08/11/2026
Section 106 Works!!!
The Project: In an effort to replace deficient bridges in Oklahoma, a bridge in Sequoyah County was identified as needing replacement. While the bridge itself was determined to not be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), an important NRHP-listed archaeological site occupied during the Late Archaic period (ca. 2000 to 300 B.C.) and during the Mississippian / Early Caddo (Harlan phase; ca A.D. 850 to 1200) periods was located near the bridge.
The 106 Process: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of projects they carry out, fund, or permit on historic properties prior to making final decisions on the projects. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funded the bridge replacement project through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). The landowner, Dan Hill, the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey (OAS), and the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) implementing measures to complete a geophysical survey, which identified six previously unknown buried archaeological features, and an archaeological recovery plan to excavate and analyze these features and the artifacts associated with them.
Section 106 Success: The Section 106 process allows for public participation in federally funded, licensed, or permitted actions. As such, Mr. Dan Hill could convey his concerns to the federal agency (and their delegate) pertaining to the prehistoric resources on his property. Furthermore, he was provided with the opportunity to serve as an invited signatory to the Memorandum of Agreement. Neither Mr. Hill’s concerns nor the presence of a significant NRHP listed prehistoric archaeological site prevented the project (the bridge replacement) from moving forward. The project was completed in 2025.