Cultural resources & archaeology

Coordinate the documentation needs with your CRS. During design, the CRS will determine the project’s impacts and work with consulting parties to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts. The Section 106 consultation must be complete for NEPA to be complete.

Prepare an Unanticipated Discovery Plan

If your project involves ground disturbance, you must contact your Cultural Resource Specialist for an Unanticipated Discovery Plan (DOCX 31KB) (also known as an Inadvertent Discovery Plan or a Post-Review Discovery Plan). The UDP tells construction staff what to do if there is an unanticipated discovery of archaeological or historic resource.  

Add cultural resources provisions to the contract

If reconnaissance studies indicate there is a probability of finding cultural material on your project site of a type that will require monitoring, include the General Special Provisions for Discovery of Archaeological and Historic Resources (PDF 16KB) in the contract.

Manuals

Environmental Manual Chapter 456: Cultural Resources (PDF 527KB)

Tools & templates

Section 106 Process Flowchart (PDF 147KB)  – Overview of the Section 106 process.

GEO 21-02 Process Flowchart (PDF 153KB) – Overview of the Washington State review process under Governor’s Executive Order (GEO) 21-02.

Programmatic agreement (PDF 1.3MB) – Find the exemption stipulations for Section 106 and GEO 21-02.

To identify historic bridges in the project area, check:

• Our historic state highways and bridges in Washington state
• The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) List of Nationally and Exceptionally Significant Features of the Federal Interstate Highway System
• FHWA Common Post-1945 Concrete and Steel Bridges in Washington

General Special Provisions for Discovery of Archaeological and Historic Resources (PDF 16KB) -  Include these provisions in the contract if there may be cultural material in the project area that may require monitoring.

Training

Take the Cultural Resources Procedures and Policies course to learn to address cultural resource management issues on transportation projects and gain hands-on experience in the field. The training focuses on state and federal regulations and compliance procedures, the National Register of Historic Places, and alternative perspectives on values and significance. Enrollment is open to WSDOT staff with a need or desire to learn about cultural resources. Take the training every five years to stay up to date with laws and regulations.

To request customized training for your specific region, division, or mode, contact Roger Kiers, Roger.Kiers@wsdot.wa.gov.

Track & manage commitments

Environmental Manual Chapter 490: Tracking environmental commitments during design (PDF 208KB) - To track commitments.

Environmental Manual Chapter 590: Incorporating environmental commitments into contracts (PDF 343KB) - To manage commitments.

Commitment tracking system (CTS) web application - Track and manage environmental commitments. Find instructions on how to use CTS on the CTS help menu.

Regional & modal Cultural Resource Specialists

Northwest Region

Jason Cooper
Jason.Cooper@wsdot.wa.gov
206-487-0604

North Central, South Central, and Eastern Regions

Dean Weaver
Dean.Weaver@wsdot.wa.gov
509-209-3287

Southwest Region

Abby Judkins
Abigail.Judkins@wsdot.wa.gov
564-669-9995

Olympic Region

James Brown
James.Brown@wsdot.wa.gov
360-701-7575

Megaprograms Office

Cassie Manetas
Cassandra.Manetas@wsdot.wa.gov
206-714-7158

Local Programs Office

Trent de Boer
Trent.Deboer@wsdot.wa.gov
360-705-7879

Washington State Ferries, Rails and Aviation

Mark Steinkraus
Mark.Steinkraus@wsdot.wa.gov
360-742-1215

Headquarters

Archaeology, policies, agreements, interagency coordination

Roger Kiers
Program Supervisor
Roger.Kiers@wsdot.wa.gov
360-485-7255

Historic bridges and architecture

Kelsey Matson
Historian
Kelsey.Matson@wsdot.wa.gov
564-999-3885

Archaeology & cultural resources training

Mark Steinkraus
Mark.Steinkraus@wsdot.wa.gov
360-742-1215