![Streamlining the Section 106 Process. FHWA Minnesota Division Administrator Alan Steger, Fond du Lac Tribal Chairman Robert Peacock, MnDOT Duluth District Engineer Mike Robinson, and Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau participate in a signing ceremony for a Section 106 programmatic agreement.](images/aug04nl.jpg)
Streamlining the Section 106 Process. FHWA Minnesota Division Administrator Alan Steger, Fond du Lac Tribal Chairman Robert Peacock, MnDOT Duluth District Engineer Mike Robinson, and Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau participate in a signing ceremony for a Section 106 programmatic agreement. |
Building a Foundation of Trust
As one of the considerations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), cultural resources are to be protected under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. To comply with Section 106, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs) must take all necessary precautions to ensure that any potential adverse impacts to historic properties and artifacts from a transportation project are avoided, minimized, or mitigated.
Each Native American tribe has distinct customs and traditions, so it is important that government agencies use procedures specifically tailored to the tribe with which they are working on transportation or cultural matters. This is why some States, such as Minnesota, have begun to develop programmatic agreements to formalize the Section 106 process with each tribal group in the State. Through these agreements, uncertainty about the process is minimized for both transportation agencies and tribal groups. A transparent process that respects Native American preferences and culture engenders better working relationships among agencies and tribes, resulting in more successful and streamlined Section 106 compliance.
Developing the Minnesota Programmatic Agreements: A Collaborative Process
Cheryl Martin of the FHWA Minnesota Division identified working with tribal groups on cultural resource issues as an area of the NEPA process that could be improved and streamlined in that state. In particular, she noted the inefficiency stemming from the lack of established working agreements with the eleven Native American tribes of that state. At an environmental conference, Ms. Martin learned of an agreement between the FHWA Rhode Island Division and the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO); she researched it further on FHWA's environmental streamlining website. The Rhode Island agreement relates to transportation projects that have no effect on cultural resources and allows small operations -- such as installing signage, paving, and other maintenance -- to proceed without formal tribal consultation in each instance. The programmatic agreement, therefore, significantly accelerates the approval process for these routine or small-scale activities.
Ms. Martin and the FHWA Minnesota Division used the Rhode Island agreement as a template to initiate similar agreements with Minnesota tribes. Each tribe was consulted individually and these discussions were used as the foundation for the initial draft of a programmatic agreement. Ironing out the final language of the agreement required several rounds of discussions with each tribe. Many iterations of the document were modified and each version is approved by the tribes, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Cultural Resources Unit, MnDOT District Engineers, the MnDOT Tribal Liaison, and the FHWA Minnesota Division.
As of August 2004, three of the eleven tribes in Minnesota had signed programmatic agreements with MnDOT and FHWA Minnesota Division: the Lower Sioux Indian Community, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, and the Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa. The FHWA Minnesota Division has met with and initiated negotiations with all other tribes in Minnesota to develop their own programmatic agreements.
Inside the Agreements: Tribal Preferences Spelled Out
Many of the issues covered in the Minnesota programmatic agreements are tailored to local needs and differ from the original Rhode Island template. Five major issues are addressed in the MN agreements:
- Geographic area — FHWA Minnesota Division requested that tribal groups specify the geographic area of the State in which they would like to be consulted on Section 106 matters. The responses varied according to the distribution of the tribes throughout Minnesota. Some tribes requested consultation on all projects in the State, while others specified a smaller area.
- Contact person — Tribes were requested to designate a person to serve as FHWA's and MnDOT's point of contact for all cultural resources issues. Frequently, tribes designated the THPO as the point of contact. Smaller tribes who do not have a THPO have been asked to appoint another contact person, usually a member of the tribal council.
- Notification of projects — FHWA Minnesota Division also asked the tribes how they would prefer to receive notice of new projects (i.e., a formal letter or an informal phone call). In addition, the Division Office asked tribes to specify what types of information-such as descriptions of new projects, photos, maps of known cultural sites, and/or lists of other consulting parties-are most useful to them when commenting on a project.
- Processing projects — Tribal groups indicated whether they would prefer to review each project separately or if they would exempt from review routine or small-scale projects (as in the Rhode Island agreement). Most tribes noted that they would prefer to be notified of every single project at first, but will consider amending the programmatic agreements for streamlining purposes once all parties are comfortable with the process.
- Initiating agency — Finally, the tribes specified their preference for which transportation agency (MnDOT or FHWA Minnesota Division) initiates tribal consultation. Because federal agencies maintain a government-to-government relationship with tribes, some tribes prefer consultation to be initiated by FHWA. However, the three executed programmatic agreements allow MnDOT to initiate consultation.
Beyond the Agreements: A Smoother Section 106 Process and Several Innovative Initiatives
Because each of the completed agreements has been signed within the last year, an extensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the agreements has yet to be completed. However, anecdotal evidence from those working in Minnesota indicates a smoother, more efficient process when Section 106 issues arise. Most of this improvement stems from the fact that FHWA Minnesota Division and MnDOT now have established points of contact for each tribe and know when and how to contact them. Through the successful Section 106 programmatic agreements and new tribal initiatives (see sidebar), Minnesota has become a leading State in developing successful working relationships with tribal groups.
Contact Information
Cheryl Martin
FHWA Minnesota Division Office
Galtier Plaza
380 Jackson Street, Suite 500
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 291-6120
Fax: (651) 291-6000
Email: Cheryl.Martin@fhwa.dot.gov
Look What's New!
NHI will be offering two NEPA classes this summer. Course #142005: NEPA and the Transportation Decision Making Process will be held in both Anchorage, AK and Baton Rouge, LA on August 31 — September 2. Visit http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov for more information.
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Minnesota Tribal Initiatives
Several programs demonstrate the commitment of FHWA Minnesota Division and MnDOT to address Native American issues:
- In Spring 2001, MnDOT hired a full-time tribal liaison to handle all Native American affairs. Tribes were consulted regarding their ideal candidate for the job in terms of experience and background.
- Through a cooperative effort, MnDOT, FHWA Minnesota Division, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Minnesota tribes, Minnesota counties, and the Headwaters Regional Development Commission created the web-based Minnesota Tribes and Transportation Handbook. This handbook serves as an online resource guide for tribal and government officials working on transportation projects serving tribal land in Minnesota.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/mntribes/handbook/
- MnDOT, FHWA Minnesota Division, and the Upper Sioux Community are sponsoring the 3rd Annual Tribes and Transportation Conference on October 19 and 20, 2004, in Granite Falls, Minnesota.
- A Tribal Employment Rights Ordinances (TERO) policy is being considered for State transportation projects; it would give Native Americans hiring preference for any Minnesota transportation project within a reasonable commuting distance from any tribal reservation.
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