Jay Sander

I have more than two decades of experience working as a professional archaeologist in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, California, and New England (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New York). I am proficient in client-based archaeology and have worked with private developers as well as local, state, and federal agencies. I have also coordinated and worked with several Tribal Historic Preservation offices. For the last several years I have conducted extensive research on both prehistoric and historic period archaeological sites.

I have led a wide variety of archaeological projects, from Phase I surveys to Phase III evaluations, for both private and government clients. I have extensive knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, and standards and guidelines governing cultural resources, including Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, Section 106 and Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Nationwide Programmatic Agreement, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

As a Senior Archaeologist with Chambers Group, Inc., one aspect of my job was to develop scopes of work and budgets. I am experienced managing projects up to $350,000 and have seen projects through from concept to fully operational status. As a result of my extensive experience in cultural resources management, my strengths include tracking schedules and budgets, and meeting deadlines.

Throughout my career, I have been the primary author or co-author of numerous technical reports including, but not limited to, NEPA documents and results of field investigations. I have prepared documents to meet lead agency requirements for the Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. In addition to writing, I have also conducted laboratory analyses and write-up of the results of those analyses.

Mr. Sander Meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Qualified Archaeologist.
Valid FEMA Badge, expires March, 2025

Education

1998   Master of Arts in Anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeology, University of California, Riverside.

1993    Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology, University of Arizona.

Professional Experience

2020    to Present Senior Archaeologist, FEMA (contracted by Paleowest, Inc.)

  • Completed Section 106 Compliance for hazardous tree removal project in support of the Paradise, CA fire.

2018 to 2020 Senior Archaeologist, Timmons Group, Inc.

  • Completed Section 106 Compliance assessments for a variety of project in NC, SC, and VA.
  • Conducted background research
  • Authored cultural resources management reports.

2018   Senior Archaeologist, Tower Engineering Professionals, (TEP).

  • Completed Section 106 Compliance Surveys, archaeological and visual assessments for Federal Communication Commission projects throughout the U.S., including FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, and MT.
  • Conducted background research, artifact analysis and curation.
  • Authored cultural resources management reports.

2014-2018     On-call Cultural Resources Specialist, Legacy Associates, Inc. Durham, NC.

  • Conducted laboratory analyses of prehistoric assemblages.
  • Undertook multiple Phase I survey and Phase II investigations, as well as several historic cemetery documentations.

2016   Archaeologist. Archeological Testing and Consulting, Inc. Silver Spring, MD.

  • Archaeologist. Phase I archaeological survey for a private development company.

2016   Archaeologist. TRC. Chapel Hill, NC

  •  Archaeologist. Phase II archaeological investigation and monitoring during mechanical excavation.

2014-2016    Senior Archaeologist, Louis Berger USA, Raleigh, NC.

  •  Completed Environmental Assessments
  •  Supervised archaeological fieldwork, including extensive Phase I survey and Phase II investigations.
  •  Historic and prehistoric archaeological investigations.
  •  Developed budgets and scopes of work.

2012-2013 Teaching Associate. Grove School, Redlands, CA.

2002-2011  Project Manager/Senior Archaeologist. Chambers Group, Inc. Redlands, CA.

  •  Participated in and supervised all aspects of archaeological fieldwork, including survey, construction monitoring, and test excavation.
  • Experienced in managing SCE on-call service contracts.
  •  Prepared documents to meet lead agency requirements for Forest Service, CalTrans, BLM, National Park Service, FCC, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  •  EIR/EIS documentation.
  • Reviewed, edited, and approved key project deliverables for quality and accuracy.
  •  Mentored junior staff to improve technical writing skills.
  • Maximized utilization by integrating inter-departmental resources to maintain an average 17% profit.
  •  Cultivated new and existing client relationships.
  • Pursued professional development training: Advanced CEQA Workshop, Section 106 Process, and Society for California Archaeology Data Sharing Meetings.

Relevant Project Experience

Phase I Archeological Survey of the Proposed Broad Run Business Center, Loudon County, Virginia. Archeological Testing and Consulting, Inc. Archeologist. Responsibilities included laying out transects and excavation of shovel test pits. Soils and stratigraphy in the project area were variable as a result of historic and modern disturbance. This information was carefully documented and relayed to the project director so that the proper recommendations could be made to the client and SHPO.

Archaeologist/Cultural Resources Specialist, Legacy Associates, Inc., Durham, NC.
Participated in archaeological fieldwork, including Phase I and II investigations. Historic and prehistoric archaeological investigations. Scientific analysis of flaked stone artifacts.

Dooms-Bremo 230kV Transmission Line Monitoring Project, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Senior archaeologist. Responsible for the archaeological monitoring of the Dooms-Bremo transmission line upgrade. Dominion Virginia Power is removing 5 H-frame structures and constructing four monopoles within a 300-foot wide right-of-way through Shenandoah National Park. 2014.

State of Utah Prison Relocation Project. Senior Archaeologist. Conducted a Class I Inventory for six discontiguous parcels totaling approximately 5,596 acres in Salt Lake and Utah counties, Utah, and presented the results to the Utah Prison Relocation Commission. Pedestrian survey of three of the parcels, totaling 4,562 acres, has been approved and is currently in planning stages.

Field Director, Phase I Archaeological Survey NED Pipeline Survey in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Responsibilities included leading a survey team of six or more crew members in a variety of terrain and across multiple states for Phase I investigation and pedestrian survey, writing daily reports and keeping a daily photo log. I was also responsible for coordinating with land agents and other survey crews, working with the Tribal monitors, and communicating with land owners and the public.

