PORT ANGELES — Some kind of protected federal status could be possible for the state Department of Transportation’s former graving yard site.
But that discussion is premature, says a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks.
“That’s down the road,” said George Behan on Wednesday afternoon.
“The congressman expects both sides to keep trying to look for a solution.
“Then if they come to us and ask, we will pursue it. But he says that’s not on the table now.”
The state Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that it was abandoning construction of the Marine Drive graving yard project.
Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald cited the unexpected discovery of hundreds of skeletal remains and thousands of artifacts, and the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe’s Dec. 10 request to stop all excavation at the site.
Tuesday’s announcement leaves the future of the 22.5-acre site unresolved.
