Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Project ExCEL Colonial Petroleum Pipeline Corridor

Colonial Pipeline Company (Colonial) is an interstate carrier of refined petroleum products. The Colonial system delivers about 100 million gallons of gasoline, kerosene, home heating oil, diesel fuel, and jet fuel daily to shipper terminals in 13 states through a 5,500-mile pipeline system. Colonial's system serves numerous refineries in the Gulf Coast region as well as consumer markets throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Colonial serves such major metropolitan areas as Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Colonial is proposing to expand its mainline capacity to ensure a reliable supply of refined petroleum products in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. The proposed Project ExCEL consists of the installation of approximately 461 miles of new 36-inch outside diameter (OD) pipeline between Jackson, Louisiana and Austell, Georgia. The proposed pipeline would parallel Colonial's two existing 36-inch mainlines to the extent practical, and would require expansion of Colonial's existing permanent easement to accommodate the additional pipeline. This action requires a full cultural resources inventory of the right of way (ROW) be completed for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). To this end, Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington) conducted Phase I intensive cultural resources investigations in the 45.4 mi Georgia portion of the proposed pipeline. The investigations were conducted between January and July 2008. During the course of this survey, the entire 200 foot (ft)-wide survey corridor was systematically shovel tested and/or subject to intense visual survey at 30 meter (m) intervals along a minimum of two survey transects in order to identify prehistoric and historic cultural resources throughout the proposed pipeline route. This route passes through Haralson, Carroll, Paulding, and Cobb counties in Georgia. Approximately 7,000 shovel test locations were examined in this manner as well as the inspection of the Bremen pumping station (Haralson County) and the Atlanta Junction Tank Farm. This examination method was also used to assess 19 potential access roads leading to the corridor, due to the possibility of their use and subsequent improvement or widening during the inception of Project ExCEL, which may have an effect on cultural resources. The Phase I Archaeological Resources Survey of the proposed Project ExCEL corridor resulted in the identification of four previously unrecorded historic archaeological sites (9HR345, 9CL367, 9PA486, 9CO709), two isolated finds (EI-1 and WI-3), and three historic properties (GA-1 , GA-2, and GA-3). No prehistoric sites were identified, although one isolated lithic was identified (Isolate WI-3); no habitation sites were identified with it and it is unlikely that any intact subsurface features are preserved at this chance artifact find spot. The newly identified historic sites depict the settlement and land use in northwestern Georgia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These appear as both ephemeral scatters of domestic debris (e.g., 9CO709), scattered foundation remnants (e.g., 9PA486), rock piles (e.g., 9HR345), or other homestead features such as wells (e.g., 9CL367). Phase I Survey at each of these sites has provided a cursory estimate of their location, size, artifact density, stratigraphic integrity, and cultural affiliation. None of these sites were considered potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and so were not subject to Phase II investigation. Of the historic properties, only one, Resource GA-1, is recommended as NRHP eligible. An assessment of effects was conducted to identify potential effects to Resource GA-1. Construction of an underground pipeline will have a direct physical effect on agricultural fields associated with Resource GA-1. However, construction activities will be temporary and have a minimal effect on the resource. The recommendation is that the project will have no adverse effect on Resource GA-1.