Cultural Resource Survey for the Genpower McIntosh Project in Effingham County, Georgia: Site A

In December 2000, TRC Garrow Associates, Inc. (TRC) conducted Phase I archaeological and architectural surveys for Site A of GenPower's proposed McIntosh facility in Effingham County, Georgia. The archaeological project area consists of approximately 130 acres currently owned by Georgia Pacific. The architectural Area of Potential Effects (APE) is defined as the area in which the proposed power facility would physically or visually affect any historic architectural resources. The entire 130-acre tract was investigated as part of an intensive Phase I archaeological survey of the Fort Howard Paper Company property that was conducted by Garrow & Associates, Inc., in 1985. Four archaeological sites were discovered within the Site A tract during the 1985 survey (Elliott 1985). One site (9EF127) is a nineteenth-century residence that was occupied by the Waldour family between approximately 1860 and 1899. Based on the results of Phase II investigations conducted at 9EF127 in 1986, the site was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). A chain-link fence was erected around the site's perimeter, and it was preserved in place. The three other sites (9EF103, 9EF141, and 9EF142) have been determined ineligible for the NRHP. The most recent visit to the study tract was to determine the preservation state of 9EF127, and to map its location more precisely. Based on our field observations, the site remains in a condition that approximates that of 1986. In the opinion of TRC, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between all relevant agencies, offices, and parties to protect 9EF127 will be required if Site A is selected. The MOA may include avoidance and continued efforts to preserve 9EF127 in place. If that is not feasible, TRC recommends that data recovery investigations be included in the MOA to mitigate the adverse effect that construction would have on this important cultural resource. Finally, it is our opinion that the three sites determined ineligible for the NRHP will not require additional archaeological consideration. No historic architectural resources were identified in the APE during the present survey. Therefore, no further historic architectural work is required.