes human remains (burials, isolated teeth, or bones) all defined procedures outlined below will be followed (consistent with RCW 27.44.055 and RCWs 68.50; 68.60). IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 11 2 Special Procedures for the Inadvertent Discovery of Human Skeletal Material Any human skeletal remains regardless of ethnic origin, which may be discovered during this project, will always be treated with dignity and respect. In the event, any human remains are discovered the crew supervisor will contact the Renton Police Department and Dr. Guy Tasa immediately to initiate the determination process of whether the remains are forensic (modern) or non-forensic (archaeological). Work will cease until all parties are afforded the opportunity to comment and consult Dr. Tasa at DAHP. The treatment of human skeletal remains and/or funerary items will follow mandates of the Revised Codes of Washington (RCW) Chapter 27.44; 68.50; 68.60 and the procedures outlined below. The removal of human remains will be avoided by all means possible. Regardless, if human remains are encountered the following procedures will take place in accordance with the Revised Codes of Washington (RCW) Chapter 27.44.055, 68.50, and 68.60: 3.1. All persons who know of the existence and location of human remains must, by law, notify the county coroner and local law enforcement. This must be done in the most expeditious manner possible (RCW 27.44; 68.50; 68.60). 3.2. Any person engaging in ground disturbing activity that encounters skeletal human remains must cease all activity that may cause further disturbance to the remains, make a reasonable effort to protect the area from further disturbance, report the presence and location of those remains to the coroner and local law enforcement (RCW 27.44; 68.50; 68.60). 3.3. The county coroner will assume jurisdiction over the human skeletal remains and make a determination of whether those remains are forensic or non-forensic (RCW 27.44; 68.50; 68.60). 3.4. If the county coroner determines the remains are non-forensic (not a crime scene), then the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation will take jurisdiction over the remains (RCW 27.44; 68.50; 68.60). 3.5. The State Physical Anthropologist will make a determination of whether the remains are Indian or Non-Indian and report that finding to the affected parties (RCW 27.44; 68.50; 68.60). 3.6. The DAHP, in concert with the proponents and County, will manage all consultation with the affected parties as to the future preservation, excavation, and/or disposition of the remains. IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 12 Please let me know if there are any questions, comments, or additions to this plan at any time. Kind Regards, Alex L. Berry, M.A., Senior Archaeologist Drayton Archaeology Cc: Stephanie Jolivette, Government State Archaeologist, DAHP Laura Murphy, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO), Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Nancy Sackman, Cultural Preservation Officer, Duwamish Indian Tribe IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 13 CONTACT LIST: The primary contacts of each party are as identified below: Renton Police Department, (425) 430-7500 (do not use 911) Garth Baldwin, Drayton Archaeology, (360) 739-3921 Serafina Allen, Drayton Archaeology, (509) 594-6858 Guy Tasa, State Physical Anthropologist, (360) 586-3535, Cell: (360) 790-1633 Stephanie Jolivette, State Archaeologist, (360) 628-2755 Laura Murphy, THPO, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, (253) 876-3272 Nancy Sackman, Cultural Preservation Officer, Duwamish Indian Tribe, (206) 431-1582 IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 14 APPENDIX A: DESCRIPTION OF CULTURAL MATERIALS & DEPOSITS Archaeological strata or facies of shell or other anthropogenic soils : Test unit with intact shell midden seen in the wall. Anthropogenic soils, or anthrosoils, are soils that have been influenced, modified, or created by human activity. Shell Midden: A shell midden is primarily an accumulation or deposit of marine or freshwater invertebrate shell; however, other items such as artifacts and bone can be found preserved within them. Shell is composed mostly of calcium carbonate and when deposited it impacts the surrounding soil, including the matrices therein. This increases the alkalinity of these sediments creating an environment that preserves bone (Stein 1992). This can mean intact, diffuse, and/ or disturbed shell midden. Intact shell midden: Intact midden is typically fragmented or complete shell stacked on each other. IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 15 Example of Intact shell midden deposits. IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 16 Types shell species: Native shellfish in Puget Sound are diverse, both in terms of species and in the ways that they use nearshore ecosystems. There are many native species of invertebrates. This list is not extensive; however, these are some of the species commonly documented in shell middens. Pacific Littleneck Clam (Leukoma Staminea) Butter Clam (Saxidomus gigantea) IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 17 Basket cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii) Bent nosed clam (Macoma nasuta) Whitecap limpet (Acmaea mitra) IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 18 Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) Horse clam (Tresus capax) IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 19 Areas of charcoal or charcoal–stained soil and stones, Charcoal – anything burned. Dark staining or charcoal is usually anthropogenic in origin but make sure the context also contains burned rock or bone that might mean cultural as opposed to environmental, i.e., from a ground fire burning surface pieces of wood that then get buried later in time. Bone and stone tools or waste flakes (i.e., a projectile point, or stone chips) Northwest Coast First Nations people made significant use of stone and the bones and antlers of deer and elk, as well as the bones of sea mammals, bear, certain birds, and other land mammals. Bones provided raw material for awls, pins, needles, and numerous other items. Various sizes and types of tools indicate a range of uses. Pins helped hold in place garments whereas awls could be used to punch holes in hides and make baskets. Antler could be used for several items. Beveled on one side, wedges could be used to split planks and hollow out canoes. Instead of being discarded after being cut from the antler, tines, often became ornaments or pendants. Stone cores are defined as a scarred center resulting from the detachment of one or more flakes from a lump of source material or tool stone, this is usually done by using a hard hammer object. Flakes are defined as having sharp edges and at least one additional flake attribute (e.g. bulb of percussion, errailure scars, platform, etc.). Flaked stone is defined as stone material with the detachment of one or two flakes from the primary body. The list below is not exhaustive but it is a start for recognizing materials observed within shell midden contexts. Bone pins IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 20 Ulna awl Harpoon point Stone cores IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 21 Abraders Projectile points Stone flakes IDP for the Boeing Company’s Apron R, Crew Shelters and Tool Cabanas Project, Renton, Washington Drayton Archaeology Project 0525H 22 Bones, burned rocks, or other food-related materials in association with stone tools or flakes, Fire modified rock (FMR) (also known as: fire altered rock, fire cracked rock, thermally altered rock, etc.) is often found near or used in hearth features. Rocks were often heated or boiled for cooking. Fire modified rock (FMR) Mammalian bone fragments