Archeological Survey of the Proposed ThumbsUp–Oasis 115kV Transmission Line Project Morgan, Newton, and Walton Counties, Georgia (Southern Survey Area)

In March, April and June 2018, Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. (SAS), conducted a Phase I archeological survey of several tracts of land where the Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) proposed to construct transmission lines and substations in eastern Newton, western Morgan, and southern Walton Counties to support new industry. The name of the project is ThumbsUp. The goal of the survey was to locate, describe, and evaluate archeological resources within the area of potential effect for the ThumbsUp project, so that potential effects to those resources could be evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. At the time of the archeological surveys, final decisions on construction locations of the proposed transmission lines and substations had not been made. A total of four separate tracts identified as Priority 1, Priority 2, Site B, and Site C were surveyed and were considered to be the areas of potential effect. Total area among the four proposed tracts is 326 ac. Among all four tracts that were surveyed, 16 archeological sites and four archeological occurrences (isolated finds) were recorded. Three of the 16 sites are recommended to have unknown eligibility in regard to evaluation for listing on the National Register (Table 1). 

A final decision on the location of the proposed 115 kV transmission line was made after all Phase I archeological survey was completed among the four ThumbsUp tracts. This final decision on the 115 kV transmission line location traverses the eastern portion of the Priority 1 project area/tract and most of the Priority 2 project area/tract. Transmission line construction potentially will disturb five of the 16 archeological sites that were recorded among all proposed tracts (Table 2). Among these five archeological sites, four are recommended not eligible for listing on the National Register. Site 9NE263 is recommended unknown in regard to National Register eligibility, or possibly eligible for listing on the National Register pending additional investigation, but the portion of the site that lies within the proposed 115 kV transmission line corridor is poorly preserved. Transmission line construction will not have an adverse effect on this portion of 9NE263. Since no construction will occur on the remaining archeologically surveyed area containing the other eleven archeological sites, no disturbance will occur to these sites due to project implementation. This report covers the description and evaluation of the five sites that will be affected by construction of the proposed 115 kV transmission line. A separate document has been submitted documenting and evaluating the remaining eleven archeological sites that were recorded on the ThumbsUp project (Benson 2018). Since the proposed construction of the 115 kV transmission line will not adversely affect significant archeological resources, we conclude that the proposed construction of the transmission line should be allowed to proceed.