ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository

Arizona Mining Permitting Guide
Federal Lands - Cultural Resources BLM/FS - Continued
Where cultural resources are found to be within the area of potential effect, the BLM/FS will
need to consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer to determine the significance of
the cultural resources involved and the adequacy of the measures proposed to mitigate the
impacts of proposed mining activities. If the proposed project is highly complex or
controversial, or will result in adverse effects to the cultural resources, the BLM/FS may also
need to consult with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
In nearly all cases, the BLM/FS will need to consult with American Indian Tribes to
determine whether there are any places of traditional cultural importance to them that might
be affected by proposed operations, to determine the significance of such places, and how
potential impacts on those places should be mitigated.
If any Native American human remains or objects buried with them are discovered during a
survey, prior to approval of a mining plan, the BLM/FS must consult with affiliated Indian
tribes regarding the treatment and disposition of any such remains that may be impacted by
proposed mining operations. If any Native American human remains or objects buried with
them are discovered inadvertently after mining operations have begun, whether under a plan
or a notice, the operator must immediately stop activities in the area of the discovery, take
steps to protect the remains, and notify the BLM/FS of the discovery. Should human remains
be recovered as a result of any mitigative effort or discovery, their treatment and disposition
will be determined and carried out according to a plan prepared by BLM/FS.
FEES:
No fee is required for obtaining Cultural Resource Use Permits for lands administered by
BLM. Cultural Resource Use Permits on lands administered by the FS are fee permits.
Contact the FS for fee information. The operator will normally be required to pay all costs of
cultural resource survey and mitigation, including reburial of human remains.
AVERAGE PROCESSING TIME:
A Cultural Resource Use Permit for archaeological survey is usually issued within one week
of receiving a complete application.
A Cultural Resource Use Permit for archaeological testing or excavation (data recovery)
cannot be issued until any consultation that may be needed with the State Historic
Preservation Officer, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the effected American
Indian Tribe has been completed by the BLM/FS. Once the BLM/FS has completed the
necessary consultation and approved the mitigation plan for cultural resources that will be
affected by proposed operations, a Cultural Resource Use Permit for archaeological testing or
excavation is usually issued within one week of receiving a complete application.
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