On August 16 through 18, 2016, Brockington and Associates, Inc. completed a background literature review and field investigations for a Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed Tobacco Pouch electrical substation, and associated transmission line tie in and construction access road, on either side of GA-52 west of Dahlonega, Georgia (Figures 1-6). This letter report summarizes the archaeological resources survey study methods, results, and recommendations.
The property is approximately 5.607 acres comprised largely of overgrown, eroded slopes southeast of the intersection of Sparrow Lane and GA-52. The substation site lies along the northeast-facing ridge end/slopes above the confluence of Tobacco Pouch Branch and the Etowah, approximately 550 m (0.3) to the southeast. An existing utility corridor, the Dawson Crossing-Nelson (Black) 115 kV Juno-Cane Creek 115 kV transmission lines, run east-west approximately 240 m (880-ft) north of the substation site. A 38-m (125-ft) wide easement is proposed for a transmission line tie in between the existing the utility line and the future substation. In addition a 9-m (30-ft) wide and 128-m (420-ft) long construction access road corridor is proposed to be utilized between GA-52 and the existing utility corridors. The entire 5.607-acre property, along with the tie-in and access road easements was considered the Area of Potential Effects (EPA) for the investigation. The archaeological investigations consisted of an examination of archaeological site forms from previous surveys along with a shovel testing survey and surface inspection within the APE.
In summary, Brockington and Associates, Inc. has identified one NRHP-ineligible historic resource (9LU331) within the APE for the proposed Tobacco Pouch electrical substation. No additional management of this resource should be required. Furthermore, due to the absence of additional cultural materials or sites, it is very unlikely that significant archaeological resources will be affected and therefore we recommend that the undertaking by GTC be allowed to proceed as planned.
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