Phase I Background Investigation for the Waycross Communications Tower, Ware County, Georgia

Under contract to CSX Transportation. Inc. (CSX), HDR conducted a Phase I background investigation for the Waycross Communications Tower (TH_AN_588.12; TCNS 209913), Ware County, Georgia (Latitude 31.2021516, Longitude -82.3665514; UTM Zone 17, 369811 E, 3452810 N). The proposed tower is a 150-foot-tall lattice self-supporting structure. The direct APE is less than 100 square feet within existing railroad right-of-way. The purpose of the investigation was to identify previously recorded archaeological and historical properties within designated Areas of Potential Effects (APEs), and recommend follow-up survey if necessary. The investigation was completed to assist CSX in meeting its regulatory obligations pursuant to the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for the Review of Effects on Historic Properties for Certain Undertakings Approved by the Federal Communications Commission (NPA; FCC 2004). In May 2020, HDR conducted a search for known cultural resources in the APE and surrounding vicinity. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the offices of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) and the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD) were closed to the public at the time background research for this study was completed, and the literature review consisted entirely of desktop research, including online resources provided by Georgia's Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resource Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS), the National Park Service's (NPS) National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) GIS dataset, and Georgia's Statewide 

Railroad Context (GDOT 2018). This report presents the results of the cultural resources literature search completed for the proposed Waycross tower in Ware County, Georgia. HDR understands that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be the federal agency responsible for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and implementation of regulations found at 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 800. The project's APE is defined here as the footprint of the proposed tower for direct effects and a 0.5-mile radius from the proposed tower location for visual effects, as defined in the 2004 NPA. The Phase I background investigation of the Waycross tower project located no previously recorded archaeological sites within a 1-mile radius of the direct APE. Due to the disturbed nature of the project area and the small area of ground disturbance required, there is little to no potential to impact intact archaeological resources. The direct APE is located within the NRHP-eligible Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) corridor. Three historic properties are present within the 0.5-mile visual APE: a portion of the NRHP-listed Downtown Waycross Historic District, a portion of the NRHP-listed Waycross Historic District, and a portion of the NRHP-eligible Atlantic, Birmingham & Coast Railway (ABC) corridor. Though the proposed tower introduces a modern infrastructure element within the boundaries of the NRHP-eligible Savannah, Florida & Western Railway-ACL corridor, the tower's presence within an active railroad ROW would not diminish the rail corridor's setting or limit the ability of the NRHP-eligible corridor to convey its significance. The project would introduce one modem component into the larger corridor in order to maintain on going rail function. The project, therefore, will have no adverse effect on any previously recorded historic properties. HDR recommends a finding of No Adverse Effect for this project and additionally recommends no further cultural resources work within the Waycross Communications Tower project APEs as defined in this report.