An intensive cultural resources survey was conducted of the proposed Boardtown 1.0 ha (2.5 ac) substation location and 1.5 km (0.9 mi) transmission line route in Gilmer County, on the outskirts of Ellijay, Georgia. Five archeological sites and one artifact occurrence were discovered by this survey. The five sites are all prehistoric lithic or lithic and ceramic scatters. One site has a Late Archaic component and another has a Mississippian component. Temporal affiliations could not be determined for the other three sites. Four of the sites are recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. However, only one, located in the substation the substation tract, will be impacted by construction. Plowing, surface collection, one meter square excavation units, and mechanical stripping are recommended as appropriate mitigation of the adverse impact to this site. The other three sites will not be adversely impacted by construction as they are already cleared and transmission line pole locations are not in sensitive spots. Two standing historic structures near the transmission line that may be eligible for the NRHP will not be adversely impacted by construction of this project due to previous visual degradation by existing transmission lines.
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