Archaeological Reassessment of Projects EDS-19(50)(51), Sumter County

This is an Archeological Reassessment of Projects EDS-19(50)(51) in Sumter County. Projects EDS-19(50)(51) propose to widen and reconstruct US 19/SR 3 beginning at the Sumter/Lee County Line and ending after the bridge over Muckalee Creek. This project was originally surveyed with concurrence received in 1997, then reassessed with concurrence received in 2001, 2003, and 2005. The original project remains the same except for the following: EDS-19(50) temporary easements, measuring 60' wide by 2,325' long, have been added north and south of Little Bear Branch Creek on the west side of US 19/SR 3 for Colonial Pipeline; EDS-19(51) - temporary driveway easements and sediment basins, varying in width from approximately 10' to 150' and varying in length from approximately 30' to 550', have been added at numerous locations beginning at Bear Branch Road and ending just north of the Muckalee Creek bridge. An archeological survey (Level II) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Division Staff and concurred in by the Federal Highway Administration and State Historic Preservation Officer. These guidelines provide general survey boundaries and methodological approaches to archeological surveys based on the type/scope of work of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register resources were located within the project's area of potential environmental effect. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will have no effect upon archeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.