Trileaf Corporation (Trileaf) is in the process of completing a NEPA review for a proposed self-support lattice tower telecommunication facility located in Washington County, Harrison, Georgia (Latitude: 3r 52' 48.553" N, Longitude: 82" 39' 57.602" W). The project location is located within a wooded area.
Verizon Wireless proposes the construction of a new self-support lattice telecommunications tower with a total height of 360 feet (109.73 meters}. The new tower and associated equipment will be situated within a proposed approximate 100 x 100-foot (30.5 x 30.5 meter) cell tower lease area. A proposed approximate 30 x 206-foot (9.1 x 62.79 meter) access and utility easement will travel generally north away from the lease area towards a county-maintained dirt road. Total acreage of the new construction area is approximately 0.37 acres (0.15 Hectares).
The field investigation at this location was conducted by Trileaf Project Archaeologist Colin Bean, M.A., on September 16, 2020. Standard archaeological field equipment included shovels, trowels, and a ¼-inch wire mesh sifting screen. The field survey techniques utilized were a combination of pedestrian and visual survey at S-meter intervals and/or shovel-testing at 15-meter intervals, where applicable, with a standard shovel test pit consisting of a hand-excavated hole, approximately 40 cm in diameter and/or deep enough to reach culturally sterile subsoils. Each shovel test was excavated in no greater than 10-centimeter (4-inches) levels to ensure any artifacts were plotted by depth. All shovel test fill was screened through a ¼-inch wire mesh screen. Shovel testing was conducted within the proposed approximate 100 x 100-foot (30.5 x 30.5 meter) cell tower lease area and within the proposed approximate 30 x 206-foot (9.1 x 62.79 meter) access and utility easement.
The field survey of the project area, which Included a pedestrian survey, shovel testing, and visual inspection, found no evidence for the presence of archaeological or architectural properties in relation to the current project area or within a 30-foot (9.1-meter) boundary within the Direct APE.
There were no previously identified archaeological sites or archaeological surveys located within Trileafs 1-mile background research radius for archaeology. There were no NRHP-listed or NRHP eligible properties located within the ¾-mile APE for visual effects.
Additionally, the National Park Service National Historic Trails Interactive GIS map was also reviewed. The Trail of Tears is recognized by the National Park Service as a National Historic Trail, which carries the same significance as being listed in the NRHP, and is therefore considered a Historic Property. No known portion of the Trail of Tears intersects with the project or is located within a ½-mile of the project location.
Based on these findings, Trileaf recommends No Historic Properties within the Direct APE and No Historic Properties within the ¾-mile Visual APE. It is therefore recommended that project clearance be granted with no further investigation or evaluation of the project area relative to those resources.
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