A PHASE I CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY FOR THE HINESVILLE TO SAVANNAH FIBER OPTIC CABLE REPLACEMENT, LIBERTY AND BRYAN COUNTIES, GEORGIA

Between February 17, 2020, and March 13, 2020, TerraXplorations, Inc. (TerraX), of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, conducted a Phase I cultural resources survey for the proposed Hinesville to Savannah Fiber Optic Cable Replacement Project in Liberty and Bryan counties, Georgia. The proposed project would involve the replacement of approximately 22.5 miles (36.2 kilometers) of existing overhead optical ground wire fiber optic cable with new underground fiber optic cable in duct (conduit). The cultural resources survey was conducted on behalf of Ecological Solutions, Inc., and the lead federal agency is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District. The Phase I survey was performed by Tyler Reece, Chris Rivers, Jeff Thompson, Emily Sainz, Ben Heckman, Ryan Dess, Kerrigan Meaux, and Will Jackson under the supervision of Shaun E. West, Principal Investigator. Shanda Davidson served as Architectural Historian for the survey.

The Area of Potential Effect (APE), representing survey areas for this project, corresponds to 12 discrete locations defined by sections of the fiber optic ROW that are within 100 meters of wetlands proposed for impact. The length of each survey area varies. The width of each survey area is 100 feet (30.48 meters) except in a few instances where small sections of the survey areas extend to a maximum width of 200 feet (60.96 meters). Total acreage for the combined survey areas (APE) is approximately 275.0 acres (95.5 hectares). The archaeological survey did not identify any new archaeological sites or isolated finds, and no material culture was recovered. Two previously recorded archaeological sites (9BN59 and 9BN61) identified through background research as being partially located within the survey area were revisited during this study; however, visual and subsurface testing failed to find any evidence of either. The architectural study evaluated four historic resources within the viewshed of the fiber optic ROW survey areas. One resource, the Flemington Presbyterian Church, is listed on the NRHP. The project ROW extends through the southern end of the designated property boundary as it runs along an existing transmission line corridor; however, the project ROW is not visible from the church or cemetery due to the surrounding forest cover. As such, there will be no visual or physical impact on the church or cemetery. It is the opinion of TerraX that placement of the proposed fiber optic line will have no adverse effect on the church, cemetery, or church property. Assessments of Resource 3A, 3B, and 3C, concluded that Resource 3A and 3B are eligible for NRHP inclusion under Criterion A, transportation. That being said, the proposed project will have no physical impact on Resource 3 and as the fiber optic line will be placed below ground, there will be no visual impact either. The other historic resources are considered ineligible for NRHP inclusion. As such, the proposed project will have no effect on these resources. As no significant cultural resources will be adversely affected, TerraX recommends that the proposed fiber optic cable replacement project be allowed to proceed in regards to cultural resource concerns. In conclusion, there is always the possibility of undetected cultural resources such as graves or other cultural features not discovered through standard survey methods. In the unlikely event that burials or cultural features are revealed during the course of the proposed fiber optic cable replacement project, all work should be halted and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District office and the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office should be alerted of the discovery.