Dalton Expansion Project Additional Phase I Reroute Survey Report

This report is an addendum to the Dalton Expansion Project report detailing results of the additional Phase I survey work carried out in September 2016 along Polecat Creek in Gordon County. The additional work was conducted as the result of a reroute and gaining access to previously inaccessible portions of the corridor and workspace. The original Phase I survey document was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and to the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD) in May 2015.

The purpose of the investigation was to locate, identify, and evaluate any archaeological properties in the Area of Potential Effect (APE) of the proposed undertaking. An APE is defined as "the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause changes in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist" (36 CFR Part 800.16[d]).

During the Phase I investigations, survey was conducted within parcels to which access was granted before the time of survey. During the current survey, an approximate distance of 0.87 miles was surveyed. This area was surveyed as the result of the most recent reroutes. A total of two archaeological occurrences were investigated in Gordon County (Table 1 ). All other shovel tests in the project area were negative for cultural materials or were recorded as no digs.

While 9G0414 was fully delineated within the project area, delineation did not extend beyond the project area to the north. Consequently, Cardno recommends overall eligibility of 9G0414 as unknown, while the portion of the site that was examined would be considered to lack data potential due to the paucity of artifacts and diagnostics, lack of features, and highly disturbed nature of the site. Card no recommends that the portion of the site in the project area lacks research potential and that no further work is required. Should the project plans change such that the corridor is shifted north, additional work may be required to determine fully the size and nature of the site presently outside of the project area.

Survey of 9G0415 revealed a low-density prehistoric lithic scatter generally attributable to the prehistoric period. The site was delineated with double negative shovel tests in all directions during current work along an area previously inaccessible. Shovel testing within the site area indicated disturbed soils; all lithic debitage was recovered from the upper strata. Given the very low density of material and the lack of diagnostics and features, it appears that the site lacks research potential. Cardno thus recommends site 9G0415as ineligible for inclusion on the NRHP. No further work is recommended at the site.