§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 they learn or are told by a qualified historic or archaeological authority that a federal construction or licensed project might destroy important scientific, prehistoric, historical, or archaeological data. The agency must give project details. The agency can ask the Secretary to do surveys, recover and protect the data, and study and publish the findings, or the agency can use its project funds to do those tasks. Reports must be sent to the Secretary, who will make them public. If a federal agency gives money to private or public parties and the Secretary finds data at risk, the Secretary may, with specific funds and the owners’ consent, survey and recover or protect the data. Unless a different written agreement exists, the Secretary must pay anyone harmed by construction delays or temporary loss of use of private or other nonfederal land.