Title
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT OF 1966 TO REQUIRE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY COMPLIANCE
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation has a long history of supporting other Native American Tribes in their endeavors in protecting their history and culture, and,
WHEREAS, the Elem Band of Pomo Indians of Clear Lake California, has had years of extensive Mercury mining that has been devastating to their local environment, and,
WHEREAS, the mining site in Clear Lake California has been declared a "National Priority List" site by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and,
WHEREAS, during the reclamation work done by the EPA, many items of culture and historical significance were destroyed, and,
WHEREAS, National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, was passed to prevent the destruction of artifacts of cultural and historical significance, and
WHEREAS, provisions of the EPA superfund Act supersede provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act, and,
WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to the Cherokee Nation, as well as, all Native American Tribes to require comprehensive inspections of archaeological and historical sites before environmental excavation,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, That the Cherokee Nation supports an amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to require comprehensive inspections of archaeological and historical sites before environmental excavation or clean up is conducted.