Search

This report provides a context and themes for assessing the historic significance of DoD Cold War-era resources for NRHP eligibility. Based on earlier guidelines and investigations, which have highlighted many important military functions, the themes developed for this task allow one to assess the significance of resources within the broader military context common to all DoD Components. It is also beneficial for recognizing the historic significance of resources under and over 50 years of age, and provides a stronger case for the national level of significance as opposed to state and local levels. This document is intended to help all those responsible for DoD Cold War resources to move forward in evaluating resources in a consistent manner.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), had proposed to stack and store fill dirt material in a 22-acre area north of the existing base runway. As the proposed project was an undertaking on federal lands with federal funds, a cultural resource survey of the proposed project’s Area of Potential Effect (APE) was required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA; 16 USC § 470 as amended). Edmund Gaines M.A., R.P.A, served as Principal Investigator and led field efforts for AECOM archaeologists conducting a Phase I identification level survey to locate and identify historic properties that may be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This report details that assessment.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) has proposed to demolish Building 32448 (formerly 62-160) Munitions Maintenance Operations facility, an individual Quonset hut that was constructed in 1942. As the proposed project is an undertaking on federal lands with federal funds, a cultural resource survey of the project's Area of Potential Effect (APE) and a determination of the building's National Register of Historical Places (NRHP) eligibility were required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA; 16 USC§ 470 as amended). Determination of eligibility of Building 32448.

The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Richardson Training Area (RTA) proposed to expand military training exercises beyond the current boundaries of the Geronimo Drop Zone (DZ), in Training Areas 427 and 431. The proposed project qualified as an undertaking under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA; 16 United States Code [USC] Section 470, as amended 1992) as the project included federal lands and federal funds; therefore, an identification-phase cultural resources survey of the project area was planned and completed in 2014. Archaeologist and Principal Investigator Phyllys Callina, M.A., R.P.A., conducted an identification-phase cultural resources survey of the APE to locate and identify any cultural resources that may be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, in accordance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines (48 Federal Regulation [FR] 44716, as amended and notated), NHPA criteria for site identification (16 USC Section 470, as amended), State of Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (OHA 2003), and Protection of Historic Places regulations (36 Code of Federal Regulation [CFR] 800). This report includes that survey.

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) proposed to include a 130-acre property located northeast of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Boniface Gate as part of a land-swap under the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 2851, Land Conveyance program. The proposed project qualified as an undertaking under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), U.S. Code (USC) Title 54, Section 306108 (54 USC 306108), as the project includes federal lands; therefore, an identification-phase cultural resources survey of the project area was planned and completed in 2014 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), on behalf of the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron, Conservation Section, contracted Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs) to perform a cultural resources survey of the property, designated as the Area of Potential Effect (APE) in this report.

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) proposed a land-swap, as part of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 2851, Land Conveyance program a 220-acre parcel of land, for the property designated as Richardson Training Area (RTA) 419, located on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). The proposed project qualified as an undertaking under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA; 16 United States Code [USC] Section 470, as amended 1992) as the project included federal lands and federal funds; therefore, an identification-phase cultural resources survey of the project area was planned and completed in 2014. This document details that survey.

The Nike Hercules Missile Battery Site Summit, Anchorage, Alaska, recording project was performed under contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson under the direction of the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The historical reports and photographs were prepared by Jacobs Engineering Group. Robert Lane served as historian and Katherine Martin served as architect. This document includes the Phase II historic American land survey report.

Doyon Utilities, LLC implemented the construction of the Raptor Transmission Line (RTL) located on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) at the direction of the 673d Civil Engineering Squadron to enhance the electrical distribution system found on the installation. Weston Solutions, Inc. (WS) has been contracted by Doyon Utilities to provide environmental permitting services for the project. WS contracted with Northern Land Use Research (NLUR) to conduct a Level I "reconnaissance" archaeological survey, as defined by the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (OHA) (Historic Preservation Series No. 11, revised 2003), of the RTL right-of-way (ROW), primarily focused on sections of the proposed route found on the former Elmendorf Air Force Base located south of Grady Road. The findings within this report are not focused on the previously completed archeological surveys that were executed prior to the 2008 Utilities Privatization of Fort Richardson and ROW conveyances to Doyon Utilities outside of this effort. The findings within those areas are outside the scope of this report.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) has proposed to construct two new demolition ranges—Demolition Range “A” and Demolition Range “B”—at the Richardson Training Area (RTA), with new access roads proposed at each range. During the period of September 18-22, AECOM archaeologists, under the direct supervision of Principal Investigator Edmund Gaines, M.A., R.PA., performed a cultural resources survey of the project’s APEs. This work was conducted for the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron, Environmental Conservation Section, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under HTRW Contract No. W911KB-11-D-0001, Task Order 0008. The following report details project goals, site and setting, methodology, findings and management recommendations for the proposed RTA demolition ranges.

During the Fall of 1994 and Spring of 1995, the Office of History and Archaeology (OHA), Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, conducted a cultural resources reconnaissance of Elmendorf Air Force Base (EAFB), which is adjacent to Anchorage, Alaska. The work, funded by the U.S. Air Force, was performed under a Cooperative Agreement (NPS No. CA 9700-4-9036) between OHA and the Alaska Regional Office of the U.S. National Park Service. In accordance with the National Park Service Scope of Work, OHA surveyed areas within Elmendorf Air Force Base that were judged most likely to yield archaeological remains. This was accomplished through the stratification of 13,000 acres on Elmendorf Air Force Base into areas of high, medium, and low probability for locating archaeological remains. This report details this survey.