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eLearning Tool for FEMA Grant Applicants

Section B: Archeological Resources

B-3 How to Address Adverse Effects

Adverse effects to archeological resources include the loss of integrity or intactness of archeological sites, as well as the damage, degradation, or loss of any archeological resource. If you anticipate that your project will have an adverse effect to an archeological resource or site, then you should consider ways to avoid those effects, minimize the effects, and if necessary, compensate for the effects. When possible, all projects should be designed to avoid adverse effects to archeological resources and sites. If adverse effects cannot be avoided, develop appropriate treatment measures into the scope of work so adverse effects are reduced and minimized. Lastly, if adverse effects cannot be avoided, compensate for the adverse effects through documentation or development of other treatment measures. Listed below are some of the possible adverse effects that your project may have, together with possible treatment measures that you may include in your project to avoid, reduce or minimize, or compensate for adverse effects. The list is illustrative, and does not include all adverse effects that a project may have or all of the ways to potentially treat those effects.

Adverse Effects
- Degradation of archeological material or its' context
  - Ground compaction
  - Soil erosion
  - Contamination of ground with hazardous materials
Treatment Measures
- Consider alternatives: relocate or realign the project to avoid archeological sites.
- Minimize or eliminate adverse effects by constructing fencing around the site to prevent unintentional ground disturbance.
- Minimize adverse effects by conducting work when ground is frozen to minimize or prevent ground disturbance.
- Compensate for adverse effect by conducting a Phase III archeological survey, including: photographic recordation, excavation, artifact analysis and curation, and archive research.
Adverse Effects
- Excavation of archeological material
Treatment Measures
- Minimize or avoid adverse effects by training equipment crews to recognize archeological resources
- Compensate for adverse effect by conducting a Phase III archeological survey, including: photographic recordation, excavation, artifact analysis and curation, and archive research.
Adverse Effects
- Theft or removal of archeological resources from a site
Treatment Measures
- Minimize or avoid adverse effects by installing security fencing during archeological survey and/or project activities.

Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 11:33:32 EDT