Phase I Cultural Resources Survey Thomasville Regional Airport Improvements Project - Additional Acreage Thomas County, Georgia

During the period of November 26 through 28, 2012, 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). A previous study of 85.5 acres for proposed airport improvements was conducted in August 2012 by RSWA (Gantt 2012). For the purpose of the literature review, the current project includes two areas totaling 88 acres: 50 acres owned by the airport (at the southwest end of the airport) and 38 acres of private land proposed for acquisition. Of the 50-acre airport land, approximately 5.5 acres (Area B) was surveyed during RSWA’s survey in August 2012. The bulk of the remaining airport acreage (34.5 acres), surrounding Area B on three sides, has been disturbed by previous airport development, leaving a 10-acre wooded tract southwest of Airport Road. The 38 acres of private land is a wooded tract south and southwest of the airport property. It is our understanding that the privately-owned property does not require field survey at this time; the fieldwork was conducted only on the additional 50 acres of airport land. 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 Effects (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.