[TL-Directors] NARA Seattle Closure/Relocation GSA Listening Session

Mon Mar 30 13:43:27 PDT 2026

In case you were unable to attend the last minute meeting, here are some notes about it from Puyallup Tribe.

Cheers!
Buzzy

From: nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com<mailto:nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com> nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com<mailto:nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Amber Taylor
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2026 11:50 AM
To: 'nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com' nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com<mailto:nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com>
Subject: [NACR_NWA] Update on NARA/GSA Meeting

Good Day,

I thought I would send a recap for those who were not able to attend the GSA/NARA Tribal Listening Session earlier this week. Apologies in advance for the very long email.

In the meeting it became very clear that proper notification was not provided to Tribes that are impacted by this move. This was the first listening session and I believe we only had 1 or 2 council members in attendance. They did not have attendees introduce themselves unless they spoke during the meeting. I attended virtually, 3 of our staff were on the call from the Puyallup Tribe's Historic Preservation. I really hope they didn't perceive this as true Government to Government consultation as appropriate notice was not provided and our leadership(s) are very busy and operate uniquely from one another as sovereign nations (as pointed out by Selena Ortega-Chiolero in the meeting).

This is what we learned:

Proposed Site: Federal Center South, North Parking Lot (Current GSA location in South Seattle)
New Facility approx.. 53,000sq ft with approx. 18,000 sq ft of support & office space. To include visitor area, processing space, research rooms, digitization space, public access areas, and loading dock... NEW space will include space for use by Tribal Nations.

Significant Milestones:

March 2026: Issue sonification for architecture and engineering services
March 2026: Tribal engagement meeting
May 2026: Complete phase 1 environmental site assessment
June 2026: Architecture & engineering services award
October 2026: Complete Program of Requirements (POR)
April 2027: Final Concept approved
April 2028: Complete construction design documents
March 2029: Receipt of construction funding (estimate, if funded)
December 2029: Construction Award (if funded)
December 2031: Substantial Completion (if funded)

Funding:

FY 2024: Funding received for design services
FY 2026: Partial funding received for construction type services
Additional construction funding will be requested for the FY 2029 Budget.

NARA Seattle will continue to stay operational until it's time to move into the new facility. GSA facilities are built for a 50 yr lifetime although most are in use much longer. Attendees stressed the need to communicate better & requested local NARA staff be involved in the planning as they know the records, the region and the research needs. They stated there would be another planned listening session along with quarterly newsletters to the tribes to keep everyone apprised on this project.

The one thing I found interesting was the lack of push to keep the current facility. Those of us that have spent time researching and getting to know the NARA staff understand that the building is insufficient. We were all glad to know the intention is to keep the records in the region rather than shipping them halfway across the country.

Amber N. Taylor
Assistant Director/Collections Manager
Historic Preservation Department
Desk: 253-573-7907
Cell: 253-306-4585

From: NIELSEN Buzzy * SLO <buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 11:44 AM
To: Tribal Library Directors announcement list (tl-directors at omls.oregon.gov) <tl-directors at omls.oregon.gov>; Briece Edwards <briece.edwards at grandronde.org>; Kelsey Bosch <kelsey.bosch at grandronde.org>
Subject: FW: NARA Seattle Closure/Relocation GSA Listening Session

Hi folks,

Apologies if you already received this from elsewhere, but I wanted to forward the attached notice about a listening session tomorrow for Tribes about the closure/relocation of the National Archives and Records Administration building in Seattle. A message is also included below for background. The NARA Seattle facility holds a lot of documents important to Tribes.

Cheers!

Buzzy Nielsen, MPP, MSI (he/him/his)
Tribal Liaison and Program Manager for Library Support
State Library of Oregon
buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3486 (text ok)
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>

[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>

From: nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com<mailto:nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com> <nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com<mailto:nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com>> On Behalf Of Amber Taylor
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2026 11:09 AM
To: 'nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com<mailto:nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com>' <nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com<mailto:nacr_nwa at googlegroups.com>>
Subject: [NACR_NWA] RE: NARA Seattle Closure/Relocation GSA Listening Session

Good Day,

I wanted to bring this to the groups attention. It appears that GSA is planning a relocation of the NARA Seattle facility & records. We did not receive notice until last Thursday, many of the Tribal archives & museums throughout Puget Sound have not received notice either. I wanted to ensure anyone with interest in the records held at the Sand Point facility in Seattle has an opportunity to attend (in-person/virtual) this listening session, Wednesday 3/25 10-12 PST.

Background: In late 2020, the Trump Administration deemed NARA Seattle as surplus property and began the discussion of the closure and sale of the facility, along with 9 other properties throughout the nation. This was the only facility that was in active use. Tribes who would be directly impacted by this relocation of records were not consulted on this matter. We had many concerns regarding this relocation and closure, sending highly important records to 2 locations: Riverside, CA and the Mid-West. The NARA facility in Alaska was closed in 2014 with records moving to Seattle and promises made to digitize the records for the Alaskan people, this has yet to happen! A coalition of Tribes brought this to the attention of the WA State AG (Ferguson) who filed suit in Federal Court and won, NARA stayed in Seattle. Now it would seem the GSA is planning to relocate NARA and yet again, there has been no consultation.

Please feel free to share with any contacts.

Signup link (also found in PDF)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-archives-seattle-listening-session-tickets-1982213338455?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sincerely,

Amber N. Taylor

Assistant Director/Collections Manager

Puyallup Tribe of Indians

Historic Preservation Department

Desk: 253-573-7907

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