Section 106 Review TCNS ID 18245 Proposed 1 00-Foot Stealth Flagpole Telecommunications Structure (1 00-Feet overall with Appurtenances)

Environmental Corporation of America (ECA) has completed an Archaeological Assessment for the federal undertaking at the subject site. The subject site includes a proposed 90-foot by 60-foot by 105-foot telecommunications compound. The southern portion of the proposed compound is wooded while the northern portion is grass covered. Clearing and grading would be necessary for the southern portion of the proposed compound. The proposed facility would include a 100-foot stealth flagpole telecommunications structure (100-feet with appurtenances) and associated ground level support equipment. The facility would be located off Wilmington Island Road, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia.

This archaeological assessment was conducted in order to ascertain whether the proposed undertaking, on the project site, might directly or indirectly affect cultural resources, if any such resources exist. Through our review of available cultural records and databases one recorded archaeological site, 9CH114, was identified within our %-mile APE search radius. Archaeological Site 9CH114 is a 12-foot high shell midden located 2,700 feet southeast of this proposed project site. National Register eligibility was not determined at this site.

Due to distance and intervening vegetation, the proposed telecommunications structure would have no visual or direct effect on archaeological site 9CH114. During the course of the Phase I intensive field survey portion of this archaeological assessment three shovel test pits were excavated. A 5-inch by 4-inch fragment of brick drain pipe covered in a dark brown glaze was found at a depth of approximately twelve inches beneath ground level in shovel test pit number one. This pipe appears to be 20th century brick pipe that is commonly used for in ground drainage purposes. In total, three medium sized fragments of pipe and three small chips of the same pipe were recovered.

From STP 2 two small pieces of flat green glass, one rounded piece of olive-colored glass, one piece of whiteware rim sherd, one piece of earthenware rim sherd with an outer gray glaze, four small pieces of charcoal, and a piece of molded plastic were recovered. All of these artifacts were found at a depth of approximately six inches beneath ground level. The association with mid-20th century plastic dates all of these artifacts to the mid-20th century or later.

A large quantity of shells were found in shovel test pit three on or near ground level. The quantity of shell material found numbers 74 and may represent part a shell midden. Stratigraphically, the shell material was found higher in the soil profile (on or near ground level) than the mid-20th century material (approximately six inches beneath ground level) found in shovel test pit two. Therefore, if the shell material represents a midden, it likely dates to the latter half of the 20th century.

Due to the modem date, (mid-20th century), the relatively small quantity and the nondiagnostic nature of the material found we do not feel that the material found represents an archaeologically significant site. We believe that archaeological site 9CH1151 has no potential for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore, for archaeological cultural resources, we recommend a finding of No Effect for the proposed undertaking.