Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of Proposed Transmission Line Reroute near Arlington, Calhoun County, Georgia

Apalachee Research Archaeological Consultants Inc. contracted with Pilot Environmental Inc. to complete cultural resource investigations in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations 36CFR800. The goal is to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed development on historic properties that are listed or may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The project area consist of 2. 73 acres of farmland in southwestern Calhoun County roughly one mile north of the Arlington community (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The proposed development entails modifications to an existing substation and re-routing transmission lines connected to the Lancaster Solar Farm. This investigation consisted of an intensive archaeological survey and documentation of structures that are 50 years of age or older that could have visual or other indirect effects as a result of the proposed construction. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) consists of two small tracts adjacent to an existing substation totaling 2. 73 acres where ground-disturbing activities will take place. The APE for historic structures and above-ground resources extends to also include potential viewshed impacts to the surrounding area. Fieldwork was completed on June 23, 2019 by George Price and Pilar Chamorro.  Fieldwork was preceded by a literature review revealing there were no previously recorded archaeological sites within the APE. There is an abandoned house and barn within the area of indirect (visual) effects, which were documented as Historic Resource F during a 2017 survey and recommended not eligible for the NRHP with HPD concurrence in 2018. Correspondence pertaining to this resource is attached as an appendix. No additional documentation should be required for these buildings. No other historic buildings or above ground resources are within the viewshed and no archeological sites were recorded as a result of the archaeological survey. We conclude the proposed construction will not affect historic properties and recommend no further work.