The identification and preservation of our state's cultural resource heritage is a priority for the Environmental Planning Group.
Cultural resources is a broad term to include archaeological resources and historic sites.
Each highway project involves a cultural resource assessment which includes a records search and on-site surveys to identify possible sites. If sites are found, mitigation involves avoidance or data recovery, such as in the photo to the left. Consultation is made with the State Historic Preservation Office, Native American Groups, and land resource agencies to make sure that findings and conclusions satisfy local and federal laws, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The primary documents involved with cultural resource assessment include the Cultural Resources Assessment Form , which states preliminary findings, actual survey reports which document findings from on-site surveys, and Memorandum of Agreements , which document specific mitigation measures for sites that cannot be avoided. The Guidelines in the right-hand column provide information to help archaeologists conduct cultural resources investigations that meet state and federal law and regulations.