Phase I Cultural Resources Survey Thomasville Regional Airport Improvements Project-Bracey Tracts Thomas County, Georgia

During the period of October 2 through 4, 2013, R.S. Webb & Associates (RSWA) conducted a Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of additional acreage for the proposed Thomasville Regional Airport improvements project in Thomas County, Georgia (Figure 1). Two previous studies covering 85.5 acres and 88 acres for proposed airport improvements were conducted in August 2012 and November 2012, respectively, by RSWA and are reported in separate documents (Gantt 2012a, 2012b). The current project includes 27.2 acres of private land (known as the Bracey tracts) proposed for acquisition. Thirty acres of airport-owned property abutting and northeast of the Bracey tracts was covered during the RSWA’s November 2012 survey (Gantt 2012b). This undertaking will require Federal Aviation Administration and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) oversight, and Section 404 permitting under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and therefore, compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The work described below meets the Phase I cultural resources survey requirements for this undertaking. The study was conducted to identify cultural resources within the project’s Area of Potential Effect (APE) and to determine if the proposed improvements will 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. The APE considers both direct and indirect effects to cultural resources. The APE for archeological resources is the 27.2-acre project area . The APE for historic resources is the project area plus 500 feet [approximately 150 meters (m)] from the edge of the project boundary. This APE is based on topography, vegetation, previous development, and the type of undertaking.