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Scope of Work for Archaeological Fieldwork for the Tongue River Railroad EIS
Summer2013

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is conducting environmental studies to analyze a revised
application from the Tongue River Railroad Company for the construction and operation of a new rail line to
connect the previously planned Manteo Mine near Ashland, Montana, and the proposed Otter Creek Mine
east of Ashland, Montana to the existing United States railroad system. Several alternatives are being
analyzed by the Board. The following Scope of Work (SOW) details the field methods for an archaeological
survey to be conducted by the Board in support of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
(Section 106) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Specifically, the purpose of the field study
described here is to inform the NEPA process by providing an equal analysis of each proposed alternative
and to form a basis for the subsequent Section 106 studies and execution of a Programmatic Agreement. In
consultation with the Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the focus of the survey is the
identification of potential historic resou~ces along each alternative rather than a detailed analysis or
evaluation of resources. No ground disturbing activities will take place.

Archaeological Methods:
A team of ICF archaeologists and tribal representatives will conduct a pedestrian survey for all accessible
land along each alternative. The survey area will be the approximately 600 foot-wide Area of Potential
Effect (APE), designed to place a buffer zone around the Tongue River Railroad Company's proposed
standard right-of-way (ROW) of 200-foot-wide., The actual surveyed APE may be slightly larger or slightly
narrower, depending on required cut and fill areas and the proximity of the Tongue River.
The survey crew will include four ICF archaeologists. The ICF crew chief for each rotation will meet the
Secretary of the ll'lterior Standards for archaeology (36 CFR Part 61, 48 FR 44716). All other ICF crew
members will have a minimum of a BA or BS in anthropology or closely related field, and have previous
survey, excavation, and monitoring experience.
Four tribal representatives will accompany the four ICF archaeologists. Experience and formal qualifications
may vary, but every attempt will be made to balance more experienced crew with less experienced. At least
one tribal crew member should be experienced with properties of religious or cultural significance. All
survey crews (both ICF and tribal representatives) will be expected to stay at the same hotel location (Miles
City, Montana for northern alignments and Sheridan, Wyoming for southern alignments). The exact hotels
are to be determined.
In order to complete the pedestrian survey of all accessible alternatives within the project schedule, the
survey will utilize four "rotations" of fieldwork teams consisting of eight surveyors per team. Each team will
be designated A, B, C, or D and will be deployed se.quentially. We assume approximately three miles per day
for the survey-this includes "buffer" time for driving, locating the best access point(s), and meeting with
property owners when required (see Table 1 below for mileage of accessible land by alternative). In
accordance with applicable labor laws, each team rotation is limited to ten days (eight days' survey with a
day of travel before and after survey). Each rotation will begin with travel on a Monday, survey Tuesday
through Tuesday, and travel back on Wednesday.

June 28, 2013

Table 1. Mileage of Accessible Land by Alternative

Name

Length (miles)

Access to (miles)

Tongue River

86.36

34

Tongue River Road

48.27

5.4

Ashland East Variation

18.47

7.5

Colstrip

19.64

2.6

Moon Creek

17.64

11.7

Terminus 1 Variation

9.11

2.8

Revised Decker

38.52

16.5

Before each survey begins, a pre-designated ICF representative will review the proposed land access
schedule and contact land owners as necessary. Information regarding required meetings or other survey
details wi.11 be given to the ICF crew chief prior to the survey.
The surVey crew will meet at the hotel lobby or car at 7:00 AM each day of survey. The crew chief will
conduct a brief safety meeting detailing the day's activities, schedule, specific safety concerns, and provide a
summary of known sites or anticipated resources. Two vehicles (4x4 SUVs) will be used to transport crew
members to and from the field. Only ICF staff will be allowed to drive these vehicles. Fire suppression gear
including extinguishers and a shovel will be in the vehicles. The crew will carry a first-aid kit in the field.
The ICF crew chief will use an iPad GPS to navigate centerline and APE, as well as to determine which areas
we have been granted access. The iPads have been modified with advanced GIS applications, highresolution aerial imagery of the alignments, parcel boundaries, and land permission status updates.
The team of eight will walk along a single transect (roughly North to South), spaced about 15 meters apart,
for approximately 2-4 miles depending on terrain and access roads, then cross the proposed centerline and
return . . All members of the team will observe ground surface for indications of precontact and historic era
archaeological resources.
If potential precontact resources are encountered, the team will stop and consult with Native American
surveyors regarding the sensitivity of such resources. If the resource is an archaeological resource (e.g., with
physical manifestations such as artifacts) the ICF crew will record a point or site boundary polygon using an
iPad, and take more detailed notes and photographs. In addition, they will briefly summarize the nature,
boundary, or other criteria necessary for basic recordation. The MT SHPO provided a project-specific
recording form with 21 data fields. The iPads have been modified with these custom data collection fields.
The data collection fields are based on Montana's standard forms and will be modified to specify the six or
seven required fields once those are determined. GPS location, photos, and notes will also be collected
using the iPad. All recorded information will uploaded into applicable GIS software once each field rotation
is complete.

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June 28, 2013