Projects
Utility Projects
Lone Mountain specializes in cultural resource compliance
for utility corridors. Our staff has conducted a vast range of utility corridor
studies for power, water, communication, and gas transmission, for a number of
different companies and commissions. Many times, these projects involve
coordination with several regulatory agencies such as the New Mexico Department
of Transportation (NMDOT), Bureau of Land Management, and various national
forests. Lone Mountain has also conducted a complex series of delivery orders
for telephone line replacement projects on tribal lands, which involved
archaeological survey, monitoring, and ethnographic studies.
Selected Project:
Inventory of Historic Buildings Along NM 268/4th Street (Main Street) for the Village of Melrose Water System Improvements, Curry County, New Mexico
As Phase 1 of its HUD-funded water system improvements, the
Village of Melrose proposed the replacement of approximately 3,800 ft of
distribution pipelines, meters, service lines, and other minor items to be
placed inside an existing roadbed along the NMDOT right-of-way. Lone Mountain
conducted an inventory of the built environment within 50 feet of the project
corridor, in keeping with NMDOT regulations. Forty historic buildings were
recorded, including six houses, one lumberyard building, and 31 commercial
buildings, at least three of which have been converted to residential use. In
addition, a portion of the railroad yard and a segment of NM 268 were recorded.
This inventory was completed quickly and the findings submitted to and accepted
by HUD, facilitating an improved water system for the entire Village of Melrose
in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Oil and Gas Projects
Lone Mountain’s staff has conducted a wide variety of
petroleum projects across the southwestern U.S., including more than four
hundred well pads with associated access roads, pipelines, and electric lines,
as well as hundreds of pipeline clearances crossing multiple states and land
jurisdictions. Lone Mountain has conducted many large and small seismic surveys
ranging from several miles to more than 4,000 miles. We have conducted cultural
clearances for seismic projects in southwestern and northwestern New Mexico,
Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. We are highly experienced at
conducting clearance for these fast-paced projects, working closely with land
management agencies to obtain the necessary clearances.
Selected Project:
Magellan Strauss Pipeline, Fort Bliss, Texas to Santa Teresa, New Mexico
Lone Mountain surveyed a 42-mile long corridor for this proposed
petroleum products pipeline. This project extended from Fort Bliss, Texas
across private and Bureau of Land Management lands in New Mexico, ending at the
Union Pacific Railroad Rail Facility near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. We
encountered 10 archaeological sites and three historic irrigation ditches. We
participated in the Section 106 consultation process, and
developed a treatment plan that included limited excavation at three sites and
archaeological monitoring at three other archaeological sites. We coordinated
our efforts with all concerned agencies and were able to complete excavations
on these sites well ahead of the scheduled construction. We performed all
archaeological monitoring as needed, according to the scheduling needs of the
pipeline construction crew.
Seismic Projects
Lone Mountain's staff has conducted cultural resource
clearance on more than 60 seismic projects for oil and gas exploration,
including large- and small-scale seismic surveys ranging from several miles of
2-D to over 5,000 miles of 3-D. Lone Mountain has conducted cultural clearances
for seismic projects on federal and tribal lands in New Mexico, Utah, Oklahoma,
Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. The largest majority of seismic projects have
taken place in southeastern New Mexico where since 1994 we have surveyed
450,880 acres and recorded 5,922 archaeological sites. Our staff is highly
experienced at conducting clearance for these fast-paced projects and works
closely with land management agencies to obtain the necessary clearances. With
our many years of seismic experience, we have perfected a system of real-time
data management enabling us to process survey results while the survey is in
progress, rather than waiting until after fieldwork has been completed. Our
rapid turnaround time, without sacrificing accuracy or quality, has made Lone
Mountain the industry leader for seismic projects in New Mexico.
Selected Project:
Desert Creek 3-D Seismic, San Juan County, Utah
This survey of more than 3,700 acres of seismic lines and
access routes between seismic points took place on Navajo Nation lands in
southeastern Utah. Lone Mountain found 147 archaeological sites 23 other
locations identified as important to the Navajo. The seismic lines were
rerouted, allowing the undertaking to take place without harm to any cultural
resources. Working on Navajo Nation lands requires not only a good working
knowledge of Navajo Nation’s unique cultural resources but the ability to move
quickly and efficiently over the landscape and remain responsive to our
clients’ needs. Seismic surveys are fast paced, and require efficient fieldwork
and a hardworking office staff that is capable of producing both a preliminary
report that allows the client to begin their work and a final report that
satisfies the permitting agency. Lone Mountain completed the fieldwork for this
project within seven weeks.
Land Development Projects
The burgeoning development of housing, casinos, golf
courses, and resorts throughout the Southwest requires cultural resource
compliance. Lone Mountain has extensive experience performing cultural resource
clearances for both large- and small-scale land development projects. We have
conducted cultural clearance for numerous planned subdivisions throughout New
Mexico and Arizona ranging in size from 6 to 400 acres, requiring coordination
with multiple government agencies.
