In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto, project IM-16-1(113), Laurens 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 widen and reconstruct the existing eastbound and westbound bridges on Interstate-16 at 5 sites between SR 19 and SR 199 in Laurens County. The five sites consist of four sets of eastbound and westbound Oconee River Overflow bridges and one set of eastbound and westbound bridges over the Oconee River. The existing right-of-way on Interstate-16 is approximately 91.4 meters (300 feet). All proposed construction will be restricted to within the existing right-of-way. An archaeological survey consistent with the proposed rights-of-way was conducted for the entire 4.22 kilometer (2.62 mile) project corridor. 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 Section 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 proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register archaeological 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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