20211248 Ver 1_031521 NCDOT COR Bridge 560222 Replacement Cherokee response_20210816

March 15, 2021

Jessica Earley
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1000 Birch Ridge Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610

Re: Bridge No. 560222 Replacement over Back Branch on SR 1151

Ms. Jessica Earley:

The Cherokee Nation (Nation) is in receipt of your correspondence about Bridge No. 560222
Replacement over Back Branch on SR 1151, and appreciates the opportunity to provide
comment upon this project. Please allow this letter to serve as the Nation’s interest in acting as a
consulting party to this proposed project.

The Nation maintains databases and records of cultural, historic, and pre-historic resources in this
area. Our Historic Preservation Office reviewed this project, cross referenced the project’s legal
description against our information, and found no instances where this project intersects or adjoins
such resources. Thus, the Nation does not foresee this project imparting impacts to Cherokee
cultural resources at this time.

However, the Nation requests that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
halt all project activities immediately and re-contact our Offices for further consultation if items
of cultural significance are discovered during the course of this project.

Additionally, the Nation requests that NCDOT conduct appropriate inquiries with other pertinent
Tribal and Historic Preservation Offices regarding historic and prehistoric resources not included
in the Nation’s databases or records.

If you require additional information or have any questions, please contact me at your convenience.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Wado,

Elizabeth Toombs, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
Cherokee Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office
[e-mail]
918.453.5389