22-3-431. Registration of heritage properties. (1) Any citizen of Montana may submit to the historic preservation officer for consideration the necessary forms to nominate heritage properties to the register.

(2) (a) For private properties, the historic preservation officer shall notify the owner of the property and allow the owner a reasonable period of time to concur or object to the nomination of the property for registration. If the owner of the property, or a majority of owners if the property has more than one owner, objects to registration, the historic preservation officer may not nominate the property unless the objection is withdrawn. If there are no objections, the historic preservation officer may, upon approval by the preservation review board, nominate heritage properties to the register.

(b) The historic preservation officer and the preservation review board may review the nomination of property that was not nominated because of owner objection to determine whether the property is eligible for registration. If the historic preservation officer and the preservation review board determine that the property is eligible for registration, the preservation officer shall provide for the register information about the property for determination of registration eligibility.

(c) The historic preservation officer shall follow the procedures mandated by 36 CFR 60.6 relating to seeking property owner concurrence or objection to registration.

(3) For lands owned by the state, a county, or a municipality, the historic preservation officer may, upon approval by the preservation review board, nominate heritage properties to the register. The historic preservation officer shall notify the appropriate governmental agency and give public notice when any governmental property is being considered for nomination. Unless agency or public objections are submitted in writing within 30 days after notification, the historic preservation officer shall complete the nominations. When an agency or any citizen of Montana submits written objections, the historic preservation officer shall consider the objections and may conduct a public hearing. If a hearing is held, it must be commenced within 30 days after the final date for submission of written objections. Within 60 days after submission of the objections or after the public hearing, the historic preservation officer shall make a final decision on the proposed registration and prepare a statement responsive to the objections submitted.