In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto, project NH-IM-575-1(33), Cherokee County, has been surveyed with respect to archaeological resources, especially those on or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The purpose of the survey was to locate, identify and evaluate the significance of any archaeological resources within the proposed project's area of potential environmental effect.
The proposed project would reconstruct the interchange on I-575 at SR 20 in Cherokee County. The project would begin at a point 0.50 mile south of the SR 20 interchange and continue north for approximately 0.60 mile to a point just north of the SR 20 interchange. The project proposes the addition of a diamond exit ramp from I-575 northbound to SR 20 as well as a southbound diamond entrance ramp from SR 20 to I-575 southbound. The project would also include that all existing ramps be rehabilitated and a collector - distributor facility be added between the diamond ramps and loop ramps. Existing ROW on I-575 is 500 feet and 300 feet on SR 20. An additional ROW of 0-630 feet would be required on I-575 in the southeast quadrant and 0-200 feet in the southwest quadrant. This reevaluation was concerned with the addition of required ROW in the southeast quadrant. The two areas of required ROW are 0.286 and 0.689 acre in size. All project changes were surveyed for archaeological resources.
An archaeological survey (Level II) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Division Staff and concurred in by the Federal Highway Administration and State Historic Preservation Officer. These guidelines provide general survey boundaries and methodological approaches to archaeological surveys based on the type/scope of work of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources.
No existing or eligible National Register resources were located within the project's area of potential environmental effect. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will have no effect upon archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.
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