IES staff have been providing cultural resource management and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) compliance for over a combined 20 years.

IES staff have worked on sites across the globe, helping to gather information on site significance/importance and implementing procedures to properly accommodate preservation of materials while working closely with our clients and our clients' representatives to ensure the smooth and timely execution of field activities.

Identification, assessment, and handling of cultural resources can be divided into three primary phases. Phase I is the initial resource identification study. This can be followed by a Phase II resource evaluation study and finally Phase III impact mitigation.

An overview report, or summary of existing resources documentation, may precede Phase I to provide project feasibility information to the client. If it is determined that state or federal permits are required, they will be obtained before field work begins. Integrated Environmental Solutions provides the following cultural resource management services:

Overview reports are provided for a general understanding of what the archaeological and historical potential may be in a defined project location. A desktop evaluation focused on the local environmental setting and previously recorded sites in the surrounding area is performed to determine the likelihood of discovering new or additional cultural resources.

A Phase I reconnaissance survey includes a desktop evaluation of existing sites and resources in the surrounding area and physical inspection of the project location. A pedestrian survey includes shovel testing and backhoe trenching as required to delineate the presence or absence of archaeological remains.

Survey results are summarized in a report that includes the regional and geologic setting, results of shovel tests, and site recording. The report concludes with an evaluation of site significance and recommendations necessary to proceed with the project.

A Phase II study is indicated if significant cultural remains are discovered during the initial pedestrian survey. A detailed field inspection is performed for further evaluation of site significance as required by the applicable legislation governing the study of the project location.

The objectives are to determine the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the site(s), usually employing a backhoe trench. This approach identifies depositional integrity, cultural chronology, and the prospect of obtaining additional information. Recommendations are submitted to the lead agency reviewers and as required for permit approval.

Phase III mitigation investigations are a direct outgrowth of Phase II evaluation. Sites determined not to be significant may require archaeological Monitoring during development.

Those found to be significant require more intensive efforts of preservation either through project redesign, site avoidance, deed restrictions, and/or site capping. If preservation cannot be accommodated, Data Recovery is often mandated.