Environmental Corporation of America's (ECA) client, American Towers LLC, is proposing an approximate 18-foot by 38-foot (5-meter by 12-meter) compound expansion of an existing telecommunications facility compound and the collocation of antennas on an existing 199-foot tall monopole telecommunications tower as described in the following Form 621, Collocation ("CO") Submission Packet. ECA understands that American Towers LLC plans to collocate nine panel (9) antennas at 182 feet above ground level. The existing compound area is accessible via a parking lot associated with the parent tract operations which is accessible via Columbia Drive. The area that was assessed includes an additional 30 feet (~9-meters} on all sides of both the proposed and existing compound areas.
ECA has identified and evaluated Historic Properties, if any, within the Area of Potential Effect (APE) for visual and direct effects as directed in Section VI.D.1 and 2 of the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement, effective on March 7, 2005.
Based on our review of the University of Georgia Natural Archaeological and Historical Resources Geographical Information System (GNAHRGIS), we identified no Historic Properties within the ½-mile APE for visual effects. ECA 's review of files at the Georgia Historic Preservation Office (GA HPD) during a previous Section I 06 Review document identified one Historic Property (Resource 5) within the ½-mile APE for visual effects, but outside the APE for direct effects.
Resource 5 (1322 Columbia Drive, Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia) is located approximately 1,200 feet (366 meters) southeast of the proposed undertaking. ECA had previously determined this resource to be potentially eligible for listing in the NRHP in a previous Section 106 Review submitted to GA HPD by ECA in 2004. The existing monopole telecommunications tower is visible from Resource 5. As the proposed undertaking consists of side-mounting antennas to the existing tower and expansion of the equipment area at ground level, the proposed undertaking would not discernibly alter the viewshed in the area. Additionally, the intervening viewshed between the subject telecommunications structure and the resource is occupied by modern infrastructure. As such, the proposed undertaking would have no effect on this resource.
An Archaeological Assessment was conducted within the APE for direct effects. During our database research, we found no recorded archaeological sites and ten archaeological survey reports (3154, 3380, 3683, 3999, 4514, 5477, 7731, 7732, 9545, and 10707) within I-mile of the subject site, but outside of the APE for direct effects. During our fieldwork we uncovered no archaeological cultural artifacts (see Attachment E-1 c). Therefore, based on our findings, we recommend no further consultation under Section I 06 Review of the National Historic Preservation Act for this proposed undertaking.
The APE for Direct Effects would include the existing guyed telecommunications tower structure which construction was completed on December 21, 2004 and is not eligible for listing in the NRHP.
Based on this documentation, prepared in accordance with the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement effective March 7, 2005, ECA believes that this proposed undertaking would have no effect on any Historic Properties identified in accordance with the NPA. Therefore, we recommend a finding of "No Effect" for the proposed undertaking.
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