N.M. Admin. Code § 4.10.15.10

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 21, November 5, 2024

Section 4.10.15.10 - INTENSIVE SURVEY STANDARDS

Intensive surveys performed on state land shall be conducted in accordance with the following specifications. The state agency with jurisdiction may specify additional requirements and standards that meet or exceed the following specifications. All work shall be performed under the general supervision of individuals listed in the SHPO directory of qualified supervisory personnel (4.10.8.11 NMAC). All fieldwork shall be performed under the direct supervision of an archaeologist listed in the SHPO directory unless the properties recorded consist primarily of historic structures and buildings (see 4.10.15.12 NMAC). The supervisor in the field is responsible for assessing field conditions, altering field methods such as decreasing survey interval, making collections or conducting limited tests, and determining when slope, vegetation or other factors affect field conditions. Document these conditions and specific methods used during the survey in the survey report.

A. Survey area. Conduct a comprehensive, systematic, pedestrian survey of the APE or project area to identify, document and record all cultural properties including archaeological sites, historic structures and buildings, isolates and other properties of historic and scientific interest 50 or more years old that may be reasonably detected from the surface or which are exposed in profiles. Record historic structures and buildings less than 50 years old that may be eligible for the state or national registers within 5 years of the date of the survey. Identify and record properties that meet the requirements of national register criteria consideration G (properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years).

B. Survey interval and transect width. Transect width for surveys shall not exceed 15 meters and shall be contiguous with no uninventoried areas left between transects. Intervals shall be reduced when surface visibility is poor. The terrain, vegetative cover and the nature of cultural properties influence transect width and intensity of survey coverage. For linear projects the minimum width of the APE or project area is 15 meters.

C. Survey velocity. The amount of area surveyed including recording time should not exceed a rate of 30 acres per person per eight hours of survey calculated for the survey project as a whole and not daily. Terrain and the number and complexity of cultural resources influence survey velocities. When survey velocities are greater than this standard, include an explicit explanation in the survey report. HPD and the state agency with jurisdiction will evaluate the explanation and results of the survey and may request that the survey or portion of the survey be reinventoried if the justification is inadequate.

D. Items of cultural and religious significance. If these items are encountered during a survey, they may be recorded. The permittee shall not disturb these items in any way.

E. Human burials. If a human burial or unmarked burial ground is encountered during survey, notify the local law enforcement agency pursuant to 4.10.11.8 NMAC. Do not disturb the human burial or unmarked burial ground in any way.

F. Survey visibility.

(1) Halt survey if falling precipitation (rain, snow, hail or freezing rain) exceeds trace amounts for any length of time. Do not conduct survey if fallen snow impairs ground visibility. Ground visibility is considered impaired if more than 20 percent of total ground surface is covered by snow.

(2) In areas with dense, continuous vegetative cover, shovel tests, augers, probes or small excavation tests may be necessary to identify cultural properties. The supervisory archaeologist shall document areas with reduced visibility and, if tests are conducted, document areas of the tests, on the project field map and through photographs, and discuss in the survey report.

(a) Place shovel tests, augers, probes or small excavation units in a systematic pattern at an interval not to exceed 15 meters.

(b) Shovel tests shall be approximately 30 cm in diameter.

(c) Limited test excavation units shall be 50 cm by 50 cm in size.

(d) Shovel tests and limited test excavation units typically should be excavated to a minimum depth of 30 cm or to the depth of cultural materials whichever is less.

(e) Sediments removed from all limited test units shall be passed through a screen of no greater than one-quarter inch (6.35mm).

G. Alternate inventory procedures. In some circumstances a state agency including municipalities and counties may propose an alternate method to the standards in this section to survey and inventory cultural properties in the APE or project area. The proposal shall be submitted in writing to HPD and shall provide a detailed description of the alternate methods proposed and justification. HPD shall review and provide written comments on the proposal within 10 calendar days of receipt. Alternate procedures require consensus between the state agency and HPD prior to implementation.

N.M. Admin. Code § 4.10.15.10

4.10.15.10 NMAC - N, 1/01/06