How are DEQ and EPA addressing concerns about protecting sacred cultural resources?
Protecting sacred cultural resources is very important to both EPA and DEQ. The agencies recognize the historic importance of this area. To date, DEQ has consulted with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, State Historic Preservation Office, and local sources about the site’s cultural significance. An archaeological evaluation was completed for the disposal site under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The archaeological evaluation did not indicate any known artifacts in the area where the repository will be built. The Preservation Office gave the project the okay to proceed, with the condition that an archaeological expert will monitor excavation activities described in the evaluation. If the archaeologist detects the presence of cultural resources, work will be halted until a thorough evaluation can be done. Also, views from the Mission will be checked regularly, reported to the Preservation Office, and coordinated with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.
