§312502 Threat of irreparable loss or destruction of significant scientific, prehistorical, historical, or archeological data by Federal construction projects

Summary

Federal agencies must tell the Secretary in writing if a federal construction project or a federally licensed activity might cause permanent loss or damage to important scientific, prehistoric, historic, or archaeological information. The agency must give the Secretary details about the project. The agency can ask the Secretary to find, record, and protect the information (including surveys, investigations, study, and publishing the results), or the agency can use its project money to do that work. Copies of any investigation reports must be given to the Secretary, who will make them available to the public. When a federal agency gives money (like a loan or grant) to a private person, group, or public body and the Secretary thinks important data might be lost, the Secretary may, using money set aside for that purpose and only with the consent of everyone who has legal rights to the property, survey the site and recover and protect the information. The Secretary must pay anyone harmed by construction delays or by losing temporary use of private or nonfederally owned land, unless there is a written agreement saying otherwise.