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https://hdl.handle.net/11681/48053| Title: | Environmental Assessment : Jenkins House Preservation Actions, R. C. Byrd Lock and Dam Replacement Project, Cabell County, West Virginia |
| Authors: | United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Huntington District |
| Keywords: | Historic buildings Historic preservation Cabell County (W. Va.) Environmental management Environmental protection |
| Publisher: | United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Huntington District. |
| Abstract: | This Environmental Assessment (EA) considers the potential environmental impacts of the proposed preservation actions at the General Albert Gallatin Jenkins House, a property listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Jenkins House is located in Cabell County, West Virginia as a part of the Greenbottom Mitigation Area set aside to mitigate ecological impacts of the Robert C. Byrd Lock and Dam Replacement effort. The Jenkins House was acquired incidentally with tracts necessary for ecological mitigation by the Huntington District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in 1989. Congress has directed the Corps to preserve and restore the Jenkins House in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, though no funds were attached to this directive. Congressionally appropriated funds are currently available for activities described within the original project authorization documents, which includes preservation but not restoration. As a result, the current planning effort considers preservation activities only. According to Federal historic preservation statutes, “preservation” includes planning measures and specifying actions to ensure the retention of original fabric, features, design, materials, and craftsmanship of existing historic properties. The Huntington District has worked in conjunction with the Seattle District’s Center of Expertise for the Preservation of Historic Buildings and Structures (CX) to identify, evaluate and prioritize preservation actions necessary to sustain the integrity, original fabric and character of the Jenkins House while avoiding, minimizing or providing mitigation for any adverse effects to the historic structure or to surrounding archaeology. As presented to the public during the 24 April 2007 public scoping meeting, primary concerns for preservation of the structure were related to water penetration and potential flood damage. Other preservation concerns included utility upgrades, cyclical maintenance issues, and documenting and repairing moldings, features and finishes. The Preservation Plan (Appendix A) recommends both immediate and long-range preservation treatments guided by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This EA evaluates proposed preservation actions and their potential effects on the human environment as prescribed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). During early planning stages, floodproofing measures were given primary consideration as a means to protect federal investments in preservation and potential future restoration actions at the Jenkins House. However, this proved problematic as floodproofing actions introduce elements and impose interventions that would significantly affect the National Register values of the Jenkins House (both to the historic structure and setting, and to archaeological resources). Investigation of floodproofing guidance revealed an exemption for floodproofing requirements of historic structures (44 CFR Sec. 59.1). This exemption allows substantial improvements to be made to historic structures located in the 100-year floodplain without imposing potentially adverse floodproofing alterations to structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This guidance facilitated consideration of preservation measures that did not include floodproofing actions. The Corps’ Federal mandate is to apply preservation standards that meet the intent of Section 106 of the NHPA. The potential for adverse effects to the historic structure and landscape by any preservation measures is considered inconsistent with presiding preservation objectives. |
| Description: | Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact |
| Rights: | Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited |
| URI: | https://hdl.handle.net/11681/48053 |
| Appears in Collections: | Environmental Documents |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jenkins House Preservation Actions - EA _2008.pdf | 7.48 MB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |