• Cultural Resources Existing Conditions Report
• Cultural Resources Literature Review
• Phase I Archaeological Surveys
• Cemetery Relocation and Delineation
• Geophysical Survey
• Phase II Archaeological Site Assessment
• Historic Properties Survey
• National Register of Historic Places Eligibility
• HABS Documentation
• Assessment of Effects Report
• MOA Development
• Wetland Delineations/Waterway Permits

ASC Group, Inc. (ASC) has been under contract with Landrum & Brown to complete cultural and environmental work for the Columbus Regional Airport Authority for 15 years. The City of Columbus has developed rapidly around the airport making the expansion of the airport difficult. ASC has conducted many cultural resource surveys and ecological surveys in and around the airport as the Port Authority explores options for expansion of car rental facilities, relocation of runways, and changes in roadway approaches to the airport.

Cultural surveys include Phase I archaeology and architectural history and Phase II archaeological site assessment. The location of the new car rental facility included the Elam Drake Homestead which was already listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). ASC personnel worked with Airport Authority, local community groups, the Ohio’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and the FAA to prepare a MOA outlining mitigation strategies for the property. A HABS/HAER documentation was completed on the standing buildings. Since the archaeological component of the Elam Drake homestead had not been evaluated, ASC completed an archaeological assessment. This work included extensive background research including research of old deed and tax records and the preparation of Sanborn overlay maps. Geophysical survey was implemented in an attempt to find old clay borrow pits, privies and other subground features. The replacement of one of the runways required a variety of surveys including the historical and archaeological documentation aimed at locating the Stelzer Cemetery. The results successfully identified three nineteenth century graves and the cemetery boundaries. The project was redesigned to avoid the cemetery otherwise left intact.

As part of the studies prepared for the Environmental Impact Statement for the relocation of the runway, ASC prepared history/architecture reports: an intensive survey of the direct effects APE, a reconnaissance survey of the indirect effects APE, and an assessment of effects study for the former Air Force Plant 85. The APE for Direct Effects covered a large area, including properties owned by the airport as well as privately owned property adjacent to the eastern, southern, and western boundaries of the airport.

As part of planning studies for the Airport Authority’s new terminal and midfield development program, ASC evaluated the NRHP eligibility of the existing airport terminal and the Lane Aviation hangar and office facility.

ASC performed wetland delineations on an approximately 1,082 acres of land (study area) in 2015. The report produced for the project serves as an update to previous wetland delineation reports dating back to 2000, 2007, and 2008. All previously delineated United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional waters were verified and any changes were noted. A total of 46 wetlands were delineated during the field surveys. Additionally, six streams and two ponds were documented during the 2015 field surveys. An Approved Jurisdictional Determination was issued by the USACOE in August of 2017. In 2017 an individual 404/401 permit application and Level 2 Isolated Wetland permit were prepared for various projects and facility upgrades at the airport collectively referred to as the Midfield Development Program. The individual 404/401 was prepared for 1,601 linear feet of impacts to two streams and 2.443 acres of 16 wetlands. The Level 2 isolated wetland permit was prepared for the airport to fill 13 on-site wetlands totaling 1.47 acres. Waterway permits for the Midfield Development Program were issued by the USACOE and Ohio EPA in 2018