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A cultural resources inventory was conducted for seven proposed Airport Surveillance Radar, Model 11 (ASR-11) sites. One report was prepared for the facility at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), Santa Barbara County, California, while another report was prepared for six facilities in the R2508 Complex in the High Desert area of California. The High Desert facilities include sites in the: (1) Owens Valley, Panamint Valley, and Searles Valley in Inyo County; (2) Indian Wells Valley and Fremont Valley in Kern County; and at Velvet Peak in San Bernardino County, California. The objectives of these two studies were to evaluate these areas for cultural resources by reviewing archival data, sending inquiry letters seeking information about cultural resources to local Native American groups and organizations, and conducting a reconnaissance-level inspection of the various project areas. If such resources were present in the proposed site areas, these items would be identified and recorded on the appropriate site record forms and documented in this report. Furthermore, it was the objective of this study to determine if the proposed development of the ASR-11s would have a direct negative affect on any known or suspected cultural resources within the proposed site or an indirect impact on any nearby cultural resources in the region. In addition to obtaining record searches from the various regional offices of the California Historical Resources Information System, the NAHC conducted a records search of their sacred lands files with negative results. The NAHC recommended contacting several Native American individuals/organizations who may have knowledge of cultural resources in the project area. Following up on this recommendation, PAST mailed out pertinent inquiry letters; however, no responses were received. Since no cultural resources were revealed during the investigation and there was no response from the Native American community, no information could be developed on Traditional Cultural Properties within or near the proposed ASR-11 sites. Since this investigation did not result in the identification of any prehistoric or early historic materials or features within the project area, the proposed development of the new ASR-11s will not have a direct effect on any known or suspected cultural resources. Additionally, no information was revealed during the investigation that would indicate the development of the ASR-11s would have any indirect negative effects to any cultural resources located in the vicinity of the proposed sites. Should unanticipated archaeological resources or human remains be uncovered during development of the ASR-11 sites, recommendations were made to stop work and properly evaluate the find. |
