Phase I Cultural Resouces Survey and Archeological Inventory of the Proposed Holy Trinity Pipeline Expansion Project, Stewart County, Georgia

Between June and August 1995, and during September 2000, R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc., performed a Phase I cultural resources survey and archeological inventory of the proposed 11.3 km (7 mi) 16 in O.D. Southern Natural Gas Company Holy Trinity Pipeline Expansion Project. The new line will originate at the Holy Trinity Compressor Station at Mile Post 27.93 in Russell County, Alabama, pass beneath the Chattahoochee River via directional drill, and extend into Stewart County, Georgia. The proposed pipeline will terminate at Mile Post 34.93, south of the settlement of Union in Stewart County, Georgia. The pipeline will be constructed parallel to the existing South Georgia Natural Gas Company 12 in O.D. Main Line natural gas pipeline, and it will require the use of a 25.9 m (85 ft) wide right-of-way. Only 10.6 m (35 ft) of that width, however, represents new construction easement. The Georgia portion of the proposed pipeline expansion measures approximately 8.4 km (5.22 mi) in length. Fieldwork included survey of the proposed right-of-way and the existing pipeline corridor, as well as the survey of access roads and extra work spaces; approximately 18 ha (45 ac) were examined as a result of this investigation. The total area surveyed includes 8.4 km (5.22 mi) of pipeline corridor, 6.0 km (3.7 mi) of seven access roads, seven extra work spaces associated with creek and road crossings, two directional drill pad locations, and two warehouse facilities. In addition, a submerged resources inventory of the once-proposed crossing of the Chattahoochee River is discussed. Archeological inventory of the proposed project area was accomplished via pedestrian survey and systematic subsurface testing along two transects spaced approximately 10 m (32.8 ft) apart. Shovel tests were excavated at 30 m (98 ft) intervals throughout the Area of Potential Effect, in all extra workspaces, and along the proposed access roads where visibility was poor. A total of 10 prehistoric cultural resources loci were identified as a result of this inventory; none of these loci produced sufficient cultural material to warrant archeological site status. All 10 loci were characterized as isolated finds that produced fewer than four artifacts. None of the artifacts were unequivocally diagnostic, and the temporal affiliations of the loci were indeterminate. Each of these loci was evaluated as not significant applying the National Register of Historic Places criteria for evaluation (36 CFR 60.4 [a-d]), and no additional testing of these cultural resources is recommended. No magnetic or acoustic anomalies were recorded during survey the remote sensing of the Chattahoochee River; no additional testing of the once-proposed river crossing is recommended. On January 5, 2001, the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources concurred with the findings in this report and referenced this project as HP001116-005.