Negative Findings Cultural Resources Survey for the No Name Island Road Improvement Project, Laredo, Texas Laredo Sector, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Abstract

Gulf South Research Corporation (GSRC) personnel conducted an intensive archaeological survey of an existing footpath and detached river terrace, referred to as “No Name Island” proposed for vegetation removal on behalf of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The project area consists of an approximately 0.25-mile-long dirt footpath, which is proposed to be widened to 16 feet to allow vehicle access (i.e., No Name Access Road), and an approximately 1.12-acre area of detached river terrace (i.e., No Name Island), for which clearing of dense vegetation is proposed. This investigation constitutes CBP’s good faith effort to take into account any adverse effects that may occur as a result of the proposed undertaking in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Protection Act (NHPA) (Public Law 89-665; 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq). The intensive Phase I archaeological investigation included background research of the physical environment, cultural history of the area, previous investigations and previously reported cultural resources, and field survey. Field survey included pedestrian surface inspection supplemented with the excavation of shovel test pits (STPs). Background research revealed eight investigations have been previously conducted, three archaeological sites, and one National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-listed historic district have been previously recorded within a 0.5-mile radius of the proposed project area. Two of these investigations overlapped with portions of the survey area. None of the previously identified archaeological sites or the NRHP-listed district overlap with either the No Name Access Road or No Name Island survey areas. During field survey, the pedestrian survey encountered no archaeological resources on the ground surface. The subsurface testing consisted of the excavation of four STPs along No Name Access Road within the 0.25 mile long, 60-foot wide project corridor and five STPs within the 1.12 acre No Name Island vegetation removal area. None of the nine STPs were positive for cultural material. As a result of this investigation, no cultural resources were identified within the proposed project area. The proposed project will have no adverse effect on cultural resources and no further work is recommended.