Final decision on EIR Report for Rattlesnake Island to be Determined

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Batsulwin Brown
Phone: 707-349-2412
Email: bbrown [at] big-valley.net



Tuesday, September 6 · 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Lake County Board of Supervisors Chambers
255 North Forbes Street
Lakeport, California


LAKEPORT, CA -The final decision in whether or not to complete an ( EIR) Environmental Impact Report report for Rattlesnake Island will take place on Tuesday September 6th during a public hearing. Closing statements by both parties will be allowed and The Board of Supervisors will go into deliberation and make a final decision on John Nady’s appeal of the County Planning Commission decision to complete a EIR which calls for a focused study of the archaeological and cultural resources located on the Island.

Rattlesnake Island lies a few hundred feet offshore from the Elem Indian Colony, on the eastern end of Clear Lake. It is a burial grounds, village site and ceremonial grounds that has been the spiritual center of the Elem community of Southeastern Pomo for thousands of years. The island is teeming with diverse plant, animal and bird life, including many species that continue to be utilized by the Pomo. Archeologists have identified sites on Rattlesnake Island dating back as far as 14,000 years, some the earliest documented evidence of human occupation in this hemisphere.

The island was stolen from the Pomo in 1877, when it was deeded to settlers as private property in a supposed "clerical error". Ever since that time, the Elem Pomo have been fighting to regain traditional ownership of the land, and to halt various development projects. In 1970, Pomo people re-occupied Rattlesnake Island to prevent the Boise-Cascade Corporation from building luxury vacation houses on the ancient burial and settlement grounds – they were eventually removed by force. The entire area surrounding the Elem Indian Colony is an extremely toxic Superfund site, the location of an open-pit mercury mine that operated for over a hundred years and continues to contaminate the surrounding area, such that fish cannot be eaten and spring water cannot be drunk.

The Elem Pomo are asking for public support in attending the hearing in an effort to help protect this sacred land. Rides to the hearing are available (from limited locations). Please contact Gina Gomez at (707) 263-3924 x105. For more information and updates about efforts to Save the Island visit:
http://www.elemmodun.org/
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