Today’s session on BEAD funding regulations by the Office of Broadband Development focused on…

Session provides an overview of Minnesota’s two primary statutes governing archaeological resources: the Private Cemeteries Act (Minnesota Statute 307.08) and the Field Archaeology Act (Minnesota Statute 138.31-42); a discussion on licensing, including qualifications needed to work in Minnesota; and a consultation with MIAC regarding American Indian cemetery sites, the licensing process, and work standards.

You can check out the session:

Links shared:

Link for the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) Portal: https://osaportal.gisdata.mn.gov/

For more information on SOI-quals: https://www.nps.gov/articles/sec-standards-prof-quals.htm

Applying for an Archaeology License: https://mn.gov/admin/archaeologist/professional-archaeologists/manuals-licenses/

OSA’s Manual for Archaeological Projects in Minnesota: https://mn.gov/admin/assets/OSAmanual_tcm36-186982.pdf

Curation of Archaeological Collections: https://www.mnhs.org/library/learn/collections/archaeology/curation

Or the PPT slides:

Here are the questions:

What about drones or Geophysical work? Do I need a license for that?
Yes. Typically a phase 1 survey. Same with underwater work.
The forms will ask about the technology you will be using.

What is the license approval timeline?
It depends. It helps to have all of the info at the onset.
The goal was a week timeline but these large projects take longer to review. And there’s a steep learning curve for folks who haven’t applied for approval in the past. Also, we are getting much busier.
We are working on a tracking system so that applicants can see where the application is in the process.

When working on a project, what is going to alert you that you will need to go through this process?
If you’re working on public non-federal land. you will need to know who owns the land throughout the project.

I’m sorry if you covered this but what about road right of ways? MnDOT or township
If it’s public land and you’ll need a license. And keep an eye out for utilities. Do a utilities locate.
You’ll want to contact MNDOT.

In the past, there have been times when we’ve submitted Cultural survey reports for review to MIAC and OSA, but did not receive a response. Is there a standard process/timeline for what we should expect to see after project submission? Is there a timeline for when the project can move forward if no comments are received?
With OSA – we are understaffed. We spot check reports. We can’t review every report we get. You may or may not get comments back. If you don’t hear from us, we didn’t find a problem.
With MIAC – understaffed. If we don’t see a problem, we won’t respond.

Follow up: Is there a timeline that we know the report is clear and construction can start? 30 days?
If no cemetery sites, it’s 30 days – 45 with a cemetery. 90 days if it specifically cemetery work.