A PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIRECT EFFECTS AND VISUAL EFFECTS SURVEY FOR THE PROPOSED SAMPSON-B CELLULAR TOWER, TOWNS COUNTY, GEORGIA

TerraXplorations, Inc. (TerraX) of Mobile, Alabama was contracted by Trileaf Corporation of Maitland, Florida to conduct a Phase I archaeological direct effects survey and a visual effects survey for the proposed Sampson-B cellular tower in Towns County, Georgia. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) for direct effects includes a proposed 10,000 sq ft lease area and a 765 ft long access road with a width of 30 ft. The proposed tower will be a self-supporting type constructed to a height of 230 ft. The total area of the direct effects APE including the lease area, access road, and utility easements amount to .78 acres.

Background research and the field survey followed guidelines established under the FCC Programmatic Agreement. One previously recorded historic resource (Old Union Cemetery), one National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listed resource (Young Harris College Historic District), and one NRHP eligible archaeological site (9TO25) are situated within a 0.75-mile radius of the project area. Sixteen previously recorded archaeological sites and eight previous archaeological surveys are located within a 0.75-mile radius of the current study area.

The archaeological direct effects investigation of the proposed tower site did not identify any resources. Due to the distance of the proposed tower site to the district, cemetery, and archaeological site and the intervening vegetation, it is the opinion of TerraX that the tower will not have an adverse visual effect on the Young Harris College Historic District, the Old Union Cemetery and associated church, or Site 9TO25.

Based on the findings of this investigation, TerraX recommends no further investigation for the proposed Sampson-B cellular tower project.