SANDUSKY — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will accept public comment through March 28 on how it should handle Native American artifacts found at the site of a proposed shopping center.

A Home Depot and other stores are slated to be built on a roughly 80-acre area on U.S. 250, north of State Rt. 2 and just south of Sandusky in Erie County. Artifacts including stone bits, tools, and projectile points were found last summer at the site, delaying construction.

Mike Montone, a project manager for the corps' district office in Buffalo, said the agency is talking about the site with 38 federally recognized Native American tribes “that historically have a connection with the area.”

Archaeologists are to resume excavating the site for 90 days this spring.

Public comments may be sent to the corps at 1776 Niagara St., Buffalo, N.Y., 14207-3199, to the attention of Mr. Montone. A copy of the recently published public notice for the project is available at the Sandusky Library.

First Published March 19, 2003, 3:02 p.m.