K. Hsueh ltr. re: Invitation for Formal Consultation Under ...Invitation for Formal Consultation...

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Protecting the Land, Cultural, Heritage and Tradition for the Future Generation November 7,2010 .':7~'aI u..~~ V~ ~II"~ P.D. Box 09 o ebud. 'outh Do fa Telep on "(605) 747- 255 Fax: (605 747-42JJ Email: [email protected] Russell eagle Bear Officer Kathy Arcoren Administrative Assbtant Kevin Hsueh, Branch Chief Environmental Review Branch B United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop T-8F05 Washington, DC 20555 Re: Invitationfor Formal Consultation Under the National Historic Preservation Act; Proposed Dewey Burdock In Situ Recovery Facility near Edgemont South Dakota Dear Mr. Hsueh, We are in receipt of your correspondence dated September 20,2010. Invitation for Formal Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Thank you for inviting the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (RST) to participate as a consulting party with the U.S. uclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We realize that the NRC is attempting to work at satisfying its statutory obligations under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHP A) of 1966 (as amended), and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to review impacts to cultural and historic resources potentially impacted by the proposed Powertech, Inc. Dewey- Burdock In-Situ Leach Uranium Mine. As you are aware, the proposed mine is located within the traditional homelands and treaty set aside lands of the Great Sioux Nation. The RST is interested in working with the NRC to identify and protect the cultural and historic resources threatened by the proposed project. As you are undoubtedly aware, the proposed project is in a highly probable and sensitive area regarding cultural resources. The effects to the land and resources include not only site-specific physical impacts, but also broader landscape-level impacts including intangible and tangible impacts to the integrity of the area from cultural, historical, spiritual, and religious perspectives. At this time the RST is requesting formal group consultation with regard to the above mentioned project. We encourage you to make every effort to contact tribes that place religious and cultural significance to properties within the Black Hills (APE) that they deem significant to their continuity and existence. We suggest contacting the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) to afford them the opportunity to host a meeting at the Prairie Winds Casino and invite tribes to this group

Transcript of K. Hsueh ltr. re: Invitation for Formal Consultation Under ...Invitation for Formal Consultation...

Page 1: K. Hsueh ltr. re: Invitation for Formal Consultation Under ...Invitation for Formal Consultation UnderSection 106oftheNational Historic Preservation Act. Thank you for inviting the

Protecting the Land, Cultural,Heritage and Tradition for

the Future GenerationNovember 7,2010

.':7~'aIu..~~ V~ ~II"~

P.D. Box 09o ebud. 'outhDo fa

Telep on " (605) 747- 255Fax: (605 747-42JJ

Email: [email protected] eagle Bear

Officer

Kathy ArcorenAdministrative Assbtant

Kevin Hsueh, Branch ChiefEnvironmental Review Branch BUnited States Nuclear Regulatory CommissionMail Stop T-8F05Washington, DC 20555

Re: Invitationfor Formal Consultation Under the National Historic Preservation Act;Proposed Dewey Burdock In Situ Recovery Facility near Edgemont South Dakota

Dear Mr. Hsueh,

We are in receipt of your correspondence dated September 20,2010. Invitation for FormalConsultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Thank you for inviting the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (RST) to participate as a consulting party withthe U.S. uclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We realize that the NRC is attempting to workat satisfying its statutory obligations under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHP A) of1966 (as amended), and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to review impacts tocultural and historic resources potentially impacted by the proposed Powertech, Inc. Dewey-Burdock In-Situ Leach Uranium Mine. As you are aware, the proposed mine is located withinthe traditional homelands and treaty set aside lands of the Great Sioux Nation. The RST isinterested in working with the NRC to identify and protect the cultural and historic resourcesthreatened by the proposed project.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the proposed project is in a highly probable and sensitive arearegarding cultural resources. The effects to the land and resources include not only site-specificphysical impacts, but also broader landscape-level impacts including intangible and tangibleimpacts to the integrity of the area from cultural, historical, spiritual, and religious perspectives.

At this time the RST is requesting formal group consultation with regard to the above mentionedproject. We encourage you to make every effort to contact tribes that place religious and culturalsignificance to properties within the Black Hills (APE) that they deem significant to theircontinuity and existence. We suggest contacting the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) to afford themthe opportunity to host a meeting at the Prairie Winds Casino and invite tribes to this group

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consultation. As a caveat to this suggestion understand that the OST is the tribe nearest inphysical proximity to the APE and what effects' one of our allies, effect's us all. This actionwould offer tribes an opportunity to discuss and share information to better preserve areas ofreligious and cultural significance.We look forward to meeting with you in the near future. Together, we can and will protect andpreserve our irreplaceable cultural resources. If you have any questions, please contact ouroffice as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Sincerely,

~~~Tribal Historic Preservation OfficerRosebud Sioux TribePO Box 809Rosebud, South Dakota 57570Ph.- (605) 747-4255Email: [email protected]

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Russell Eagle 8ear, OfficerRosebud Sioux TribeTribal Historic PreservationP Box 809Rosebud, SD 57570

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KEVIN HSUEH, BR~NCH CHICFENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW BRANC~ BUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONMAIL STon T-PF05WASHINGTON DC 20555

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