The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is holding a meeting in Bethel on Monday to talk about how historical sites could be impacted by the proposed Donlin Gold project and what will happen if they are.
Archeological surveys begun in 2004 investigated the proposed mine site and transportation areas like runways, ports, and roads. However, limited investigation has been done into the proposed pipeline corridor. So far 70 cultural sites have been discovered, which range from artifacts to cabins to caves.
Tribes and entities who've been in discussion with the Army Corps on the proposed mine will have the opportunity to point out undocumented sites, and they will begin talking about what to do if the Donlin project is permitted and historical sites become disrupted or new ones are discovered. A similar meeting held last month in Anchorage focused on how the proposed pipeline could impact the Iditarod National Historic Trail.
The Bethel meeting is Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cultural Center.
This story has been modified to reflect that the meeting's intended audience is the tribes and entities serving as consulting agencies on the proposed Donlin project.
