2023 Delaware Code › Title 7 - Conservation › Chapter 53. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN THE STATE › Subchapter II. Archaeological Resources in or on State Lands › § 5307. Restriction or closure of public access.

§ 5307. Restriction or closure of public access.
(a) The Division may temporarily restrict or close public access to any archaeological resource and its surrounding location or context in or on State lands, including subaqueous lands, and including public beaches notwithstanding the jurisdictional provisions of § 6803 of this title, whenever:
(1) In the judgment of the Director a condition constituting an imminent threat to an archaeological resource exists, which may cause harm to the qualities that make the resource of archaeological interest. Such threats may be due to the effects of natural forces or human intervention;
(2) The Director finds that an archaeological investigation is needed to determine if a resource is of archaeological interest; and/or
(3) The Director has issued a permit for archaeological investigation of an archaeological resource under § 5309 of this title, or the Division is conducting an archaeological investigation of an archaeological resource.
(b) The Director shall consult with the state land managing agency with jurisdiction over the lands in or on which the archaeological resource is located to define:
the area to be restricted or closed; the anticipated period of the restriction or closure; how the restriction or closure will be posted to provide public notice; how the restriction or closure will be monitored or enforced; and, if the restriction or closure occurs pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the steps that the Director and the other state land managing agency must take to alleviate the threat to the archaeological resource.
(c) The period of a restriction or closure under this section may not exceed 90 days, unless occurring pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, in which case the period of the restriction or closure is the term of the permit. The Director may, with the approval of the Secretary of State, extend a period of restriction or closure.
(1) The Director shall first consult with the state land managing agency in or on which the archaeological resource is located, as to the need for extending the period; and
(2) When occurring pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the Director shall hold a public hearing; the Director shall take into account the comments provided at the public hearing, and within 15 days notify local governments and the public of the Director's decision on whether or not to extend the restriction or closure of access. The Director shall publish that decision in a daily newspaper of statewide circulation and in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the restriction or closure will occur.
(d) The Director may, with the approval of the Secretary of State, indefinitely restrict access to and recovery of certain shipwrecks to which the State holds title or terrestrial sites in or on state lands that have particular archaeological and/or environmental values.
(e) The Director may permit public access to certain shipwrecks to which the State holds title with appropriate restrictions to protect their archaeological and/or environmental values.
(f) Any person whose interest is substantially affected may appeal a decision of the Division made pursuant to this subsection regarding access to an archaeological resource. The appeal must be made to the Secretary, and filed with the Secretary within 60 days from the issuance of the Division's decision. The appeal must be conducted in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, § 10101 et seq. of Title 29. If an appellant exhausts all administrative remedies, the appellant is entitled to judicial review in accordance with subchapter V of the Administrative Procedures Act [§ 10141 et seq. of Title 29].
75 Del. Laws, c. 153, §  2;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;