Supporting the U.S. Coast Guard for over 25 years
Over the past 25 years, AECOM has provided cultural resources support at Base San Juan, Puerto Rico, helping the USCG fulfill stipulations of a Programmatic Agreement executed by the USCG, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and facilitating consultation between USCG and the Puerto Rico SHPO.
Recently, the USCG required support related to a proposal to build, renovate, and demolish existing structures and supporting infrastructure at Base San Juan to repair and replace hurricane-damaged facilities, address storm resiliency deficiencies, and sustain USCG operations. AECOM assisted the USCG in consultation with the Puerto Rico SHPO regarding the project and its potential to effect significant historic properties. This assistance included a Phase I archaeological survey including geophysical survey using a ground penetrating radar (GPR); Phase II archaeological testing through the excavation of multiple exploratory trenches; a viewshed analysis; and development of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to resolve adverse effects to significant historic properties. Pursuant to the MOA, AECOM conducted Level II Historic American Building Survey (HABS) of three buildings that contribute to the Base San Juan Historic District and prepared archaeological specifications to guide the Design-Build contractor through archaeological investigations and mitigation.
Past support from AECOM included Level II HABS documentation of two historic buildings targeted for demolition, including preparation of a significance statement and an historic context; a physical description of both structures, including field measurements and completion of final building elevations and floor plans; and archival-quality, large format black and white photographs. AECOM also provided Phase II and Phase III archaeological investigations including documentation of the Santo Toribio Battery (Batería de Santo Toribio), an artillery battery associated with the Spanish fortifications and Royal Arsenal, as well as resources related to the transition of the base from Spanish to American control following the Spanish-American War. Following the archaeological work, AECOM produced a bilingual brochure for public dissemination that summarized the Phase II and III archaeological investigations.
GPR Imagery
Installation Commander’s House
Archaeological Features in Trench