Selected Project:
Union Pacific Railyard Project, Santa Teresa, New Mexico
Lone Mountain performed a cultural resource survey covering
nearly 4,000 acres of private, Bureau of Land Management, and New Mexico State
Land Office lands for the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad Facility
now operating near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. This surveyed area covered the
entire proposed footprint of the rail facilities, nearly 11.5 miles long and as
much as 0.8 miles wide, as well as some outlying parcels. Lone Mountain found
62 archaeological sites, of which 42 required some form of archaeological
testing or excavation. Encountered archaeological remains reflected not only
the Paleo-Indian, Archaic, and Mogollon prehistoric occupants of the area, but
Chinese railworkers and early twentieth century homesteaders as well. We
quickly developed a work plan that was acceptable to all of the consulting
parties and began work on these sites, completing this fieldwork in August of
2009. Our final report included more than 1,200 pages of material. The $400
million Union Pacific Railroad Facility opened months ahead of schedule in
April of 2014. While the construction crews deserve the most credit for this
rapid opening, Lone Mountain contributed to this success with our rapid
response to Union Pacific’s needs.
Mining and Quarry Projects
Conducting cultural resource studies for mining operations
involving historical mining resources is rapidly becoming a Lone Mountain trademark.
Our team includes specialists who have supervised cultural resource
investigations on several types of mines including coal, silver, uranium, and
gold mines for such companies as New Concept Mining Company, Pittston Nevada
Gold Company, Copar Mining Company, Cyprus-Amax, and Utah Department of Natural
Resources Division of Oil, Gas and Mining. Several of these projects were for
closure of abandoned mines in New Mexico and Utah. Our staff has also performed
projects for mining companies in a number of other states including Nevada,
Colorado, and Arizona as well as for federal agencies on mine grants, claims,
and historical mining resources now under their jurisdiction.
With the recent boom in the uranium industry, Lone Mountain
has been involved with several companies who are in the process of complying
with permitting requirements. All of these projects have centered around the
vast uranium deposits located in and around Grants, New Mexico, with the
exception of one project in southern Texas. Many of these areas being explored
are within the Cibola National Forest, as well as on State Trust Land and land
under the jurisdiction of the
Bureau of Land Management. Lone Mountain has surveyed approximately 5,000 acres
for cultural resources for uranium mining and exploration in the past few
years.
Lone Mountain has the expertise to adequately evaluate
mining resources from a historic standpoint. We understand the undertakings
proposed by modern mining companies and the health and safety issues that often
surround these projects.
Selected Project:
Intrepid-BLM Land-Exchange, Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico
Lone Mountain developed an archaeological work plan for 14
prehistoric sites located on lands to be exchanged between the Bureau of Land
Management’s Carlsbad Field office and Intrepid Potash, LLC. Lone Mountain completed
all fieldwork within three months. We found a variety of archaeological remains
including evidence of Paleo-Indian groups and early Historic bison hunters, and
even a complete pot, left abandoned in a fire-pit and nearly 1,000 years old.
We ran a variety of chemical tests on these finds, identifying the remains of
corn, fish blood, and locally available wild foods. After the project was
completed, the Bureau of Land Management requested a historical context
describing the development of Intrepid’s mining properties. Lone Mountain
completed this final task within a few weeks.
Historical Archaeology Projects
Lone Mountain has participated in numerous survey projects
and National Register eligibility determinations for historic resources throughout
the U.S. These include resources related to mining, railroads, homesteading and
settlement, ranching/agriculture, logging, roads and trails, military
(including Cold War and World War II) activities, urban industrial facilities,
and oil and gas procurement. Included in this experience is the excavation of a
nineteenth century logging camp, and
excavation of twentieth century homesteads. Because several staff members have
advanced degrees and experience in the discipline of history, including
architectural history, they are able to evaluate the historic built environment
from a multi-disciplinary perspective, contributing to an assessment of the
social, political, technological, and aesthetic significance of a given
historical resource.
Selected Projects:
Rehabilitation of Owe’neh Bupingeh, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo
Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo sought to rehabilitate the entire
historic core of their pueblo, updating existing homes and burying new
utilities. This would allow the people who live in the center of the pueblo to
enjoy improved homes, internet access, cable television, and other comforts of
modern life, with power poles and other distractions removed from this National
Register-listed historic site that has been inhabited by the Tewa for hundreds
of years. Lone Mountain provided cultural resource compliance services,
coordinating with the Pueblo’s Housing Authority, construction contractors, and
most importantly, the Ohkay Owingeh Cultural Action Team, a committee of tribal
elders who ensure that the Pueblo’s heritage and sacred spaces are given
privacy and treated with respect. We monitored ground-disturbing construction
activities, such as trenches placed though the plazas to replace sewer lines, gas
lines, and other buried utilities, and monitored the excavation of footings for
new additions to homes. Our presence at Ohkay Owingeh ensured that the Pueblo
remained in compliance with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division and
eligible for Federal funding for their rehabilitation. We followed the
direction of the Ohkay Owingeh Cultural Action Team when on Ohkay Owingeh
lands, and continue to provide services to the Pueblo as needed.
Expert Witness Report for the Bawolek Family
In one unusual project, Lone Mountain served as expert
witness for a client (the defendants in this case) who wished to document the
historic archaeological sites on their property and demonstrate historic water
use. Lone Mountain visited nine locations identified by the defendants as
potentially relevant sites. Five of these were determined to be archaeological sites
that were more than 50 years old. These were registered with ARMS and given
unique LA numbers. The final report was filed as expert witness testimony in
the matter of United States of America and State of New Mexico, ex rel. State
Engineer, Plaintiffs and Zuni Indian Tribe, Navajo Nation, Plaintiffs in
Intervention v. A & R Productions, et al., Defendants, case 6:01-cv-00072
MV/WPL.
If you have a project (big or small) that needs cultural clearance, please contact Cathy Travis at catravis@lone-mtn.com