A Calipine-operated geothermal plant at The Geysers in California. Photo by Stepheng3 / Wikipedia

Officials in Lake County, California, approved a geothermal pipeline project after the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians agreed to a compromise to protect culturally important sites.

Calpine plans to construct a 2,626-foot steam pipeline at the Geysers. The site has been used by the Pomo, Wappo and Miwok tribes for thousands of years and the work would take place near a historic crossing point and hunting camp.

But Calpine balked at a county-imposed requirement to pay the tribe for monitoring services. The company plans to have its own archaeologist on the ground during construction, according to news reports.

After discussions with the county's planning commission, Calpine agreed to compromise to inform the tribe whenever artifacts or resources are uncovered. The tribe will be able to come to the site and work with the company's archaeologist.

" We're not here to stop the projects, we're here to preserve what we have left of our history that can be found,” Stephanie Reyes, the tribe's historic preservation officer, told the planning commission at a public meeting yesterday, The Lake County News reported.

The commission encouraged Calpine to enter into a separate agreement with the tribe after officials said they probably couldn't force the company to do so.

Get the Story:
Geothermal pipeline project approved; tribe raises concerns about cultural resources monitoring (The Lake County News 6/12)
Geysers pipeline project causes concern at planning commission (The Lake County Record-Bee 6/12)