A new report from a Washington legislative committee blasts the state's handling of a major tribal village.

The report, prepared by an outside firm, says the Department of Transportation rushed into a bridge project without conducting a thorough analysis of the site. It turned out to be a major village of the Lower Elhwa Klallam Tribe.

Thousands of artifacts and hundreds of ancestors were eventually uncovered at Tse-Whit-Zen Village. The state dropped construction at the site at a cost of $87 million.

The state released its own critical report last month on the handling of the village.

Get the Story:
Agency blasted on canal bridge project (AP 6/6)
Transportation boss responds to graving audit (The Peninsula Daily News 6/6)
News analysis: Latest graving yard report full of hindsight (The Peninsula Daily News 6/4)

Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee Report:
Review of Port Angeles Graving Dock Project (June 2, 2006)

State Department of Transportation Report:
Hood Canal Bridge Graving Dock (May 2006)

Relevant Links:
Tse-Whit-Zen Village News - http://tse-whit-zen.elwha.nsn.us
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - http://www.elwha.org
Washington State Department of Transportation - http://www.wsdot.wa.gov

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