Cultural Resource Management

Apogee provides full-service cultural resource compliance services to clients throughout the United States navigating Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Our professional staff has the technical skills and regulatory experience to assist clients with all their cultural resource requirements, from early planning and site selection analyses to complex consultations and development of mitigative agreement documents. Apogee archaeologists and architectural historians are recognized industry wide as experts in their disciplines. All key staff meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior standards in their respective fields, and maintain active memberships in organizations such as the Register of Professional Archaeologists. Apogee is also a member of the American Cultural Resources Association (ACRA), the trade association supporting and promoting the interests of cultural resource management (CRM) firms in the United States. ACRA’s member firms employ thousands of cultural resources professionals and undertake many of the CRM studies and investigations in the United States. ACRA firms actively promote best practices within the CRM industry to balance development and preservation responsibly.

Phase I Archaeological Survey

At this stage of the Section 106 process, archaeologists seek to identify the presence of archaeological resources within the Area of Potential Effects (APE). Once identified and delineated, the Principal Investigator will evaluate the site’s potential to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Common methods for phase I invetsigations include shovel testing and pedestrian survey. Apogee has received SHPO/THPO concurrence for hundreds of phase I survey reports across all industries.

Phase II Archaeological Site Evaluation

The goal of a phase II archaeological study is to evaluate an archaeological site’s eligibility for listing in the NRHP. This step is requested by reviewing agency when identified sites require further research before they can be ruled out for NRHP eligibility. Phase II studies may involve the excavation of test units and/or the removal of upper stratigraphy to reveal subsurface cultural features.

Phase III Archaeological Site Mitigation

Once it’s been determined that there will be an adverse effect on an NRHP-eligible archaeological site within the APE, Section 106 requires that the effects must be mitigated. For archaeological sites eligible under Criterion D, data recovery excavations are often utilized to mitigate effects so that the site’s valuable in-situ data can be recorded for future research. Creative alternative mitigation strategies may also be employed for unique situations.

Historic Architectural Survey

Apogee architectural historians regularly complete surveys to identify historic-age architectural resources, assess their eligibility for listing in the NRHP, and coordinate with SHPO to document and identify significant historic properties. Further, our team specializes in the development of unique survey methods such as viewshed and blasting zone surveys, as well as complex assessments of adverse effect resulting from diverse types of undertakings. Apogee is well-versed in preparing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) documents as a result of adverse effects.

Early Planning and Consultation

Our team of professionals regularly assist clients in identifying and assessing cultural resource compliance needs during initial project planning. Through the development of screening and consultative documents, such as desktop analyses and agency coordination materials, Apogee helps clients identify potential issues early on. Ultimately, this reduces the likelihood of encountering unexpected “fatal flaws” and works to streamline the regulatory process.

Geomorphologic Deep Testing

Apogee archaeologists and soil scientists have accumulated broad experience through numerous geomorphological and soils assessments for floodplain surveys.