Phase 1 Cultutral Resource Survey Tifton to Ty Ty Transmission Structure Replacement Project Tift County, Georgia

Between July 7 and July 12, and July 25 and July 26, 2013 Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington) conducted a Cultural Resources Survey of the Tifton to Ty-Ty transmission structure replacement project area in Tift County, Georgia (PI# 1253104). Figure 1.1 is a project location map. The project was performed while under contract with Georgia Power (a Southern Company) and was conducted pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended), by personnel qualified under the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards (36CFR Part 61-Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation). The project consists of the replacement of one structure (Structure 498) and the erection of a new structure (Structure 500A), 0.3 meters (m) (50 feet) [ft] east of the proposed Structure 498 location. The existing 498 structure is a 14.6 m (48.1 ft) high wood pole structure supporting a 46kV line. The proposed 498 structure would be a 21.3-m (70-ft) high concrete structure supporting a 46kV line. The 500A structure would be a 24.07-m (79-ft) high concrete structure supporting a 46kV line. Within and adjacent to the project area the Tifton to Ty Ty transmission line runs in an east-west direction parallel to US 82/SR520. Figure 1.2 is an aerial map showing the locations of the proposed structures. The cultural resources survey consisted of both background research and field survey. Background research focused on documenting previously recorded archaeological and architectural resources within the project footprint and within the project viewshed. The project footprint consists of a 35-by-55-m (114.8-by-180.4-ft) area surrounding the proposed structure locations. The project viewshed consists of a 0.4-kilometer (km) (0.25-mile [mi]) buffer around the proposed structure locations. Background research was conducted at the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD) in Atlanta, the Georgia Archaeological Site File in Athens, the University of Georgia Map Library, the Tift County Tax Assessors Office, and the Tift County Public Library in Tifton. At the HPD, the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) files and Tift County survey file were reviewed to determine if any NRHP eligible, nominated, or listed resources are within the project APE. The Georgia Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources GIS (GNAHRGIS) database was also reviewed to determine if any previously recorded archaeological sites are located within the project APE. At the Georgia Archaeological Site File, survey reports associated with previous archaeological investigations in and near the project area were reviewed. At the University of Georgia Map Library the historic map and aerial files for Tift County were reviewed. At the Tift County Tax Assessor's Office, records were reviewed to assist in determining building construction dates, and at the Tift County Public Library county histories, historic maps, and cemetery records were reviewed. However, background research revealed that there are no previously recorded cultural resources located within the project footprint, the 0.4-km (0.25-mi) buffer, or within 1.6 km (one mi) of the proposed structure locations.