New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 4 - CULTURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 10 - CULTURAL PROPERTIES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Part 12 - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PREHISTORIC AND HISTORIC SITES PRESERVATION ACT
Section 4.10.12.6 - OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this regulation is to establish procedures for the acquisition, stabilization, restoration or protection of significant prehistoric and historic sites by the state of New Mexico and corporations, to establish procedures and guidelines for determinations of the prudence and feasibility of alternatives to programs and projects requiring the use of land from significant prehistoric and historic sites, and to establish procedures and guidelines to determine whether all possible planning to preserve and protect and to minimize harm to significant prehistoric and historic sites affected by use of lands from such sites has been carried out. The purpose of the statute is to facilitate the preservation and protection of significant prehistoric and historic sites by authorizing partnerships between entities of government and corporations to that end, and by requiring substantial consideration of governmental actions that will have the effect of destroying or adversely affecting significant prehistoric and historic sites. The statute furthers the purposes of Sections 18-6-1 through 23 NMSA 1978 and of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended and is consistent with the legislative finding (Section 18-6-2 NMSA 1978) that "the historical and cultural heritage of the state is one of the state's most valued and important assets; [and] that the public has an interest in the preservation of all antiquities, historic and prehistoric ruins, sites, structures, objects and similar places and things..."