H.B. 2607 Summary

• Requires the State Historic Preservation Division to compile and maintain a list of approved archaeologists to ensure quality and integrity of archaeological services contracted by developers.

• Mandates that archaeologists on the approved list must submit qualifications to the state historic preservation officer, with island burial councils reviewing applicants annually.

• Requires landowners to provide archaeological inventory surveys identifying historic properties, aviation artifacts, and burial sites before the department begins review of development projects.

• Prohibits exempting projects on previously or currently built lands from archaeological inventory survey requirements.

• Restricts professional archaeological services in the historic preservation process to only those archaeologists included on the department's approved list.