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Eielson Air Force Base outlines tribal consultation, Quarry Hill and Birch Lake survey
Summary
Eielson AFB staff told the commission they extended the programmatic-agreement comment period to consult federally recognized tribes, plan a monitoring strategy and a MOA for Quarry Hill demolitions, and secured a $50,000 grant for a 51-acre Birch Lake archaeological survey next summer.
Representatives from Eielson Air Force Base briefed the Historic Preservation Commission on Sept. 2 about ongoing cultural-resources work, early tribal consultation on the Quarry Hill consolidation, and a newly awarded survey grant.
Brooks Lawler, an Eielson cultural-resources representative, said the Air Force extended the programmatic-agreement comment period to allow staff and the installation tribal liaison to consult federally recognized tribes. Lawler said the base is incorporating commission input into the draft, adding a table of contents for usability and naming the Air National Guard as a consulting party. He stressed the base will include a consultation protocol allowing tribes to review pre-2005 archaeological surveys when appropriate and will consider tribal input throughout the environmental-assessment process.
Lawler described mitigation planning for proposed building demolitions tied to the Quarry Hill consolidation: SHPO (the State Historic Preservation Office) has reviewed the archaeological survey and the Air Force proposes a memorandum of agreement that would require a Level 2 HABS/HAER survey for buildings slated for demolition and a monitoring plan for ground-disturbing work, including measures to identify deeper stratified paleontological remains. Staff also noted a supplemental program comment for ammunition-storage facilities exists but contains classified information; the advisory council on historic preservation confirmed the document exists but classified portions were withheld from the public record.
Lawler also announced the installation received a $50,000 grant to survey approximately 51 acres at Birch Lake next summer. He said he will circulate the scope of work used to win the grant and that the commission and federally recognized tribes will have the opportunity to comment before a contractor is selected.
Joshua Millard, the fighter wing historian, introduced himself and offered to answer historical questions related to his role. Commissioners thanked the presenters for the opportunity to participate and asked staff to provide the base’s draft MOA sections and any photographs or documentation for commission review.
Lawler said work is progressing slowly and that the government-to-government consultation will provide multiple opportunities for input as the environmental-assessment process advances. No formal action was taken at this meeting.
