5-8-17 BCR Vulcan Area Q Cultural Report

CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT Vulcan Area Q Project Unincorporated San Bernardino County, California Prepared for: Travis J. McGill ELMT Consulting 2201 N. Grand Avenue #10098 Santa Ana, California 92711 Prepared by: David Brunzell, M.A., RPA Contributions by Nicholas Shepetuk, B.A. and Dylan Williams, B.A. BCR Consulting LLC Claremont, California 91711 Project No. EMT1802 Data Base (NADB) Information: Type of Study: Intensive Survey Resources Recorded: EMT1802-H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6, H-7, H-8, H-9, H-10, H-11 Keywords: Historic-era Buildings USGS Quadrangle: 7.5-minute San Bernardino North, California (1980) May 13, 2020 MAY 13, 2020 B C R CONSULTING CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT VULCAN AREA Q PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUMMARY BCR Consulting LLC (BCR Consulting) is under contract to ELMT Consulting to complete a Cultural Resources Assessment of the proposed Vulcan Area Q Project (project) in unincorporated San Bernardino County, California. The project occupies approximately 178 acres and is bounded by a railroad line to the west, Cajon Boulevard on the northeast, Devil Creek Diversion Channel to the southeast, and a mining quarry to the north. A cultural resources records search, additional research, intensive-level pedestrian field survey, Sacred Lands File Search with the Native American Heritage Commission, and vertebrate paleontological resources assessment were conducted for the project in partial fulfillment of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The records search revealed that 22 previous cultural resources studies have taken place, and 13 cultural resources have been recorded within one-mile of the project site. No previous studies have assessed the project site, and no cultural resources have been previously recorded within its boundaries. The field survey identified eight historic-period buildings and three historic-period archaeological sites located within the project site boundaries. None of the eight properties containing historic-era buildings and none of the three properties containing historic-era archaeological sites are recommended eligible for listing in the California Register, and no other cultural resources were identified within the project site. Therefore, the cultural resources identified within the project site boundaries fail to meet the necessary requirements for recognition as historical resources. Based on these results, BCR Consulting recommends that no additional cultural (including archaeological or architectural historical) resources work or monitoring are necessary during proposed project activities associated with the Vulcan Area Q Project. However, if previously undocumented cultural resources are identified during earthmoving activities, a qualified archaeologist should be contacted to assess the nature and significance of the find, diverting construction excavation if necessary. Findings were negative during the Sacred Lands File search with the NAHC. The Legislature added requirements regarding tribal cultural resources for CEQA in Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52) that took effect July 1, 2015. AB 52 requires consultation with California Native American tribes and consideration of tribal cultural resources in the CEQA process. By including tribal cultural resources early in the CEQA process, the legislature intended to ensure that local and Tribal governments, public agencies, and project proponents would have information available, early in the project planning process, to identify and address potential adverse impacts to tribal cultural resources. By taking this proactive approach, the legislature also intended to reduce the potential for delay and conflicts in the environmental review process. To help determine whether a project may have such an effect, the Public Resources Code requires a lead agency to consult with any California Native American tribe that requests consultation and is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of a Proposed Project. Since the County will initiate and carry out the required AB52 Native American Consultation, the results of the consultation are not provided in this report. However, this report may be used during the consultation process, and BCR Consulting staff is available to answer questions and address comments as necessary. According to CEQA Guidelines, projects subject to CEQA must determine whether the project would “directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource”. The appended i MAY 13, 2020 B C R CONSULTING CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT VULCAN AREA Q PROJECT Paleontological Overview provided in Appendix C has recommended that: Surface deposits in the entire proposed project area are composed of younger Quaternary Alluvium, derived as alluvial fan deposits from the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, primarily via Cajon Wash that currently flows adjacent to the southwestern border of the proposed project area and from Cable Creek that currently flows in a channel forming the southeastern border of the proposed project area. These deposits typically do not contain significant vertebrate fossils, at least in the uppermost layers, but they may be underlain at relatively shallow depth by older sedimentary deposits that do contain significant fossil vertebrate remains. Our closest fossil vertebrate locality from similar older Quaternary deposits is LACM 7811, quite some distance to the west-southwest of the proposed project area west of Mira Loma along Sumner Avenue, that produced a fossil specimen of whipsnake, Masticophis, at a depth of 9 to 11 feet below the surface. Even further to the southwest between Corona and Norco our vertebrate fossil locality LACM 1207 produced a fossil specimen of deer, Odocoileus. Shallow excavations in the younger Quaternary Alluvium exposed throughout the proposed project area are unlikely to encounter significant vertebrate fossils. Deeper excavations that extend down into older Quaternary deposits, however, may well encounter significant remains of fossil vertebrates. Any substantial excavations in the sedimentary deposits in the proposed project area, therefore, should be monitored closely to quickly and professionally recover any fossil remains while not impeding development. Also, sediment samples should be collected and processed to determine the small fossil potential in the proposed project area. Any fossils collected should be placed in an accredited scientific institution for the benefit of current and future generations. If human remains are encountered during the undertaking, State Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 states that no further disturbance shall occur until the County Coroner has made a determination of origin and disposition pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 5097.98. The County Coroner must be notified of the find immediately. If the remains are determined to be prehistoric, the Coroner will notify the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), which will determine and notify a Most Likely Descendant (MLD). With the permission of the landowner or his/her authorized representative, the MLD may inspect the site of the discovery. The MLD shall complete the inspection within 48 hours of notification by the NAHC. ii MAY 13, 2020 BCR CONSULTING CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT VULCAN AREA Q PROJECT TABLE OF CONTENTS MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ................................................................................................. ii INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 NATURAL SETTING ............................................................................................................. 1 CULTURAL SETTING ........................................................................................................... 1 PREHISTORIC CONTEXT .............................................................................................. 1 ETHNOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................. 3 HISTORY ........................................................................................................................ 4 PERSONNEL ........................................................................................................................ 7 METHODS ............................................................................................................................ 7 RESEARCH .................................................................................................................... 8 FIELD SURVEY .............................................................................................................. 9 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................. 9 RESEARCH .................................................................................................................... 9 FIELD SURVEY ............................................................................................................ 14 SIGNIFICANCE EVALUATIONS ......................................................................................... 15 SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA ........................................................................................... 15 CALIFORNIA REGISTER EVAL’S HISTORIC-ERA BLDGS ......................................... 16 CALIFORNIA REGISTER EVAL’S HISTORIC-ERA ARCHAEO SITES ......................... 18 RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................

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