§312503 Survey and Recovery by Secretary

Summary

When a federal or state agency or a qualified historic or archaeological group tells the Secretary in writing that important scientific, prehistoric, historic, or archaeological information is being or might be destroyed by a federal, federally assisted, or licensed project, the Secretary must act. If the Secretary agrees the information is important and at risk, and after giving reasonable notice to the agency that funds or licenses the project, the Secretary must investigate the area and arrange to recover and protect the information, including analyzing and publishing it. No survey or recovery is required if the head of the responsible agency says it would interfere with emergency work, including work before or after a natural disaster. The Secretary must begin the survey or recovery within 60 days of the written notice unless a different time is agreed with the agency head. Unless there is a written agreement saying otherwise, the Secretary must pay any person, group, or public body harmed by construction delays or by temporary loss of use of private or nonfederal land.