Project Origins Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) requires federal agencies to consider the effects that construction projects might have on historic properties.

‍

The Double E Project requested permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to construct and operate a pipeline, which required Section 106 review.

‍

SEARCH archaeologists were contracted in 2018-19 to conduct a survey that identified archaeological sites throughout the Permian Basin[MP4] . Based on the results of the survey, the archaeological sites demonstrated the potential to answer research questions that can tell us more about the history of the region. After consultation with federal and state agencies, as well as federally-recognized Native American tribes, several of the archaeological sites were recommended eligible for listing on the National Register of Historical Places (NRHP). The NRHP is list of historic places considered worthy of preservation based on a set of criteria.

‍

The 2021 research was required by federal law because the construction plans for the Double E Project could not avoid affecting archaeological sites eligible for listing on the NRHP.