Archeological Survey of the Rocky Mountain 230 kV Transmission Line Corridor, Floyd County, Georgia

This report presents the results of an intensive archeological survey performed by Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. in northwestern Floyd County, where the Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) wishes to upgrade the existing Rocky Mountain 230 kV transmission line. Fiber optic cables will be placed within the corridor using existing poles. The corridor presently contains two parallel lines supported on reinforced concrete poles. GTC plans to run fiber optic cables across the existing poles. The proposed 2.7 mile (4.3 km) line is located entirely on GTC's property within the Rocky Mountain Pumped Storage Hydroelectric facility. The corridor begins at the Rocky Mountain Hydro plant and runs southwest to the existing Rocky Mountain Switching Station. The southern terminus of the transmission line is located just north of Fouche Gap Road (the new route). For general reference, the Rocky Mountain Project Area is roughly 12 km northwest of Rome, Georgia. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate any archeological resources that may be adversely affected by the new construction. The survey was undertaken in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The area of potential effect for this project was the entire 2.7 mile long corridor which was 150ft (45.7 m) wide.

The vegetation within the transmission line corridor is composed primarily of scrubby wooded regrowth except for access roads and areas of graded ground around the pole locations where patches of ground surface are exposed. Grading related to the original construction of the lines was noted along portions of the surveyed corridor. Most of the corridor follows moderately sloping to steeply sloping ground and the corridor is dissected by narrow ridge projections and drainages. The corridor was walked and surface searched where possible. Areas of more level ground were shovel tested.

The records of the Georgia Archaeological Site Files also show one previously recorded prehistoric lithic scatter site (9FL219) near the southern terminus of the transmission line corridor, but no evidence of the site was found during our survey. Examination of maps dating to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries indicated that two structures older than 50 years were relatively close to the corridor. However, no evidence of the structures was found during the survey. The property containing the Rocky Mountain facility, which is now owned and maintained by GTC, witnessed a considerable amount of archeological research from the mid‑1970s through the mid‑1980s. In consultation with GTC, SAS agreed to examine the body ofprevious research and prepare a synthesis of the archeological research conducted on the property. The results of our review are presented throughout the body of this report and in the appendices.

The project area was archeologically surveyed during the week of June 17‑21,2013 by SAS archeologist Ron Schoettmer. The one prehistoric site identified, 9FL492, is a sparse Archaic period lithic scatter. The site is recommended ineligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, because it retains little or no research potential. Thus, we conclude that the installation of fiber optic cables within the existing Rocky Mountain 230 kV transmission line corridor will have no effect to significant archeological resources and should be granted clearance to proceed.