Environmental Impact Report, Sierra Highway Widening, Palmdale, Los Angeles County—Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW). Chambers Group Inc. provided environmental services for the Sierra Highway Widening Project located in the unincorporated area of Palmdale, Los Angeles County, California. The Scope of Work included preparation of the FEIR and technical reports for traffic impact analysis, air quality analysis, noise assessment, agency coordination, and jurisdictional delineation, biological resources, and cultural resources surveys of the 2.4-acre project area.

Environmental Impact Report City of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County Surf Zone Piers Cultural and Paleontological Resources Record Search and Synthesis. Chambers Group was responsible for the preparation of all necessary CEQA documentation and Environmental Impact Report for the removal of historic surf zone piers. As Senior Archaeologist, conducted a records search and synthesis of the results. Responded to comments and incorporated them into the Final EIR for the City of Carpentaria.

Environmental Impact Report and General Plan Update, Grand Terrace, Riverside County. Cultural and Paleontological Resources Record Search and Synthesis. Chambers Group was responsible for the preparation of all necessary CEQA documentation for General Plan updates and an Initial Study based upon the Draft General Plan and mix use development. As Senior Archaeologist, conducted a records search and synthesis of the results. Responded to comments and incorporated them into the Final EIR for the City of Grand Terrace.

Initial Study for Program EIR for a Combined Elementary and Middle School Site, City of Desert Hot Springs—Palm Springs Unified School District. As Field Director and Senior Archaeologist, completed the survey and prepared the IS for a Program EIR for a combined elementary school and middle school site in the City of Desert Hot Springs.

Pre-Caltrans Environmental Studies for Cherry Avenue Widening ProjectCity of Signal Hill, Orange County, California. The project involved preparation of a Preliminary Environmental Investigation (PEI) for this highway improvement project in the City of Long Beach. As Senior Archaeologist, prepared a Cultural Resources Report that included a records/literature search, a Historic Resources Evaluation Report (HRER), and a Historic Properties Survey Report (HPSR). The City of Signal Hill will use the PEI in discussions with Caltrans to determine if the proposed project will be considered off the State Highway System or on the State Highway System.

Project Manager/Senior Archaeologist, On-Call Cultural Resources Services for Southern California Edison, Various Locations, California, 2008-2011. Managing CEQA/NEPA cultural resources compliance, archival record searches, field surveys, and report production in relation to over 60 proposed utility maintenance, removal, and installation projects. Client: Southern California Edison.

Project Manager/Senior Archaeologist/Field Director, Phase II Testing of CA-RIV-7284/H and RIV-7285. As Proposal and Project Manager as well as Field Director, conducted the archaeological testing of two multi-component archaeological sites in the Box Spring Mountains, Riverside County, California. Project was reviewed and accepted by the City of Moreno Valley as part of CEQA mitigation. Client: Kincaid Development.

Project Manager/Senior Archaeologist/Field Director, BLM Class III Survey. As Proposal and Project Manager as well as Field Director, conducted a BLM Class III survey of 1,700 acres for a proposed solar power station near Desert Center, Riverside County, CA. Also surveyed an associated 12 linear miles of proposed transmission line. Client: enXco Development.

Phase III Data Recovery of 31JK164 and 31JK487, Tuckasegee, NC. Archaeologist. Data recovery within the Highway 107 ROW and easement of two prehistoric sites. Responsibilities include excavation of test units designed to identify prehistoric features in order to characterize them.

Senior Archaeologist/Field Director, Desert Ranch–Yellowstone Oasis, Salton Sea. Project consisted of a CEQA Phase I Cultural Resources Inventory of a 5,000-acre parcel near the Salton Sea, Riverside County, California. Project was reviewed and accepted by Riverside County. Client: Blixeth.

Additional Project Experience

Proposal Manager/Project Manager/Senior Archaeologist/Field Director, BLM Class III Survey, Eldorado-Ivanpah Transmission Line Upgrade Project, CA & NV. Surveyed over 50 miles of existing transmission lines and associated roads. Updated all known sites throughout the right-of-way as well as recorded new sites on DPR records for the California segment and IMACS forms for the Nevada segment. Reports were prepared for review by the Las Vegas, Nevada and Needles BLM Field Offices. Client: Southern California Edison.

Senior Archaeologist/Field Director/Primary Author, UPRR Sunset Route Track Upgrade Project, Thermal, CA to Yuma, AZ. This project included initial consultation and coordination with local, state, and/or federal agencies, as appropriate, the SHPO, UPRR, and other relevant agencies to develop a Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement for considering the cultural resources associated with the project. Client: Parsons Engineering.Tiffany Raszick, M.A.

References

Archaeologist II (Project Director)

WSP, USA
1001 Wade Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27605
(cell) 202-340-9717
tiffany.raszick@wsp.com

David Smith
Senior Archaeologist
Firstcarbon Solutions
250 Commerce, Suite 250
Irvine, CA 92602
949-922-9952

Harold Brewer, M.A.
Senior Project Scientist
Cardno ENTRIX
10455 San Fernando Rd.
Reno, NV 89506
(cell) 775-400-0088

James Smithwick, Ph.D.
Principal Planner/Principal Archaeologist
Chambers Group, Inc. (ret.)
P.O. Box 812
El Centro, CA 92244
(cell) 909-714-1139