Does HB308 threaten historic preservation?

A proposal to move oversight of Utah's cultural resources has archaeologists concerned that historic treasures could be threatened.

HB308, which passed the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee Friday, would move oversight of most of the state's historic preservation management to the Division of Wildlife Resources, including the historic building register and Historical Quarterly. It would also give the division direct oversight over archaeological reviews of areas slated for development.

Currently, those duties are handled within the Division of State History, which serves as an advisory board regarding potential archaeological excavation to private and public land owners undertaking construction projects. Sponsoring Rep. Brad Johnson, R-Aurora, said that those advisory reviews generally stop projects without input from the affected parties, so by moving it to a different, independent department, better common ground can be found.

"We know there are places that need to be preserved," Johnson said. "I think that this will help them work out any problems."