Development projects, including both urban and rural settings, often have profound affects on the character and setting of existing structures and communities.  Many lead agencies require the history of the Area of Potential Effect (APE), the individual structures within, and the surrounding region, be determined prior to permit approval.  As with all cultural resource identification and evaluation undertakings, information gained early in the design process allows the best possibility for cost-effective project redesign in an effort to avoid costly impact mitigation. 

Kathy Crawford, Pacific West Archaeology's staff historian, has the academic background, research contacts, and the public sector experience necessary to rapidly evaluate and report on the structures and communities within the APE.  Her experience with Section 106 of NHPA has been developed primarily through investigations conducted for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the United State Navy.  Ms. Crawford's recent work on the U. S. Naval Training Center was integral in the establishment of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the U. S. Navy and the City of San Diego.  The MOA is the guiding document of many federal projects. 

Caltrans supported or permitted projects require not only Section 106 compliance, but documentation according to a strict set of guidelines.  These often include a Historic Property Survey Report, a Historic Architectural Survey Report, a Historic Resource Evaluation Report, and Bridge Evaluations.  The experience of Pacific West Archaeology staff in preparing these reports and successfully interacting with Caltrans reviewers allows us the insight necessary to prepare similar documents in the future.

Historic research also supports historic period archaeological investigations.  Research into land-owners, tenants, and communities is often key to the proper context and evaluation of these resources.  Pacific West Archaeology staff makes use of numerous archives including the San Diego Historical Society research library, the San Diego Museum of Man, the California Room of the San Diego Public Library, various University of California and California State University libraries, and documents on file at various lead agency offices.  Our ability to quickly identify and summarize information from these and other sources allows Pacific West Archaeology to obtain data relevant and necessary to conducting field investigations within time and budgetary limits.