Transco-Williams Dalton Expansion Project: Archaeological and Historic Resources Survey of the Executive Drive Contractor Yard, Gordon County, Georgia. FERC Docket No. PF14-10. HP No. 140603-005

Cardno, Inc. (Cardno) has completed archaeological and historic resources survey of a proposed contractor yard, a part of the proposed Dalton Expansion Project, in Georgia. This letter details Cardno's findings and management recommendations specifically for a contractor yard, provisionally designated here as the Executive Drive contractor yard in Calhoun, Georgia, a temporary facility proposed as a part of construction. For archaeological survey, the area of potential effect (APE) is defined as the area within the boundary of the proposed yard, whereas the APE for historic resources survey is defined as the area within the proposed yard in addition to the associated viewshed. The Executive Drive contractor yard will be a temporary-use facility that will serve as an equipment and material storage area during construction. Possible modifications to the yard include the installation of perimeter fencing, temporary lighting, and the laying of a bed of gravel to the existing ground surface. The yard will be returned to its original state following construction. Cardno archaeologists completed phase I survey of the APE in July of 2016. Shovel tests were excavated at approximately 30-m intervals along transects spaced at roughly 30-m intervals. Shovel tests were not excavated in areas of severe slope, or in areas where streams, wetlands, or other bodies of standing water were present. Shovel tests were excavated to a maximum depth of 80 cmbs, or until culturally sterile clay subsoil was encountered. All soil was screened through .25-inch hardware fabric and artifacts were collected and kept separate by excavated provenience. Cardno crews were able to complete survey over the entire parcel as survey conditions were very good and there were no natural barriers to completing full survey; a total of 73 shovel tests were excavated and full survey coverage was achieved (Figure 3). In all parts of the proposed contractor yard, soils were very shallow and highly compacted, seldom exceeding 25 centimeters below the surface (cmbs). Clay subsoil was encountered at relatively shallow depths (< 15 cmbs) across the entire proposed yard and several patches of exposed clay subsoil were observed during survey. The typical shovel test profile exhibited a weak humus layer of approximately 3 to cm in thickness, overlying a layer of light brown clayey loam that ranged in thickness between 5 and 15 centimeters (cm). Underlying the entire site was highly compacted, reddish-orange clay subsoil that was culturally sterile. Cardno's archaeological survey of the APE revealed no surface or subsurface cultural material. Additionally, a surface inspection revealed no evidence of push piles, structural foundations, or other features commonly found on Georgia archaeological sites.