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. We have conducted hundreds of projects for clients under contract with NMDOT for undertakings such as borrow pits, yard sites, hot plants, and fence replacement. 


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