"Phase I Archeological Survey

During the period ofDecember 28 through 29, 2011, R.S" Webb & Associates conducted a Phase I archeological survey ofthe proposed Covington Airport improvements in Newton County, Georgia. This report discusses the findings of the survey. The project area is located north of Covington in District 9, Land Lots 292,293,294,308, and 309; it is located on the 7.5 Minute USGS Jersey, Georgia topographic quadrangle (1964; photorevised 1985) [NAD 1927] (Figure 1 ). Further, the project area is located south of the current runway and is bound to the south by a wetland associated with a stream as well as Nisshinbo Drive (Figure 2). Consultation with Ms. Betsy Shirk at the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD) indicated that a literature review and field visit to document the landscape disturbance resulting from the existing runway and grounds maintenance of the airport would satisfy the Section 106 requirements for this project. The proposed improvements for the project area include: 1) additional hangars and maintenance facilities north ofNisshinbo Drive; 2) access roads from Nisshinbo Drive to the apron layout; 3) visitor parking area; and 4) a taxi runway perpendicular and connecting to the existing runway (Figure 2). Improving the airport would require Federal Aviation Administration and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) oversight and therefore, compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHP A). The studies were conducted to identify cultural resources within the project Area of Potential Effects (APE) and determine if the proposed improvements project will potentially affect cultural resources eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). A "cultural resource" is defined as a discrete area of human activity that is more than 50 years old.