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Feds Rule Dobbins Mine Eligible for National Register of Historic Places
Those opposed to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Route D-VE for the proposed 411 Connector scored another victory last week when it was announced that the Dobbins Mine site was eligible for distinction from the National Register of Historic Places.
In a document signed July 19, the Keeper of the National Register declared the Dobbins Mine location eligible under criterion A. The same document declared the Guyton Ore Bank ineligible.
“The historic resources associated with historic mining along Dobbins Mountain constitute a mining landscape historic district eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion A, for its association with late 19th and early 20th century mining operations and for the role this area played in producing large quantities of manganese ore for the manufacturing of steel,” the document reads.
“Earlier this year, the Federal Highway Administration asked the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places to provide a definitive determination of eligibility. Cartersville Ranch, the City of Euharlee and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation were acknowledged as consulting parties in the process, and attended — with the Georgia Department of Transportation and FHWA — meetings with the Keeper and her staff and submitted extensive documentation supporting the historic significance of the Dobbins manganese mining landscape,” said Henry Parkman, attorney of Cartersville Ranch.
“…This eligibility ruling under Criterion A means that the Keeper determined that the “quality of significance in American history … and culture is present in [the Dobbins Mining Landscape site] that possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association,” Parkman explained. “and is ‘associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history,’” he said.
According to Parkman, the Keeper’s eligibility ruling means that the Dobbins mining landscape is covered under a federal statute, Section 4(f), which says federal money cannot be spent on Route D-VE, which would “use” the historic site, “because there is a prudent and feasible alternative route.”
“Keep in mind, these alternative routes were considered in the earlier environmental impact statement. The Dobbins mining landscape is protected under federal law — based on the eligibility ruling — even if the site is not actually listed in the National Register of Historic Places,” he continued.
For the Georgia Trust, the ruling recognizes a part of history that often goes unnoticed.
Mark C. McDonald, president and CEO of the Georgia Trust, said of the ruling, “The Georgia Trust is grateful for this ruling by the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. We believed strongly that Dobbins Mine and the entire cultural landscape was eligible for the national register. Also, we believe its preservation is important to the heritage of the state of Georgia.
“When you look at the history of North Georgia, mines and mills are much more a part of this area’s heritage than plantation houses, but they are frequently overlooked and we are pleased they are getting the attention they deserve.”
Route D-VE, opponents say, is a costly and environmentally damaging choice for the roadway that will link Rome and Floyd County to Interstate 75 north of exit 290 in Cartersville. Concerns raised include the disturbance of wildlife, including the Cherokee darter, and the potential for acidic runoff.
“We are hopeful that GDOT will take this opportunity to select an alternate route that would avoid disturbing cultural and environmental resources at Dobbins Mountain,” Parkman said. “Moving to an alternative route now would get the 411 Connector built sooner and would save taxpayers over $100 million.”
Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club Schedules Outing at Cartersville Ranch, LLC
MEDIA ADVISORY
Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club Schedules Outing at Cartersville Ranch, LLC
Members and Supporters to Hike Dobbins Mountain and Learn About Controversial U.S. 411 Connector
WHO: The Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club, an organization that empowers Georgians to preserve, protect and enjoy our environment, is celebrating Earth Day this year by going back to its John Muir (founder of the Sierra Club) roots. The organization is hosting a hike on Dobbins Mountain, as part of a larger series, so members and supporters can learn about the sensitive habitat and threatened species that will be impacted by the U.S. 411 Connector.
WHAT: Attendees will hike and learn about the Georgia Department of Transportation’s proposed route (Route D-VE) for the environmentally damaging highway, which is planned to cut through Dobbins Mountain. The mountain is located on the beautiful 1800-acre Cartersville Ranch, LLC and is home to a 100-acre conservation easement and historic mine. As currently designed, the mountain, easement and mine will be destroyed by the road and two local watersheds – that are home to the threatened and federally protected Cherokee darter – will be negatively impacted.
WHEN: Saturday, April 9, 2011 – 9 am to 12 pm.
COST: To support the Georgia Chapter’s work to protect these environmentally sensitive and vital habitats a suggested donation of $100 is requested per participant, per trip. Attendees are encouraged to be as generous as possible, as it will help support the organization’s conservation work across the state.
WHERE: Cartersville Ranch, LLC
2051 US Highway 411 NE
Cartersville, Ga. 30121
(See map for additional details)
VISUALS: Chapter members and supporters will hike the scenic property on and around Dobbins Mountain. Attendees will see abundant wildlife and plant life on the ranch property and mountain. Sections of the proposed right-of-way and centerline will be flagged so visitors can see (up close) Route D-VE.
SIGN-UP: To sign-up for the outing/hike, visit the Sierra Club website and/or contact Outing Leader Lee Thomas at lat1028@yahoo.com.
Dobbins Mountain - future location of GDOT's proposed U.S. 411 Connector
Georgia Environmental Action Alert: 411 Connector, Route D-VE
PLEASE visit the following website to register your objection to Route D-VE: http://protectgeorgia.net/takeaction.asp?aaid=5051.
This alert allows you the opportunity to send a message (which has already been developed, but can be modified) opposing Route D-VE to several elected officials and transportation officials. It literally takes a few seconds to complete the process.
Thanks to our friends at the Broad River Water Association, Georgia Canoeing Association, Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Conservation Voters, Georgia Forest Watch and Georgia River Network for supporting this action alert. Your help and support means a lot!
Online petition drive; we need your help!
