Part of Yankee’s decommissioning and site closure strategy includes the research and consideration of land reuse and management options for a portion of Yankee’s Rowe site. Yankee selected a cultural resources management firm to assist in planning for land reuse by establishing baseline archaeological resource information and long-term stewardship guidelines.

The firm also helped Yankee to catalogue the potential archaeological and cultural resources of the Yankee Rowe site. The firm documented each of the discovered resources and developed guidelines to ensure the resources’ lasting stewardship in the Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey and the Archaeological Resources Management Plan. The survey complies with guidelines developed by the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

The Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey, completed in November 2003, was designed to collect information about the environmental and cultural history and resources of the Yankee Rowe property that can be used to create archaeological sensitivity maps for future development planning. The firm conducted a fairly low prehistoric and historic archaeological sensitivity assessment because of the level disturbance suggested by the project area’s steep topography, lack of arable land, and soil disturbance from the construction of the Hoot, Toot & Whistle Railroad, Sherman Dam, and the nuclear plant.

An Archaeological Resources Management Plan (ARMP) was developed for the Yankee Rowe project area as a means to assist current and future property owners in planning for land reuse by establishing baseline archaeological resource information and long-term stewardship guidelines. The ARMP provides clear and concise recommendations about how to treat historic properties, including archaeological resources and standing structures, within the project boundaries.

• Identification and survey of historic properties
• Types of activities that may impact historic properties
• Protection of historic properties and mitigation of adverse effects; monitoring (short and long-term) of archaeological sites, archaeologically sensitive areas, and historic structures
• Unanticipated discovery of previously unidentified historic properties and human remains
• Development of conservation and curation plan
• public education program about the historic and archaeological values of the project area