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http://www.sierraclub.org/policy/411.html
Sierra Club Policy: Archeological Sites
The following policy on Archeological Sites has been adopted by the Sierra Club
Board of Directors:
Archeological Sites
Archeological resources are the material result of past human activity. These
irreplaceable resources include, but are not limited to, artifacts, campsites,
villages, dwellings, earthworks, and rock art. These resources represent the
cultural heritage of humankind and are a legislatively recognized and protected
non-renewable component of the environment. The protection
and preservation of archeological resources should be considered a priority in
all actions taken or promoted by the Sierra Club.
Specifically, the Sierra Club advocates the following: 1. Protection of
Archeological Resources
All federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Land
Management, the U.S. Forest Services, and the National Park Service, should
refrain from any activity that would result in the disturbance or destruction
of significant archeological resources*.
[*Significant archeological resources are equivalent to saying that they are
eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Basically, this means
that these resources have the capability of yielding scientifically meaningful
information about the past people who created them.]
a. Federally funded, licensed, or permitted undertakings must take into
consideration any impacts on significant or potentially significant
archeological resources, in accordance with existing
federal laws and regulations (e.g., the National Historic Preservation Act and
the Archeological Resources Protection Act). All federal agencies must follow
the regulatory procedures designed to ensure the identification, evaluation,
and protection of significant archeological resources. Further, federal
agencies must abide by the mandate of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act
and federal administrative policies requiring consultation with Indian tribes
when their archeological resources are affected.
b. We applaud the states and Indian tribes that have also enacted legislation
providing for the evaluation and protection of significant archeological
resources on their lands and on projects they fund. We support the enforcement
of these laws and urge states and tribes that have not enacted such controls to
do so.
c. While laws and regulations are very important to cultural resource
protection, funding to accomplish these things is critical. We urge the
adequate funding of preservation and enforcement projects carried out under
federal, state, and tribal antiquities laws.
d. All environmental organizations and other groups that may come into contact
with archeological resources, such as outfitters and wilderness schools, should
carefully evaluate and monitor their activities, especially outings, to ensure
that they do not damage those resources.
e. We urge the Bureau of Land Management to cease its broadly destructive
process of vegetation
removal by chaining. The destruction of valuable archeological and natural
resources is not justified by the resultant rangeland creation.
2. Prevention of Vandalism and Looting of Archeological Resources on Public
Lands Agencies managing federal and state lands must pursue enforcement and
prosecution under existing laws.
a. Federal and state land agencies must increase their efforts to prevent
violations and to apprehend and prosecute violators. We strongly support the
intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies and public prosecutors to
eliminate looting and vandalism of archeological
resources.
b. Because a knowledge of the extent and nature of archeological resources is
necessary for
their management and protection, public land agencies must give a high priority
to inventory
and documentation. We urge Congress to provide the funding necessary for this
work. Such
inventory should be conducted under the auspices of professionally qualified
specialists, as
defined by the Society for Professional Archeologists or the Secretary of the
Interior.
c. The Sierra Club supports the enactment or strengthening of anti-looting and
anti-vandalism
laws where they are inadequate.
d. The Sierra Club supports public education concerning the destructive nature
of vandalism and looting.
e. The Sierra Club strongly endorses efforts by the American Association of
Museums, the International Committee of Museums, the Association of Art Museum
Directors, and UNESCO to curb the looting of sites and the transfer of
illegally or unethically obtained archeological materials.
3. Prevention of Vandalism and Looting of Archeological Resources on Private
Lands
The Sierra Club encourages the prohibition of looting and vandalism of
archeological resources
on private lands. This may be accomplished by tax incentives for landowners
(e.g., through
conservation easements), through purchase of such lands by federal or private
agencies, or by enacting federal or state legislation (such as is the case with
Mexico and Great Britain) protecting all archeological resources whether on
public or private lands.
4. Archeological Research in Wilderness Areas
Archeological resources within designated wilderness and wilderness study areas
must be
protected in accordance with federal law. Accordingly, professional
archeological research in such areas should be allowed, so long as it results
in no long-term or irreparable impacts to
wilderness attributes.
a. Professional archeological research within wilderness areas should be
permitted when
and where it has been approved under existing federal permitting procedures.
b. Archeological excavations in wilderness areas should be small and
inconspicuous (except where the archeological resources would be destroyed by
natural forces) and should employ techniques that minimize impacts on the
surrounding environment and that, to the maximum extent possible, return the
site to its previous, natural state. As with all wilderness activities, actions
need to be consistent with wilderness management. No surface disturbance shall
be allowed where wilderness values outweigh the archeological values.
5. International Archeological Protection
The Sierra Club supports and encourages the enactment of legislation and
funding of actions
that promote the preservation and protection of archeological resources
throughout the world.
a. All nations should recognize, preserve and protect their archeological
heritage.
b. All governments should support international efforts to eliminate
international trade and
exchange of illegally acquired antiquities and archeological remains.
c. All nations should avoid activities at home or abroad that will result in
adverse impacts on
significant archeological resources.
Adopted November 11-12, 1989
[The policy on archeological resources in wilderness areas of February 14-15,
1970, is replaced by Section 4 above.]
Policy Code 6.6.1
Sierra Club, 730 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109, USA. Telephone
+1-415-776-2211 (voice), +1-415-776-0350 (FAX).
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