AN INTENSIVE CULTURAL RESOURCES INVESTIGATION FOR A PROPOSED COMMUNICATIONS TOWER FOR THE ALTAMAHA ELECTRIC MEMEBERSHIP CORPORATION, BECKHAM ROAD SITE, LAURENS COUNTY, GEORGIA

In September and October of 2015, Archaeological Consulting of Savannah, LLC (ACS) conducted a Phase I cultural resources assessment in advance of a proposed telecommunications tower for the Altamaha Electric Membership Corporation, on behalf of T.R. Long Engineering, P.C. The location of the proposed tower property is approximately 3.2 miles southeast of the town of East Dublin, GA, in north-central Laurens County, with frontage on GA Highway 199 S and Ed Beckham Rd. (Figures 1.1 and 1.2). Specifically, the proposed tower site is located adjacent immediately to the west of an existing Altamaha electrical sub-station (Figure 1.3). The property which is proposed for the new communications tower seems likely to have been used agriculturally in the past, but the ground surface is level and cleared of vegetation save for sparse grasses, with some evidence (to be discussed below in archaeological survey results) that abandoned cars may have been stored on the property (Figures 1.4-1.7). Within a 0.75-mile radius of the proposed project site, the area is sparsely populated residentially, with a large paper mill complex southwest of the proposed tower site and a substantial lumber milling/processing complex to the north-northwest (see Figure 1.9 below).

The proposed tower is to be 260-feet in height with associated appurtenances. Construction of the tower will involve the excavation a central footer, upon which the tower itself will be constructed (Figure 1.8). Three additional footers will be excavated for anchor points to hold guy-cables, two small pads for a generator and a small service structure, as well as chain link fencing around the central tower structure and the three associated guy-wire anchor points. A gravel/sand road will be added to give access from the existing Altamaha EMC substation facility on Ed Beckham Rd.

To assist in determining the potential for adverse effects to historic properties that could result from the construction of the cell tower, ACS conducted an archaeological survey of the area to be impacted by the proposed construction of the tower (the area of direct effect), as well as an examination of historic properties within the area of indirect effect (or Area of Potential Effect [APE]) associated with the proposed tower construction. Based on the proposed height of the tower (260’), the APE for historic properties to be considered was established as a 0.75-mile radius around the site, as per the Federal Communication Commission’s Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Review of Effects on Historic Properties for Certain Undertakings Approved by the Federal Communications Commission (2004) (Figure 1.9). Adverse effects to historic properties by such an undertaking are defined within the above referenced Programmatic

Agreement (2004:II;A;5) as those that result in the “alteration to the characteristics of a Historic Property qualifying it for inclusion in or eligibility for the National Register [of Historic Places (NRHP)]. Additionally, the APE is defined under 36 CFR Part 800.16 as “the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may cause changes in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist.”

Research to locate historic properties within the APE included review of the Georgia Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (NAHRGIS), research of tax records with the Emanuel County Tax Assessors office, and review of requisite files held by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division (GDNR/HPD), to locate historic properties that might be listed on, or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. More specifically, this cultural resources review is directed by federal laws and guidelines (Code of Federal Regulations [CFR], Title 36, Chapter VIII, Part 800 [36 CFR 800]). The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, requires cultural resource assessments on all projects that involve federal assistance, licensing, and/or permitting. The effect of a project on cultural resources must be taken into consideration, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation must be afforded an opportunity to comment on such effects.

As a result of this cultural resources review no archaeological sites were located in the area of proposed construction for the tower. Prior to field investigations, five historic properties were identified during a query of the Laurens County Tax Assessors data (these properties showing structures that were 50-years old, or older. No historic structures were identified from examining resources held or maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources/Historic Preservation Division. Upon examination in the field, it is the opinion of ACS that four of these historic properties either are not eligible for NRHP inclusion or will be no adversely affected by the construction of the proposed emergency communications tower. However, one historic structure may in fact be adversely affected by the proposed undertaking and may warrant further discussion by the consulting parties to determine a further course.      

Archaeological investigations were conducted by Angus Sawyer. Architectural field survey was conducted by Angus Sawyer. Background research was conducted by Angus Sawyer and Brian LaBrie. Angus Sawyer served as principal investigator for the project.