Otay Mesa Generating Plant

Prime or Subconsultant: Subconsultant

Prepared for: California Energy Commission and Otay Mesa Generating Company, LLC

Contact Person: Ed Merrihew, Calpine Compliance Officer, Otay Mesa Generating Company, P.O. Box 530600, San Diego, CA 92153-0600

Project Name: Otay Mesa Generating Plant

Date: December 2002

Report Title: Cultural Resource Inventory, Testing, Data Recovery and Mitigation
Monitoring Program for the Otay Mesa Generating Plant

Authors: Dennis Gallegos, Jeff Flenniken, Tracy Stropes, Monica Guerrero and Brian Hatoff.

Project Description:

This project produced a number of reports which included the initial literature review and field survey, testing of archaeological sites within the proposed plant site and utility corridors, mitigation of impacts to prehistoric sites CA-SDI-7215 and CA-SDI-9975 through the completion of data recovery programs, and monitoring during construction. The literature review and field survey identified 20 cultural resources within or immediately adjacent to the proposed plant site and utility corridors. For those sites not previously tested, an evaluation using surface collection of artifacts, and excavation of shovel test pits and 1x1-m units was conducted. As a result of testing, two sites (CA-SDI-10297 and CA-SDI-9975 were identified as significant and eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. Site (CA-SDI-10297) was flagged and monitored to ensure avoidance during construction. For CA-SDI-9975, mitigation of impacts was achieved through the completion of a data recovery program. The cultural resources mitigation and monitoring plan, included training of construction personnel and monitoring during ground disturbing activities. As a result of monitoring, one cultural resource site (CA-SDI-7215, Locus B) was discovered and identified as significant. Mitigation of impacts was achieved through the completion of a data recovery program. Construction monitoring for the Otay Mesa Generating Plant began in August 2001 and ended in March 2002. Training of personnel included a video and a talk on cultural resources and protocol to follow should cultural resources be encountered. Locus B was radiocarbon dated to 4,555 years ago and produced steep-edge unifacial tools (SEUTs), battered implements, flaked tools, manos, metates, debitage, and shell.