Phase I Cultural Resources Survey and Assessment Friendship Church Telecommunications Facility

At the request of ForeSite Services, LLC, Environmental, Inc. performed a Phase I Cultural Resources Survey and Assessment (CRS) for a proposed wireless telecommunications facility to be located near Powder Springs, Cobb County, Georgia.  The FCC is the lead oversight agency, and as such this project is subject to review under NEPA and the NHPA, specifically Section 106. The Phase I survey and assessment, following the guidelines set forth in the FCC’s Nationwide Programmatic Agreement, entailed the following aims and objectives: Define the project’s Direct and Visual Area of Potential Effects (APE); Identify any archaeological sites or historic properties within the APE for Direct Effects via a field reconnaissance utilizing both visual inspection and subsurface testing; Identify any archaeological sites or historic properties, as well as previous cultural resource surveys, within the APE for Visual Effects via research utilizing the files and databases of the state SHPO and other appropriate agencies, as well as available aerial photographs and historical records and maps; Review and compile contextual data concerning the project area’s physiography, geology, soils, prior land use, and cultural history; To evaluate the significance of any archaeological sites or historic properties identified, including those historic resources identified during the field reconnaissance (inadvertent discovery), within the guidelines and criteria for establishing eligibility for the NRHP; and To assess the effects of the project (the undertaking) on any identified historic properties. The undertaking consists of a 100-foot by 100-foot lease area and proposed access road to be located at 1818 Hannah Place near Powder Springs, Cobb County, Georgia 30127. The site is located in a wooded area comprised of hardwood and pine trees ranging from saplings to 12 inches diameter at breast height (dbh), and slopes gently downward to the northwest. The proposed access road extends west from Hannah Road approximately 317 feet to the site. Proposed activities consist of construction of a 120-foot (130 feet with appurtenances) monopole telecommunications tower and associated compound, enclosing the compound in a fence, placement of support equipment within the compound, grading an access road, and covering the compound and access road with gravel. As a result of the literature and document review, the field reconnaissance and evaluation, and project assessment, no archaeological sites or historic properties were identified within the APE for Direct Effects, nor are any NRHP-listed or NRHP-eligible properties in the APE for Visual Effect. Thus, in consideration of these negative findings, it is the opinion of Environmental, Inc., that the proposed Friendship Church telecommunications facility will not affect any cultural resources, and recommends that the project be cleared to proceed with a finding of no properties. The following report is the final product of this telecommunication tower survey and assessment for cultural resources impacts, and contains 1) project information and location, 2) contextual information regarding the physical and environmental setting, 3) contextual information regarding the cultural and historical setting, 4) a discussion of the sources and records utilized in the literature and document search, along with the findings of this review, 5) a discussion of the methods and procedures utilized during the field reconnaissance, 6) a discussion of laboratory methods and agreement for curation of project materials at a federally approved repository, 7) the results of the field reconnaissance, and 8) a final evaluation with recommendations to the SHPO/THPO.