Preparation of an Integrated Cultural Resource Management Plan, Maine Corps Air Station, South Carolina and Townsend Bombing Range, Mcintosh County, Georgia (Vol.2)

The Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Office (NREAO), Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina, has requested the development of a Integrated Cultural ResourcesManagment Plan (ICRMP) for cultural resources on MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, and Townsend Bombing Range (TBR), Mcintosh County, Georgia. The term resource is meant to refer to any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The term also includes artifacts, museum collections, agency files, land records, oral histories, photographs, and community resources or lifeways. Completion of the ICRMP is required in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, Executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the cultural environment), the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974, and the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979. The legislative mandates are implemented by a number of proponent regulations, including 36 CFR 60, MCO P5090.2a, and OPNA VIST 5090.2. MCAS Beaufort is located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in the southeastern part of the state. The installation was established in 1943 as a Naval Air Station. The MCAS has grown considerably since that time and now encompasses almost 7,000 ac. (2,833 hectares [ha]). Under the command of the MCAS include MCAS proper, Laurel Bay Housing Area, and outlying forested and agricultural parcels. Townsend Bombing Range is located near the town of Townsend in Mcintosh County, Georgia. The range is a Class A controlled range that covers 5,183 ac. (2,097 ha). It contains scorable targets for bombs, rockets, and strafing. The range is utilized by numerous service components including Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Army, and Georgia Air National Guard. TBR was acquired by the Department of the Navy (DoN) in 1991-1992, is operated by the Georgia Air National Guard, and managed by MCAS Beaufort. The MCAS Beaufort ICRMP stands as a modification and update of the MCAS Beaufort Historic Preservation Plan (HPP) that was prepared in 1987 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). At the time of the HPP preparation, no formal archeological work had been conducted at MCAS Beaufort and thus the HPP only discussed sites listed in the State Site Files and those discovered or rumored by local residents. No prior HPP or ICRMP has been completed for TBR. To date the entire range has been surveyed and the results of all archeological work are included. The range is managed by MCAS Beaufort and hence is included with this ICRMP. The primary goal of the ICRMP is to provide guidance for effective maintenance and protection of eligible resources in compliance with federal and state regulations in performance of the military mission. Once in effect, a ICRMP should ensure that MCAS Beaufort and TBR manage historic and archeological resources in a responsible manner, consistent with applicable federal laws and regulations including the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriations Act (NAGPRA), and other authorities.