JOEL - The Smithsonian's 1996 nine-point detailed statement, part of which you quote above, has been challenged by many (See here for example), and as a result in 1998 they started to only send out the following form response:
"Your recent inquiry concerning the Smithsonian Institution's alleged use of the Book of Mormon as a scientific guide has been received in the Smithsonian's Department of Anthropology. The Book of Mormon is a religious document and not a scientific guide. The Smithsonian Institution has never used it in archeological research and any information that you may have received to the contrary is incorrect. Your interest in the Smithsonian Institution is appreciated." (See here)
Because of the challenges that have been made to the poor scientific methodology and weakly supported assumptions found in their nine-point "Statement Regarding the Book of Mormon", they no longer include this document in their correspondence. The Smithsonian has also issued a statement doubting the authenticity of the Genesis account of the flood, where they say: "thus far, after literally hundreds of archeological excavations at different times in the Near East, no all-encompassing flood stratum has ever been found" (See here)
I still have faith that the flood did happen as the Bible says, despite what they say, as do most other Christians. Their statements are exactly what I would expect from a scientific institution. But a religion does not base its beliefs on scientifically proven facts as the Smithsonian does. I am also a scientist who relies quite heavilly on scientific data to back up my claims. But my belief and testimony of the Book of Mormon(and the Bible) is not based on scientific proofs, but rather on the spiritual evidence I obtain through obedience to its teachings, faith, prayer, and confirmation of its truthfulness from the Holy Ghost. But if you really need some archeaological evidence on the Book of Mormon please check the links on this web page