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Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document
ARLIS Uniform Cover Page
Title:
Paleontological resources study, Study plan Section 13.6 : Initial study
report
SuWa 207
Author(s) – Personal:
Author(s) – Corporate:
Prepared by Pacific Rim Geological Consulting, Inc., Northern Land Use Research Alaska LLC,
Charles M. Mobley & Associates, [and] URS, Inc.
AEA-identified category, if specified:
Draft initial study report
AEA-identified series, if specified:
Series (ARLIS-assigned report number):
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project document number 207
Existing numbers on document:
Published by:
[Anchorage : Alaska Energy Authority, 2014]
Date published:
February 2014
Published for:
Alaska Energy Authority
Date or date range of report:
Volume and/or Part numbers:
Study plan Section 13.6
Final or Draft status, as indicated:
Draft
Document type:
Pagination:
iii, 5 p.
Related work(s):
Pages added/changed by ARLIS:
Notes:
All reports in the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document series include an ARLIS-
produced cover page and an ARLIS-assigned number for uniformity and citability. All reports
are posted online at http://www.arlis.org/resources/susitna-watana/
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project
(FERC No. 14241)
Paleontological Resources Study
Study Plan Section 13.6
Initial Study Report
Prepared for
Alaska Energy Authority
Prepared by
Pacific Rim Geological Consulting, Inc.
Northern Land Use Research Alaska LLC
Charles M. Mobley & Associates
URS, Inc.
February 2014 Draft
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page i February 2014 Draft
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... iii
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1
2. Study Objectives................................................................................................................ 1
3. Study Area ......................................................................................................................... 1
4. Methods and Variances in 2013 ....................................................................................... 2
4.1. Identification of Potential Impacts to Paleontological Resources .................... 2
4.1.1. Variances......................................................................................... 2
4.2. Determination of Field Survey and Monitoring Needs ..................................... 2
4.3. Field Survey ...................................................................................................... 2
5. Results ................................................................................................................................ 2
6. Discussion........................................................................................................................... 3
7. Completing the Study ....................................................................................................... 3
8. Literature Cited ................................................................................................................ 4
9. Figures ................................................................................................................................ 4
List of Figures
Figure 3-1. Study Area for Paleontological Resources Showing Known Fossil Locations
(map 9/10/13). .......................................................................................................................... 5
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page ii February 2014 Draft
LIST OF ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS
Abbreviation Definition
AEA Alaska Energy Authority
AHRS Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
ILP Integrated Licensing Process
ISR Initial Study Report
PFYC Potential Fossil Yield Classification
Project Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project No. 14241
RSP Revised Study Plan
SPD study plan determination
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page iii February 2014 Draft
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Paleontological Resources Study 13.6
Purpose The purpose of the paleontological resources study is to determine the
potential effects of the Project on paleontological resources.
Status Most of the methods described in the Study Plan are scheduled to occur
during the next study season (RSP 13.6.10). For the work planned for 2013
under the Study Plan, AEA began the process of determining geologic units
that may be impacted by the proposed Project and the associated Potential
Fossil Yield Classification (PFYC). This work, together with the other work
initially scheduled for 2013, remains a work in progress. While no
paleontological field studies were conducted in 2013, archaeological field
crews in 2013 incidentally found and reported four plant fossil finds.
Study
Components
This study consists of three components:
1) Identify potential impacts to paleontological resources by determining
the geologic units that may be impacted by the proposed Project and the
associated PFYC classes.
2) Determine the need for field surveys and monitoring efforts.
3) Undertake field surveys.
2013 Variances While AEA completed initial literature review relevant to the determination
of geologic units that may be impacted by the Project and associated PFYC
classes, this work remains ongoing. All other methods described in the
Study Plan were deferred until the next study season (RSP Section 13.6.10).
AEA will meet the study objectives by completing the remainder of the
study in the next study season.
Steps to Complete
the Study
As explained in the cover letter to this draft ISR, AEA’s plan for completing
this study will be included in the final ISR filed with FERC on June 3, 2014.
Highlighted
Results and
Achievements
Highlights include:
1) Developing a map of known fossil finds and assimilating other
information in the literature review.
2) Finding and reporting four plant fossil finds by the archaeological field
crews.
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 1 February 2014 Draft
1. INTRODUCTION
On December 14, 2012, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) filed with the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) its Revised Study Plan (RSP) for the Susitna-Watana
Hydroelectric Project No. 14241 (Project), which included 58 individual study plans (AEA
2012). Section 13.6 of the RSP described the Paleontological Resources Study. This study
focuses on locating, documenting, and evaluating paleontological resources within the affected
area. Information from these studies will be used to identify appropriate protection, mitigation,
and enhancement measures. RSP Section 13.6 provided goals, objectives, and proposed methods
for data collection regarding paleontological resources.
On February 1, 2013, FERC staff issued its study plan determination (February 1 SPD) for 44 of
the 58 studies, approving 31 studies as filed and 13 with modifications. RSP Section 13.6 was
one of the 31 studies approved with no modifications.
