Archeological Survey of the Proposed Sandefur Road 115 kV Transmission Line and Sandefur Road 115/25/12 kV Substation, Peach and Houston Counties, Georgia

This report presents the results of an intensive archeological survey performed by Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. in Peach and Houston Counties, where the Georgia Transmission Corporation wishes to construct the proposed Sandefur Road 115 kV Transmission Line and Sandefur Road 115/25/12 kV Substation. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate any archeological resources that might be adversely affected by the construction of the transmission line and substation. The survey was undertaken in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, in accord with provisions of the Rural Utility Service, a federal agency. The transmission line runs from an existing 115 kV line on State Route 96 beginning just east of Interstate Highway 75 in Peach County and follows roadways eastward to the proposed substation site on Sandefur Road in Houston County. The transmission line is 6.7 km (4.15 mi) long. The area of potential effect for the project consists of an approximate 30-m (100-ft) wide corridor along the proposed centerline of the transmission line and a 2.2-ha (6.63-ac) tract on the south side of Sandefur Road that is the proposed substation site.     Archival research showed that no previously recorded sites occur within or close to the project area. Research also showed that about nine houses older than 50 years were/are located along the corridor route. However, all nine are on the opposite side of a road from the proposed transmission line. Importantly, a little over half of the transmission line corridor, the portion on SR 96, was surveyed in 2006 in anticipation of the widening of the highway. No sites were found by this 2006 survey in the present project area.     The project area was archeologically surveyed on July 5, 2012 and September 5, 2012. One sparse prehistoric lithic scatter site, 9HT246, and one isolated find (a prehistoric artifact) were located. Both are clearly not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, as they have little to no research potential. Thus, we conclude that the construction of the proposed Sandefur Road 115 kV Transmission Line and Sandefur Road 115/25/12 kV Substation will have no effect to significant archeological resources and should be granted clearance to proceed.