PC-22-07B: Maritime Heritage of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Description

Congress is considering amending the OCS Lands Act to authorize wind energy and marine minerals activities offshore U.S. Territories (see S. 3214; H.R. 1689). If this amendment is approved, it will be critical to have baseline information on underwater historic properties and develop consultation practices with local indigenous communities to support BOEM’s obligations under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Developing an inventory of historic properties and establishing trust relationships with local indigenous leaders requires a significant amount of lead time, which must occur well in advance of NEPA and NHPA regulatory timeframes. Baseline desktop cultural resource studies and updates have been completed for the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Gulf of Mexico OCS, Hawaii, and Pacific OCS. The information resulting from these studies has been crucial for BOEM’s consultations under the NHPA section 106 NEPA. The U.S. Pacific island territories have an extensive maritime history, dating back thousands of years. The islands and surrounding waters also saw substantial military activity during World War II, including the Battles of Saipan and Guam. As a result, potentially hundreds of underwater cultural heritage sites, as well as unexploded ordnance sites, may be located around these islands. Currently, a synthesized, baseline dataset of potential underwater cultural heritage sites is not available for the U.S. Pacific island territories. Additionally, BOEM has no experience working with Indigenous communities in these territories. Identifying protocols for consultation with these communities will be a critical first step for meaningful and respectful engagement. Information acquired from this proposed study will support the U.S. strategy for mapping and exploring its Exclusive Economic Zone.The objective of this study is to acquire and synthesize archival data on submerged and terrestrial archaeological resources and traditional cultural properties that could be affected by offshore leasing activities. This study will compile baseline information and identify best practices for consultation with Indigenous communities in support of NHPA consultation and NEPA analysis to support BOEM’s decision-making.

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