ARMY MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY /
WATERTOWN ARSENAL
WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS

 

 








 


PAL prepared a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Watertown Arsenal Historic District and HABS/HAER documentation for 16 buildings and the Olmsted landscape as a component of the BRAC study. The work included research at the Library of Congress, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Watertown Arsenal, and comprehensive field investigations. Field investigations included defining boundaries of the historic properties, documenting existing conditions, verifying extant historic features, and recording descriptions of the buildings and landscape. The results of the research and field investigations were used to complete the National Register nomination and Level II HABS/HAER reports including narrative descriptions and histories and large format archival photographs. Copies of the HABS/HAER documentation are on file at the Library of Congress and the Massachusetts State Archives.

Section 106 consultation determined project effects to historic resources and identified alternatives to avoid, minimize or mitigate adverse effects. Detailed analyses were conducted, community meetings were held, and a comprehensive effects and mitigation report was prepared in conjunction with the project Programmatic of Agreement.

Date of Performance: 1991 - 1997
Client: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
POC: Kate Atwood • 978-318-8537
 


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PAL completed a reconnaissance survey of the U.S. Army Materials Technology Laboratory (AMTL, former Watertown Arsenal) as a component of the Base Realignment and Closure Environmental Impact Study (BRAC). The survey included background research; development of prehistoric and historic period contexts, including a national military context; preparation of archaeological sensitivity models; identification of historically and architecturally significant buildings, landscapes, and structures; and development of National Register of Historic Places recommendations.

PAL also conducted an archaeological survey of intact areas within the former AMTL facility (Watertown Arsenal) in Watertown, Massachusetts and subsequent site evaluation of an identified prehistoric site in 1995 and 1996 under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The former AMTL facility was designated a superfund site in 1994 and the archaeological investigations were conducted by PAL personnel who completed the OSHA 40-hour hazardous waste/emergency response training and had medical clearance to wear Level C personal protective equipment including full-face respirators.

The archaeological investigations assisted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in fulfilling legal requirements under Section 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process for federal military installations.

 

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