Phase I Archaeological Overview and Inventory of the Georgia Portion of the Proposed Southern Natural Gas Company South Georgia Phase II Expansion Project Pipeline Corridor

Between June and August 1995, R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc., performed a cultural resources survey and inventory of the proposed 11.3 km (7 mi) 16 in O.D. Southern Natural Gas Company Southern Phase II Expansion Project pipeline corridor. The new line will originate in Russell County, Alabama, and will extend into Stewart County, Georgia; it will parallel an existing South Georgia Natural Gas Company 12 O.D. natural gas pipeline. This extension will be constructed downstream from the Holy Trinity Compressor Station, and will extend from approximate Mile Post 27.93 to Mile Post 34.93 of the existing South Georgia Natural Gas Company natural gas pipeline. The Georgia portion of the proposed the expansion measures approximately 8.4 km (5.22 mi) and extends from approximate Mile Post 29.71 to 34.93. Fieldwork included survey of the proposed right-of-way and the existing pipeline corridor, as well as the survey of seven access roads, nine expanded workspaces associated with road crossings, a direction drill pad, two warehouse facilities, and a submerged resources inventory at the proposed pipeline crossing at the Chattahoochee River. Archaeological inventory of the project area was accomplished via pedestrian survey conducted along two transects spaced approximately 10 m (32.8 mi) apart. Pedestrian survey in the proposed corridor was augmented by the systematic excavation of shovel tests along each survey transect. Shovel tests were excavated at 30 m (98 ft) intervals in high and medium probability areas and at 50 m (ft) in areas where the probability of encountering sites was low. Additional shovel tests were excavated at extra workspaces and along the proposed access roads where visibility was poor. A total of 10 prehistoric cultural resources loci were identified as a result of this inventory; none of these loci warranted archaeological site status. Each of these loci was evaluated as not significant applying the National Register of Historic Places criteria for evaluation (36 CFR 60.4 [a-d]); no additional testing is recommended. No magnetic or acoustic anomalies were recording during survey of the Chattahoochee River, and no additional testing of this crossing is recommended.