A PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIRECT EFFECTS AND VISUAL EFFECTS SURVEY FOR THE PROPOSED UNION POINT CELLULAR TOWER OGLETHORPE COUNTY, GEORGIA

TerraXplorations, Inc. (TerraX) of Mobile, Alabama was contracted by Trileaf Corporation (Trileaf) of St. Louis, Missouri to conduct a Phase I archaeological direct effects and visual effects survey for the proposed Union Point cellular tower in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. The proposed tower will be a self-supporting type constructed to a height of 314 ft. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) for direct effects includes a 100 -x- l 00 ft lease area with a proposed access and utility easement extending 1007 .4 ft in length by 20 ft in width from Georgia Highway (GA) 77 (Union Point Road). The total area of the direct effects APE including the lease area and joint access and utility easement amount to 0.70 acres. Background research and the field survey followed guidelines established under the FCC Programmatic Agreement. No previously recorded archaeological sites and no previous archaeological surveys are located within a0 .75-mile radius (Visual Effect APE) of the current study area. A review of recorded historic properties at the Georgia Historic Preservation Division in Stockbridge, Georgia revealed one historic district and four historic resources, Resource #53590, 53591, 53592, and 53594, within the Visual Effects APE. There are no NRHP listed properties within the Visual Effects APE. During the course of the field survey portion of this archaeological assessment, no new archaeological cultural resources were encountered It was found that Resource #53590 is in ruins and 53591, 53592 and 53594 continue to be considered ineligible for the NRHP. In addition to the four individually recorded resources, a portion of Maxeys Historic District overlaps the APE. Maxeys Historic District is not listed on the NRHP but it was nominated in 2017 and is considered eligible. The contributing resources of the district are found nearer the center of town to the northwest. It is in the opinion of TerraX that the proposed cellular tower would have no adverse effect on Maxeys Historic District due to distance and intervening vegetation. Based on the findings of this investigation, TerraX recommends no further investigation for the proposed Union Point cellular tower project.