2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 22. Libraries, Arts, and Antiquities › Chapter 3. Antiquities › Part 4. Antiquities › 22-3-429. Requests for consultation -- public notice -- appeal of findings

22-3-429. Requests for consultation -- public notice -- appeal of findings.
(1) A federal or state entity that acts upon a proposed federal or state action or an application for a federal, state, or local permit, license, lease, or funding may request the views of the historic preservation officer concerning:
(a) the recommended eligibility for a register listing of any heritage property or paleontological remains;
(b) the effects of a proposed action, activity, or undertaking on heritage property or remains that are found to be eligible for register listing; and
(c) the appropriateness of a proposed plan for the avoidance or mitigation of effects.
(2) A request for comment pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 470f may be made simultaneously with a request pursuant to subsection (1). The historic preservation officer shall respond in writing to a request within 30 calendar days of receiving the request and shall address each property in the request and each topic of the request. In the event that an agency requests simultaneous consultation for two or more criteria under this section, the agency and historic preservation officer may extend the 30-day review period by mutual agreement. If the historic preservation officer fails to comment within that time, that failure is construed as concurrence with the agency's recommendation. In the event of failure to comment on a specific undertaking, the historic preservation officer may not change a finding for a heritage property at a later date.
(3) If the proposed finding is that a heritage property or paleontological remains are involved and that a proposed activity will have an adverse impact on the property or remains, the proposed finding must address all properties or remains involved and describe the characteristics that illustrate the qualities that make the property or remains eligible for inclusion in the register. If the proposed finding includes a conclusion that a property or remains may be eligible but additional information or study is needed to reach an eligibility finding, the finding must specify the type and amount of information required in accordance with standards and guidelines as provided in 22-3-428.
(4) At the time that the state or federal agency requests the views of the historic preservation officer as provided in subsection (1), the agency shall provide notice to the applicant, affected property owners, and other interested persons of the request for consultation and shall identify locations where the submitted materials may be reviewed.
(5) The applicant and any affected property owners have 20 days in which to appeal the historic preservation officer's finding to the director. The appeal notice must include a written statement of reasons for the appeal and any additional supporting information.
(6) The director of the historical society shall issue a final finding within 30 days of the expiration of the 20-day appeal period provided for under subsection (5). The issuance of this finding does not limit the rights of any applicant or affected property owner to challenge a finding under an existing federal law, regulation, or regulatory or administrative process.
(7) If the applicant or an affected property owner is not satisfied with the finding of the director of the historical society concerning the eligibility of the property or remains for listing in the register or a finding of adverse effect to the property, the entity or property owner may appeal the finding to the district court in a county in which affected property is located. Appeal may be taken by filing a petition with the district court citing the decision by the director of the historical society and the evidence upon which the director relied. On appeal, the district court may consider any documents supporting or not supporting the finding, the written comments received by the director of the historical society, and any additional evidence that may be submitted to the court. The district court may substitute its judgment for the judgment of the director of the historical society as to the weight of the evidence.
(8) A state agency may not require a historical or archaeological survey as a condition of applying for or receiving a state or local permit, license, lease, or funding for a project to reconstruct or maintain an irrigation ditch or appurtenant structures or equipment when the ditch or appurtenant structures or equipment are in use or have been in use within the past 10 years, if the reconstruction or maintenance will occur within the existing ditch easement and if the project is not on land owned by the state.
History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 343, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 120, Ch. 42, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 148, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 535, L. 2021.