Environmental Compliance Branch of Environmental Assessment (BEA)

Executive Order 13007 - Indian Sacred Sites

Executive Order 13007, “Indian Sacred Sites” (61 FR 26771-26772 (1996)), 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. Because the Minerals Management Service manages the mineral resources of the Outer Continental Shelf, our management actions do not directly affect Indian sacred sites. However, we recognize that our actions could indirectly affect the physical integrity or ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites located on federal lands. On June 26, 1998, the BOEM Director signed a statement of BOEM’s basic policy and procedures to ensure full compliance with the intent of E.O. 13007.