---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-3-81. Department named custodian of submerged cultural resources; rules and regulations; reporting findings; duties of state archeologist.
collection: code
id: 12-3-81
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-3-81 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-3-81
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-3-81.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-3-81/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=116
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-3.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-3-80.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-3-82.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / PARKS, HISTORIC AREAS, MEMORIALS, AND RECREATION / HISTORIC AREAS / SUBMERGED CULTURAL RESOURCES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-3-81. Department named custodian of submerged cultural resources; rules and regulations; reporting findings; duties of state archeologist.

(a) The custodian of all submerged cultural resources shall be the Department of Natural Resources. The Board of Natural Resources is empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to preserve, survey, protect, and recover such underwater properties and are necessary for the effective administration of this part.

(b) All findings of submerged cultural resources shall be reported to the department within two days, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded, after being found.

(c) The state archeologist shall have such duties in conducting and supervising the surveillance, protection, preservation, survey, and recovery of submerged cultural resources as he is given by Code Section 12-3-53 for similar land resources.

## History

Code 1981, § 12-3-81, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 906, § 4; Ga. L. 1988, p. 945, § 2.

## Administrative Rules and Regulations

Submerged cultural resources, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, Subject 391-5-9.