Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60
§470hh Confidentiality of Information Concerning Nature and Location of Archaeological Resources
Title 16 › Chapter 1B— ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES PROTECTION › § 470hh
Summary
Keeps the exact place and details of archaeological sites that need a federal permit from being released to the public unless a federal land manager decides sharing them would help the law’s goals and would not put the sites or objects at risk. A State governor can ask in writing for that information. The request must name the site or area, explain why the information is needed, and promise to keep it secret and protect it from being sold or commercially used.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §470hh
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Information concerning the nature and location of any archaeological resource for which the excavation or removal requires a permit or other permission under this chapter or under any other provision of Federal law may not be made available to the public under subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5 or under any other provision of law unless the Federal land manager concerned determines that such disclosure would—
(1)further the purposes of this chapter or chapter 3125 of title 54, and
(2)not create a risk of harm to such resources or to the site at which such resources are located.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), upon the written request of the Governor of any State, which request shall state—
(1)the specific site or area for which information is sought,
(2)the purpose for which such information is sought,
(3)a commitment by the Governor to adequately protect the confidentiality of such information to protect the resource from commercial exploitation,
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2014—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–287, which directed substitution of “chapter 3125 of title 54” for “the Act of June 27, 1960 (16 U.S.C. 469–469c)” in subsec. (a)(2), was executed by making the substitution in subsec. (a)(1), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 470hh
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60