Dalton Expansion Project Final Phase I Report: Addendum 4: Bartow, Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Gordon, Murray, Paulding, and Whitfield Counties, Georgia

This report is an addendum to the Dalton Expansion Project report detailing results of the additional Phase I survey work carried out from July through September 2016. The additional work was conducted as the result of numerous planned reroutes and gaining access to previously inaccessible portions of the corridor and workspace. The original Phase I survey document was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and to the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD) in May 2015.

The purpose of the investigation was to locate, identify, and evaluate any archaeological properties in the Area of Potential Effect (APE) of the proposed undertaking. An APE is defined as "the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause changes in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist" (36 CFR Part 800.16[d]).

During the Phase I investigations, survey was conducted within parcels to which access was granted before the time of survey. During the current survey, an approximate distance of three miles was surveyed. These were either areas to which access had not been previously granted, or they were surveyed as the result of the most recent reroutes. A total of one archaeological occurrence was investigated in Paulding County (9PA583) (Table 1). All other shovel tests in the remaining counties were negative for cultural materials or were recorded as no digs.

Survey of 9PA583 revealed a low-density prehistoric lithic scatter generally attributable to the prehistoric period. The site was delineated with double negative shovel tests in all directions during current work along an area previously inaccessible. Shovel testing within the site area indicated intact soils; however, the small and non-diagnostic assemblage does not allow for further data recovery. Given the very low density of material and the lack of diagnostics and features, it appears that the site lacks research potential. Cardno thus, recommends site 9PA583 as ineligible for inclusion on the NRHP. No further work is recommended at the site.

This document is the Addendum IV report of Phase I archaeological survey for the Dalton Expansion Project (Project), conducted by Cardno, Inc. (Cardno) for Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (Transco). Survey was conducted from July through September 2016. Transco is seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) pursuant to Section 7 (c) of the Natural Gas Act for the construction and operation of a 111.7-mile natural gas pipeline (the Project) in northwestern Georgia. An initial report of archaeological survey for the Project was submitted to the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD Project# HP-140603-005) and filed with Transco's FERC application in March 2015 (FERC Docket No. CP15-117-000).

Since the initial report and filing, alterations to the Project route have avoided multiple sites, and encountered new archaeological resources. This document provides an assessment of all archaeological resources that have been subsequently recorded on the current FERC-filed route.