2020
State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) reduces the protected acreage surrounding the Burro Flats Painted Cave as it did not quality as a “recognized” cultural artifact.
NASA Draft SEIS 3.1.1.3.1 Burro Flats Site (CA-VEN-1072) “Researchers have since suggested that the 1976 boundary of the site does not adequately reflect the number, density, and distribution of loci associated with the site. An updated nomination includes four additional loci and reduces the overall site footprint from 25.02 acres to 11.74 acres… updated nomination is currently under review with the California Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO).
NASA nominates the entire 2,850 acres of the Santa Susana Field Lab as a “cultural district” to the National Registry of Historic Places without first completing their 2010 comprehensive cleanup obligations.
United States Department of the Interior: NASA’s “Burro Flats Cultural District” Application to the National Registry of Historic Places.
2019
The Santa Ynez band of Chumash request to acquire NASA’s portion of the SSFL is still pending.
In the Bureau of Indian Affairs letter to NASA, November 27, 2019, Santa Ynez Chumash Chair wrote, “The request for excess property by tribe/interior is still pending.” (NASA final SEIS Appendix compiling public comments, pdf page 43)
2017
Boeing’s Land Easement Limits Indigenous Activity
Boeing donated their portion of the Santa Susana Field Lab to the North American Land Trust, saying this would make the land more accessible to local native tribes, including the Gabrieleno Tongva, Chumash, and the Fernandeño Tataviam, but restrictions on the land use would prohibit indigenous people from many cultural and/or religious activities at the site.
No overnight stays.
No structures are allowed for housing or camping or any type.
No hunting or gathering.
No fishing.
No smudging or basket weaving with onsite biological material.
No drinking or use of the water (ground, surface, etc.)
2016
A proposed appropriations bill shows how NASA instends to use the NRHP nomination and the AOC Cultural Exceptions to break all of their cleanup obligations.
From a 2016 proposed Appropriations bill (page 112). “To the maximum extent practicable, NASA shall include all Traditional Cultural Properties and Landscapes as Native American artifacts that are ‘formally recognized’ as cultural resources, for the purposes of the Administrative Order [AOC cleanup agreement].”
In other words, once NASA can get the entire SSFL on the National Registry as a cultural district, they can use the AOC cleanup exemptions on the entire 2,850 acres of the Santa Susana Field Lab, completely evading the cleanup.
2012
In December 2012, NASA received notice from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians of the tribe’s designation of land, including NASA-administered areas of SSFL, as an Indian Sacred Site (Executive Order 13007, “Indian Sacred Sites”), directs federal land managing agencies to accommodate access to, and ceremonial use of, Indian sacred sites by Indian religious practitioners and to avoid adversely affecting the physical integrity of such sacred sites.
For lands designated as sacred sites, agencies managing federal lands shall:
Accommodate access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites by Indian religious practitioners and
Avoid adversely affecting the physical integrity of such sacred sites. Where appropriate, agencies shall maintain the confidentiality of sacred sites.
2010
The 2010 “AOC” cleanup agreements, written by physics Nobel Laureate Dr. Steven Chu, include “cultural exceptions” in order to protect all formally recognized artifacts.
The cleanup agreement that NASA signed (NASA AOC, page 43) has an exemption to protect all “formally recognized cultural artifacts.” That would include the painted cave, as well as any new discoveries such as burial remains, etc. But they must be “formally recognized” to be exempt from the cleanup. The items would be evaluated and categorized by accredited archeologist and ultimately, the California Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO).
Cultural Resources Identification Survey from the Department of Energy.
2009
NASA’s portion of the SSFL is declared “excess” federal property, allowing the transfer of the land to Native American tribes.
Ventura County Star: NASA declares its portion of the Santa Susana Field Lab “excess” federal property after the space shuttle program ended. NASA’s portion can now be transferred to a federally recognized tribe.
1995
Local tribes are allowed a visit to the Burro Flats Painted Cave, wish there was better security and public access.
Los Angeles Times: Local tribes are given the rare opportunity to visit the Burro Flats Painted Cave. Chief Eagle Eye said he would like Rocketdyne, which is a division of Rockwell International Corp., to give the rock-art site back to the Native Americans--or at least to the state parks department for better security and public access.
1976
The “Burro Flats Painted Cave” and 25 acres surrounding it were added to the National Registry of Historic Places.
National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP) gives additional protection to the site.
The Burro Flats Site was first systematically recorded in 1959 (Rozaire, 1959) and was resurveyed in 1972 by Franklin Fenenga (Fenenga, 1972). The boundary of the site was enlarged to 25.02 acres by the Ventura County Heritage Board in 1975 and was accepted by the National Park Service (NPS) and listed on the NRHP in May 1976. Researchers have since suggested that the 1976 boundary of the site does not adequately reflect the number, density, and distribution of loci associated with the site (Corbett et al., 2016a). An updated nomination includes four additional loci and reduces the overall site footprint from 25.02 acres to 11.74 acres, resulting from data gathered during pedestrian surveys (Corbett et al., 2013, 2016b) and the testing of loci boundaries in some locations (Corbett et al., 2016b). The updated nomination is currently under review with the California SHPO. NASA FEIS
"Indians Trying To Safeguard Cave Paintings of Ancestors: Mission Tribe Will Ask Rocketdyne To Enclose Historic Works in Glass for Protection Against Any Vandalism."
Los Angeles Times, 1971
1971
Local Tribes reconnect with their heritage at the Burro Flats Painted Cave.
Los Angeles Times The Mission Tribes asked NASA to protect the Burro Flats Painted Cave from erosion and vandalism by encasing the petroglyphs in glass. NASA rejected the request.