Channel to Victoria Project

Archeological Site 41VT98 (the Buckeye Knoll Site)

SECTION 106 CONSULTATION UPDATE

    Two tribal coordination meetings with federally-recognized tribes have been held to discuss the treatment of human remains and archeological materials removed from the Buckeye Knoll Site (41VT98). These meetings were held on February 12, 2002 in Victoria, Texas and on May 9, 2002 in Galveston, Texas. The following tribes were invited to the meetings - the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, the Chickasaw Nation, the Coushatta Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Comanche Indian Tribe, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the Poarch Band of Creek, the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Representatives from the Alabama-Coushatta, the Comanche and the Choctaw attended the meeting on February 12, and representatives from the Alabama-Coushatta, the Comanche, and the Kiowa attended the meeting on May 9. The first meeting focused primarily on providing information to the tribes regarding Galveston District's investigations at the Buckeye Knoll site. The second meeting focused on discussion of a draft treatment plan for the remains and materials removed from the Buckeye Knoll Site. At the second meeting, the attending tribes voiced their disapproval of analysis and urged reburial of all human remains and archeological materials near the site of origin as soon as possible.

    The District and Dupont met with representatives from the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation on March 8, 2002. Representatives of this organization, which represents descendents of missionized Coahuiltecan Indians in the San Antonio area, discussed their concerns with the project.

    In June, 2002, a claim for the Buckeye Knoll remains and archeological materials was made by the Comanche, Kiowa, Alabama-Coushatta and Choctaw. In letters dated July 9 and July 22, 2002, the Comanche Nation suggested that all materials from the site be made available for reburial on August 30, 2002. The Galveston District has replied that reburial cannot be conducted until the Corps completes the Section 106 consultation process as required by Federal law.

Consultation with Archeological Organizations

    Three archeological organizations have requested consulting party status for the Section 106 consultation of the Buckeye Knoll materials. The Galveston District, in consultation with the Texas SHPO, agreed to grant this status to the Texas Archeological Society (TAS), the Society for American Archeology (SAA) and the Council of Texas Archeologists (CTA). A consultation meeting was held on March 28, 2002 in Corpus Christi, Texas. These organizations have urged analysis of materials recovered from the site and have provided specific technical recommendations on directions for research and the extent and types of analysis.

Consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

    In June, 2002, the ACHP requested participation in the VT98 consultation pursuant to Stipulation II.F.2 of the Programmatic Agreement covering the project. Galveston District acknowledged this request and provided background records of consultation activities to date. The ACHP will be a party to all subsequent Section 106 consultations on the Buckeye Knoll project.

Coordination of Draft Treatment Proposal

    The Galveston District, with consideration given to the input from all of the consulting parties, has prepared a draft treatment proposal for human remains and materials removed from the Buckeye Knoll site. The proposal explains the unique archeological significance of the site and recognizes the religious and cultural implications associated with any study involving human remains, regardless of origin. The draft proposal proposes specific research questions and associated technical analysis. The draft proposal was provided to the tribes and Dupont for discussion at the tribal consultation conference on May 9, 2002.

    Consultation on the treatment of the human remains and archeological materials from the Buckeye Knoll site is continuing. The draft treatment proposal was mailed to all consulting parties on August 1, 2002. The District asked that formal written comments on the draft proposal be submitted by the consulting parties to Colonel Leonard Waterworth within 60 days. Upon consideration of comments received, the draft treatment proposal may be revised. Comments from all consulting parties will be distributed to all members of the consultation group along with a revised draft treatment proposal after the comment period closes.

    The District emphasizes that no decision as to the ultimate treatment and disposition of the Buckeye Knoll materials has been made. After the Section 106 process is complete, a final recommended treatment and disposition plan will be provided to all consulting parties and to Dupont, steward of the remains and artifacts.