Page 12 - laco_ovov_final_2010

3.8 Cultural Resources

State Regulations

California Senate Bill 18

Cities and counties are required pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 18 to notify and consult with California
Native American Tribes about proposed local land use planning decisions for protecting Traditional

Tribal Cultural Places. 19 Cities and counties must obtain a list of the California Native American tribes
from the NAHC whose traditional lands within the agency’s jurisdiction may be affected by a proposed
adoption or amendment of a General Plan or Specific Plan. Prior to the adoption or any amendment of a
General Plan or Specific Plan, a local government must notify the appropriate tribes of the opportunity to

conduct consultations on the proposed action. Prior to the adoption or substantial amendment of the
General Plan or Specific Plan, a local government must refer the proposed action to those tribes on the
Native American contact list that have traditional lands within the agency’s jurisdiction.

To help local officials meet these new obligations, SB 18 requires the Governor's Office of Planning and
Research (OPR) to amend its General Plan Guidelines to include advice to local government on how to
consult with California Native American tribes.

Developed in consultation with the NAHC, the OPR guidelines include advice for consulting with
California Native American Tribes for:

 the preservation of or the mitigation of impacts to, cultural places.

 procedures for identifying through the NAHC the appropriate California Native American tribes.

 procedures for continuing to protect the confidentiality of information concerning the specific
identity, location, character, and use of cultural places. 20

 procedures to facilitate voluntary landowner participation to preserve and protect the specific
identity, location character, and use of cultural places.

The California Register of Historic Resources

State law 21 also protects cultural resources by requiring evaluations of the significance of prehistoric and

historic resources in CEQA documents. A cultural resource is an important historical resource if it meets

19 California Senate Bill 18, Chapter 905, Statutes of 2004.
20 California Government Code, Section 65040.2(g).
21 Public Resource Code. Section 5020 et seq. “State Historical Resources Commission.”

Impact Sciences, Inc. 3.8-12 One Valley One Vision Revised Draft Program EIR
0112.023 County of Los Angeles Area Plan
November 2010