Technical Memorandum for Record of No Significant Archaeological Findings; Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Nebo - New Georgia 115 kV Transmission Line, Paulding County, Georgia

We have completed background research and archaeological field investigations within the proposed Nebo - New Georgia transmission line (TL) corridor. This corridor is approximately 5.5 miles in length and extends from the Nebo Substation to the New Georgia Substation within Paulding County, Georgia (Figure 1). The investigation also included a surrounding area of roughly 100 ft from the proposed TL centerline across the entirety of the 5.5-mile long corridor. This survey was conducted for the purpose of identifying and evaluating any eligible, potentially eligible, or listed NRHP archaeological resource located within or near the proposed TL corridor. This survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended through 2000) as part of the application process pursuant to a Section 404 permit. The survey was carried out by personnel qualified under the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards (36 CFR part 61 - Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation). The field investigation team surveyed the project corridor from May 19th through May 23'd, 2008 by a Field Director (Patrick Severts) and three field technicians (Jessica Mou, James Wellborn, and Kevin Cotham). Methods employed by the field team included a thorough visual/pedestrian survey of the entire corridor as well as a systematic shovel testing strategy. The shovel testing strategy employed by the field crew consisted of a single transect effected along the corridor route with shovel tests placed at 30-meter intervals. Visual/Pedestrian survey consisted of a close examination of the ground surface for signs of mounds, features, or artifacts. Field notes detailing the soil conditions of excavated shovel tests and disturbed conditions were logged in field notebooks. Photographs detailing the current status and environment of the project corridor were taken extensively. Background investigations consisted of an examination of archaeological site forms and previous undertakings either within or near (1 mile) the project corridor. The investigated records are now maintained by the Georgia Archaeological Site Files (GASF) at the Universityof Georgia, in Athens. This data set is available through an online querying system; the Georgia Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (NAHRGIS). Additionally, a records search was made for documents pertaining to previously known, reported, and/or National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nominated resources within one mile (1.6 km) radius of the project corridor. An on-site assessment was also made based on topography, setting, previous regional surveys, and nearby resources as to the potential for the project corridor to produce as yet unidentified archaeological resources, or for the undertaking to have an effect on those not yet identified outside of the immediate project corridor.