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Homeowners in Maple Beach told to expect surveys, permits and variable consultant costs
Summary
Community members asked how to respond after human remains were found during a septic inspection. Officials said state archaeological permits are required in sensitive areas, the state permit itself is free, but consultant and survey costs (and potential data‑recovery work) can raise expenses.
A Point Roberts homeowner and a local real‑estate broker described a November 24 septic inspection at Maple Beach that turned up a vertebra and asked what owners should expect. James McCray said the usual path is for the county to flag permits against the state archaeological database, and if the lot is in a recorded site, a survey or state archaeological permit may be needed before work continues.
Residents and speakers described widely varying consultant bills. One attendee said survey costs have been quoted between $3,000 and as high as $10,000–$20,000 in some reported cases; McCray and other speakers urged getting multiple bids and warned that data‑recovery or unexpected impacts can raise costs further. "The permit from the state is free," McCray said, "we make no more money on that." He recommended landowners contact state records or his office to determine whether a site was recorded on their property and to plan surveys to reduce the risk of costly stoppages.
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