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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 -- Part A: Sections 1-6, 8-9
SuWa 223
Author(s) – Personal:
Author(s) – Corporate:
Pacific Rim Geological Consulting, Inc., Northern Land Use Research Alaska LLC, Charles M.
Mobley & Associates, [and] URS, Inc.
AEA-identified category, if specified:
Initial study report
AEA-identified series, if specified:
Series (ARLIS-assigned report number):
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project document number 223
Existing numbers on document:
Published by:
[Anchorage : Alaska Energy Authority, 2014]
Date published:
June 2014
Published for:
Alaska Energy Authority
Date or date range of report:
Volume and/or Part numbers:
Final or Draft status, as indicated:
Document type:
Pagination:
iii, 5 p.
Related work(s):
The following parts of Section 13.6 appear in separate files:
Part A ; Part B ; Part C.
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
Part A: Sections 1-6, 8-9
Prepared for
Alaska Energy Authority
Prepared by
Pacific Rim Geological Consulting, Inc.
Northern Land Use Research Alaska LLC
Charles M. Mobley & Associates
URS, Inc.
June 2014
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Part A - Page ii June 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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 Part A - Page iii June 2014
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 Part A - Page 1 June 2014
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)
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FERC Project No. 14241 Part A - Page 2 June 2014
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 Part A - Page 3 June 2014
• 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
[Section 7 appears in the Part C section of this ISR.]
INITIAL STUDY REPORT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES STUDY (13.6)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Part A - Page 4 June 2014
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 Part A - Page 5 June 2014
Figure 3-1. Study Area for Paleontological Resources Showing Known Fossil Locations (map 9/10/13).