Phase I Cultural Resource Survey For a Proposed 800 MW Combined-Cycle Power Facility, Chatham County, Georgia

TRC was contracted by Competitive Power Ventures Terrapin LLC (CPV Terrapin) to conduct a Phase I cultural resource survey of a 20-acre tract proposed for an 800 MW combined-cycle power generation facility. The tract is located on the north side of East President Street approximately 1.1 miles east of downtown Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia. Part of the survey involved the documentation of all archaeological sites and isolated finds of cultural material lying within the tract. The survey also included the documentation of historic structures within an Area of Potential Effects (APE), defined as the tract itself plus surrounding areas that would have a visual connection to the proposed facility. No archaeological resources were discovered during the archaeological survey, which was conducted on March 14, 2001. In the opinion of TRC, no further archaeological work will be necessary before construction begins. The historic structure survey, undertaken March 21-23, 2001, identified three resources in the project APE. Due to the height of the proposed stacks (198 feet), the APE was initially defined as a one-mile radius around the center of the 20-acre tract. However, field survey of the one-mile radius indicated that, due to natural and manmade screening, only two resources directly east of the tract and only the extreme northeastern corner of the Savannah National Historic Landmark (NHL) District (located just over a mile to the west) would have a visual link to the proposed facility. The two resources directly east of the tract are located on property of the Southern States Phosphate and Fertilizer plant. The resources include a ca. 1905 sacking/mixing building (designated HS-1) and a ca. 1910 office (designated HS-2) that have been altered numerous times over the years. Additionally, modern construction on the property has altered the setting, feeling, and context of the resources. In accordance with the Criteria for Evaluation in 36 CFR 60.4, TRC recommends the two resources ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Based on this recommendation, no further work on the resources is necessary. Although a small portion of the Savannah NHL District would have a view of the proposed facility and/or its stacks, the view would be at a distance of just over one mile and would include two approximately 150-foot-high stacks on the adjacent Southern States property and an approximately 600-foot-high radio tower roughly 0.7 mile east of the district. Additionally, a line of transmission towers over 100 feet high would be visible to the south along East President Street. A modern, multi-story hotel across the street from the northeast corner of the district has negatively affected the setting and views in that area. Only this corner of the district, which is located on a ridge, would have a view of the proposed project. This portion of the district comprises less than three one-hundredths of one percent of the district's total acreage, and only one or two contributing buildings would have a possible view of the proposed facility and/or its stacks. Moreover, these buildings, formerly part of the Savannah Manufactured Gas Plant, are set back from the edge of the ridge, their view to the east obscured until only recently by three utility structures. A cluster of trees near the edge of the ridge still provides some screening. Due to these factors-the distance, the modern stacks and towers in the far viewshed, the modern hotel in the near viewshed, the fact that almost all of the district falls outside the APE, and the fact that the one to two contributing buildings with a possible view of the project are shielded partially by trees and, until recently, by utility structures-it appears the proposed project will not affect the Savannah NHL District. Therefore, no further work on the district is necessary.