# RCW 27.53.080: RCW 27.53.080: Archaeological activities upon public lands—Entry—Agreement—Approval of activities—Information regarding results of studies and activities

> Washington · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S080

## Section

- **Citation:** RCW 27.53.080
- **Heading:** RCW 27.53.080: Archaeological activities upon public lands—Entry—Agreement—Approval of activities—Information regarding results of studies and activities
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Code / Title 27 / Chapter 53 / Section 080

## Text

(1) *Qualified or professional archaeologists, in performance of their duties, may enter upon public lands of the state of Washington and its political subdivisions after first notifying the entity responsible for managing those public lands, at such times and in such manner as not to interfere with the normal management thereof, for the purposes of doing archaeological resource location and evaluation studies, including site sampling activities. The results of such studies shall be provided to the state agency or political subdivision responsible for such lands and the department and are confidential unless the director, in writing, declares otherwise. Scientific excavations are to be carried out only after appropriate agreement has been made between a professional archaeologist or an institution of higher education and the agency or political subdivision responsible for such lands. A copy of such agreement shall be filed with the department. (2) Amateur societies may engage in such activities by submitting and having approved by the responsible agency or political subdivision a written proposal detailing the scope and duration of the activity. Before approval, a proposal from an amateur society shall be submitted to the department for review and recommendation. The approving agency or political subdivision shall impose conditions on the scope and duration of the proposed activity necessary to protect the archaeological resources and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The findings and results of activities authorized under this section shall be made known to the approving agency or political subdivision approving the activities and to the department.

## Nearby sections

- [RCW 27.53.010 RCW 27.53.010: Declaration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S010.md)
- [RCW 27.53.020 RCW 27.53.020: Archaeological resource preservation—Designation of department of archaeology and historic preservation—Cooperation among agencies.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S020.md)
- [RCW 27.53.030 RCW 27.53.030: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S030.md)
- [RCW 27.53.040 RCW 27.53.040: Archaeological resources—Declaration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S040.md)
- [RCW 27.53.045 RCW 27.53.045: Abandoned archaeological resources—Declaration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S045.md)
- [RCW 27.53.060 RCW 27.53.060: Disturbing archaeological resource or site—Permit required—Conditions—Exceptions—Penalty.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S060.md)
- [RCW 27.53.070 RCW 27.53.070: Field investigations—Communication of site or resource location to department.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S070.md)
- [RCW 27.53.080 RCW 27.53.080: Archaeological activities upon public lands—Entry—Agreement—Approval of activities—Information regarding results of studies and activities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S080.md)
- [RCW 27.53.090 RCW 27.53.090: Violations—Penalty.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S090.md)
- [RCW 27.53.095 RCW 27.53.095: Knowing and willful failure to obtain or comply with permit—Penalties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S095.md)
- [RCW 27.53.100 RCW 27.53.100: Historic archaeological resources on state-owned aquatic lands—Discovery and report—Right of first refusal.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S100.md)
- [RCW 27.53.110 RCW 27.53.110: Contracts for discovery and salvage of state-owned historic archaeological resources.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S110.md)
- [RCW 27.53.120 RCW 27.53.120: Recovery of property from historic archaeological sites—Mitigation of damage—Refusal to issue salvage permit to prevent destruction of resource.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S120.md)
- [RCW 27.53.130 RCW 27.53.130: List of areas requiring permits.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S130.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T27_C53_S080. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.