The rough weather and time constraints due to the holidays have limited our efforts to collect petition signatures against Route D-VE. To keep up the momentum (of our 1,000+ signatures so far), we’re asking all of our friends and supporters to email our online petition to your email address book. Here is the link for the petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/411corr/
Best part is, it literally takes a few seconds to complete the petition.
Some will say, this road doesn’t apply to me. Not true.
The state of Georgia is planning to spend (err waste) federal dollars, about $22 to $25 million, on the construction of this road that is 2.5 miles longer and costs $182 million more than alternate routes, destroys a mountain and conservation easement, blasts through a historic mine, negatively impacts the threatened and federally protected Cherokee darter and more.
As you can see, this is a complete waste of your tax dollars when other shorter, cheaper and more efficient routes exist. Help us stop Route D-VE today!
Thank you.
Coalition for the Right Road Collects Approximately 1,000 Signatures Against Proposed Route for the U.S. 411 Connector
Residents Support Cheaper, Shorter Alternate Route with Little Environmental Impact
(Cartersville, Ga.) – The Coalition for the Right Road (CORR), an organization of Georgia citizens committed to making sure the U.S. 411 Connector is built cheaper, safer and with minimal environmental impact, announced today the group has obtained about 1,000 signatures from residents in Bartow County (and beyond) to stop the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) proposed design, Route D-VE, for the U.S. 411 Connector.
CORR’s membership has surged into the hundreds and has been extremely active in the community in recent weeks. The coalition has participated in several local events, parades and business meetings, presented at the Cartersville City Council and Bartow County Commission meetings, attended GDOT board meetings and more. Membership is open to anyone who supports a shorter, cheaper and less environmentally impactful route for the connector.
Route D-VE is expected to cost taxpayers more than $280 million – making it a $182 million more expensive than GDOT’s originally proposed design, Route G. The current route is 2.5 miles longer and requires twice as many expensive bridges and overpasses than Route G. It also will destroy Dobbins Mountain and historic Dobbins Mine, and negatively impacts a 100-acre significant wildlife refuge on the mountain. GDOT’s road requires a costly, complicated and dangerous interchange with I-75 and needlessly jeopardizes the threatened and federally-protected Cherokee darter.
Cherokee darter
“Route D-VE is a colossal waste of taxpayer money and environmental destruction of the worst kind,” said Leslie Crawford, member of Coalition for the Right Road. “Obviously, this route is not as popular as GDOT thinks. We have discovered that thousands of residents in Bartow County and Cartersville are completely unaware of the road’s excessive cost and pending environmental destruction. Other routes, such as Route G, would save the state $182 million and would affect significantly fewer residents and landowners while serving the exact same purpose.”
The Coalition for the Right Road (CORR) is an organization of Georgia citizens committed to making sure the U.S. 411 Connector is built at the lowest cost to taxpayers with minimal environmental impact. CORR is opposed to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s current plans for the 411 Connector – Route D-VE – because of its high cost, inefficient interchange and environmental destruction. The coalition is committed to raising awareness of shorter, cheaper and less destructive routes, and is open to anyone who shares these concerns. For more information, visit www.coalitionfortherightroad.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
GDOT Responds to Questions Following Board Meeting
As promised, listed below is GDOT’s response to CORR’s questions about the 411 Connector. The meeting took place immediately after GDOT’s October board meeting.
The cost estimate documents GDOT provided did not support the State Transporation Improvement Program (STIP) cost projection for the road, so we are following up to clarify that information before posting it. Please check back soon (in this blog post) for the latest cost estimate information.
Q & A (directly from GDOT’s deputy press secretary):
Specifically related to the 411 Connector project (661950), how much notification will a property owner be given that they may be affected by the act of eminent domain and/or condemnation?
Once the Department authorizes right-of-way (RoW) funds, the Department will hold a property owners meeting within a few months. Then individuals that own property that is required for the road will be contacted individually to begin the acquisition process.
Where in the “re-evaluation” process is the existing environmental documentation?
There are two items remaining on the re-evaluation:
1) The potential of acidic soil that may affect the [Cherokee] darter fish species investigation. [This study] is almost complete and will be to submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
2) The study of the Dobbins Mine for historic significance and will not be completed until April 2011.
Once both have been completed, the re-evaluation will be submitted to FHWA for approval, perhaps in May 2011.
What is the status of the additional analysis that they believe is being conducted to determine the effect of acid drainage from excavation of Dobbins Mountain into the water/stream system?
The soil borings have been completed and the response to U.S. Fish and Wildlife is being drafted.
The TIP documents they have show three related projects – 008842, 008843 and 008844. They want to know what these projects are, how they are related to the big project, and if the funds associated with these three projects are separate from, or included in, the $182 million listed on project 661950 construction?
Those three project numbers were for tracking earmarked RoW funding that is now included in Project No. 661950 total.
Where are all of the above projects in the funding process? Have funds been identified and allocated already, or are they on a long-term future list with no funding?
RoW acquisition funding is programmed and that acquisition is scheduled to begin this fiscal year (2011). Construction funding is not programmed as yet.
Why is GDOT tearing down a mountain and displacing eagles (birds), instead of just going around?
We are not doing either of these things. This route represents the most cost effective use of taxpayer resources while protecting the environment and fulfilling the project’s need and purpose.
The group believes GDOT’s district office is removing their protest signs from private property. They say they visited the office and saw their signs in the back of GDOT pick-up trucks. They want an explanation of why GDOT is removing their signs placed on private property – said they have asked the property owners for permission to place them.
This issue arises every election season. We have neither the resources nor the interest level to remove signage from private property. We are required by law, however, to remove signs illegally placed within state right of way.
