Tucson Electric Power 500 kV Line Survey, Data Recovery

Under a Master Services Agreement with Unisource Energy, TEP hired WestLand to conduct a cultural resources survey of a 41-mile-long by 1,000-foot-wide corridor for the installation of a new 500-kV transmission line.

TEP had already hired the construction contractor and established an aggressive schedule for the project before the cultural resources survey was even completed. The data collected during the survey allowed them to place their line within a 165-foot-wide corridor that was designed to avoid as many cultural resources as possible.

Unfortunately, not all sites could be avoided, and WestLand developed a phased data recovery and monitoring plan for 18 prehistoric archaeological sites with the potential to be adversely affected by the transmission line.

The project was mostly contained within Arizona State Land Department property, but also crossed Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Reclamation-managed land.

Nine prehistoric sites were subjected to phased data recovery and an additional nine sites were monitored during construction to avoid inadvertent adverse effects.

During the monitoring phase of the project WestLand developed and installed signage and conducted cultural sensitivity training for the construction crew to ensure there were no inadvertent impacts to significant cultural resources.