Following the first study season, FERC’s regulations for the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP)
require AEA to “prepare and file with the Commission an initial study report describing its
overall progress in implementing the study plan and schedule and the data collected, including an
explanation of any variance from the study plan and schedule” (18 CFR 5.15(c)(1)). This Initial
Study Report (ISR) on the Paleontological Resources Study has been prepared in accordance
with FERC’s ILP regulations and details AEA’s status in implementing the study, as set forth in
the FERC-approved RSP (referred to herein as the “Study Plan”).
2. STUDY OBJECTIVES
As detailed more fully in RSP Section 13.6.1, the objective of this study is to determine the
effects of the proposed Project on paleontological resources by locating, documenting, and
evaluating paleontological resources within the study area.
3. STUDY AREA
The study area is described in Section 13.6.3 of the RSP and shown on Figure 3-1. The initial
paleontological literature study encompasses a broad region around the Project area, which is co-
terminus with the external boundary of the direct and indirect study area for the Cultural
Resource Study Plan (Study 13.5). The study area for paleontological survey will be limited to
locations (1) where significant paleontological resources are predicted to occur as surface
outcrops; and (2) that may be impacted by the construction and/or operation of the Project.
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 2 February 2014 Draft
4. METHODS AND VARIANCES IN 2013
4.1. Identification of Potential Impacts to Paleontological Resources
AEA implemented the methods as described in the Study Plan with the exception of variances
explained below (Section 4.1.1).
AEA began the process of determining the geologic units that may be impacted by the proposed
Project and the associated PFYC classes. The initial literature review study focused on lands
within the study area that may contain fossil localities and that may be covered by existing
records. Of those lands that may contain fossil localities, the study team evaluated the rock types
that are known to be fossil-bearing from past investigations.
The study team identified all previous fossil finds by rock type and location and general land
ownership status. Tables and maps were prepared summarizing this literature review.
4.1.1. Variances
AEA did not complete the analysis of impacts to paleontological resources in 2013. Specifically,
AEA did not complete the analysis of the geologic units that may be impacted by the proposed
Project and did not ascertain the associated PFYC classes. AEA will meet the Study Plan
objectives by completing this work in the next study season.
4.2. Determination of Field Survey and Monitoring Needs
In 2013, AEA did not implement the methods described in the Study Plan related to the
determination of field surveys and monitoring needs (RSP Section 13.6.4). While this is a
variance from the approved Study Plan, AEA will meet the study objectives by completing this
work in the next study season.
4.3. Field Survey
In 2013, AEA did not implement the methods described in the Study Plan related to the field
survey (RSP Section 13.6.4). While this is a variance from the approved Study Plan, AEA will
meet the study objectives by completing this work in the next study season.
5. RESULTS
The initial paleontological literature review included a geological overview of the Project area
and described the potential of selected geological units to contain fossils. The potential fossil-
bearing rock units identified in the review included:
• The Wrangellia Terrane
• Kahiltna Flysch
• Windy Terrane
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 3 February 2014 Draft
• Susitna Terrane
• Chulitna Group of Terranes
• Quaternary Cover Sequences
A paleontological study spreadsheet was prepared summarizing information from
approximately 100 fossil locations in these potential fossil-bearing rock units. The majority
of the fossil locales occur in two distinct, northeast-striking belts on the east-central and
western portions of the Project area, with a scattering of fossils in other locales. Three fossil
localities occur within the area that could be within the inundation zone. Twelve other fossil
localities occur within the transportation corridors, as shown in Figure 3-1. Fossil locales on
federal lands are generally confined to (1) the northern-most Talkeetna Mountains and the
Clearwater Mountains; and (2) a thin corridor of federal lands along the Susitna River from Gracious
House on the Denali Highway to the Watana Dam site.
Analysis of the existing paleontological site inventory as derived from the literature search
indicates that none of the known fossil finds in the study area are of critical scientific
importance.
Archaeological crews performing fieldwork in 2013 incidentally reported four fossil finds in the
study area, all of which are plant specimens. The sites were assigned Alaska Heritage Resources
Survey (AHRS) numbers and added to the paleontological site inventory.
Data developed in support of this study are available for download at
http://gis.suhydro.org/reports/isr.
6. DISCUSSION
The paleontological literature review used the existing fossil site inventory (Figure 3-1) to begin
the process of characterizing PFYC rankings in the study area and determining areas warranting
field study. Fieldwork was not conducted in 2013, although the archaeological field crews made
incidental findings of four plant fossils, which were recorded. Fieldwork, analysis, and synthesis
addressing the paleontological resources potentially affected by Project implementation will take
place during the next year of study.
7. COMPLETING THE STUDY
[As explained in the cover letter to this draft ISR, AEA’s plan for completing this study will be
included in the final ISR filed with FERC on June 3, 2014.]
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 4 February 2014 Draft
8. LITERATURE CITED
AEA (Alaska Energy Authority). 2012. Revised Study Plan: Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric
Project FERC Project No. 14241. December 2012. Prepared for the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission by the Alaska Energy Authority, Anchorage, Alaska.
http://www.susitna-watanahydro.org/study-plan.
9. FIGURES
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY 13.6
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 5 February 2014 Draft
Figure 3-1. Study Area for Paleontological Resources Showing Known Fossil Locations (map 9/10/13).