Is historic preservation really the responsibility of every Federal agency?

Yes. Every Federal agency, regardless of its mission, is responsible for protecting our Nation's historic places.

What is the authority for this responsibility?

Why are historic places important to us?

The National Historic Preservation Act begins by stating that "the spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage." Historic places are the tangible links to this heritage and teach us about our national, State, Indian tribal, and local history. They may also have cultural or spiritual importance to Indian tribes and other indigenous groups. Our historic places contribute to our economy, our institutions, and our identity. If damaged or destroyed, they cannot be replaced.

What are the benefits to my agency?

Having a thoughtful agency historic preservation program is good public policy -- it can save time and money in carrying out the government's responsibilities, preserve irreplaceable aspects of our heritage, and demonstrate government respect for places important to our citizens.

What's "historic"?

What's "preservation"?

The National Historic Preservation Act uses a flexible, inclusive definition. Identifying historic places, managing them in the course of carrying out agency mission responsibilities, re-using them, allowing others to use them, documenting them, and teaching people about them -- all these are acts of "preservation" as defined in the law.

Preservation does not necessarily mean freezing places in time or restoring them as showpieces. Actually, the National Historic Preservation Act encourages active use of historic properties to meet the needs of the agency and of the public. Although maintaining historic properties in perpetuity is favored by the law, it's understood that this is not always feasible, so other forms of preservation -- for example through study and documentation -- are often acceptable. We decide how best to preserve historic places in consultation with concerned citizens, State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, local governments, and others.

Where can we find help?

Who coordinates preservation responsibilites in my agency?

What are the major challenges for Federal agencies?

• The challenge of numbers. A large number of significant historic places have not yet been identified, and others become significant over time.
• The challenge of late discovery. When historic resources are found late in planning for-or even during-a project that threatens them, this results in unnecessary destruction or in costly project delays. It can also alienate the very public we are trying to serve.
• The challenge of understanding and accommodating citizen concerns. Property owners, local governments, Indian tribes and other indigenous groups, local governments, local and national preservation groups, minority groups, and many others are concerned about historic places.
• The challenge of using historic buildings. We need to make creative and thoughtful use of vacant and underutilized historic buildings as good investments and contributions to the character of our communities.
• The challenge of awareness. More managers and others whose actions can affect historic resources need to fully understand and appreciate their preservation responsibilities.
• And finally, the challenge of taking advantage of opportunities for creative programs and projects that achieve both historic preservation and agency missions. For example, we need to look for opportunities for partnerships that preserve historic resources at little or no cost to the government.

What can my agency's leadership do?

• Learn about your agency's preservation program. Ask your FPO to brief you and give you a frank appraisal of your program's strengths and weaknesses.
• Ensure that your historic preservation responsibilities are considered when planning projects and making decisions. Make sure this happens early in planning, and that all concerned parties are consulted.
• Give priority to using appropriate historic properties to provide office space and other agency facilities. Encourage recipients of your agency's assistance or permits to do the same.
• Remember historic preservation at budget time. Equip your agency staff with adequate funds, personnel, and training to meet your preservation responsibilities and take advantage of stewardship opportunities.
• Establish policies and procedures to ensure that citizens concerned about historic preservation issues are identified and consulted early and often when planning for agency actions that could affect historic resources. Be sure to identify and respect the cultural interests and values of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian and Alaskan groups.
• Get well-qualified technical advice about historic preservation to assist you and your agency.

What are my agency's responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act?

• Consider the effects of Federal actions -- including the assistance, grants, permits or licenses you give -- on historic resources and, where feasible, take steps to avoid or reduce any adverse effects.
• Show leadership by preserving and encouraging others to preserve historic resources.
• Identify historic properties under your agency's control and administer them in a spirit of stewardship.
• Make creative use of vacant and underutilized historic facilities to meet agency requirements -- both those controlled by your agency and those available via lease, purchase, exchange, or cooperative use.
• Make surplus historic properties available for use by local governments, other agencies, Indian tribes, and non-governmental organizations.
• Consider the impact of agency actions and decisions on historic resources that are not under agency jurisdiction or control.
• Make sure that appropriate standards are followed in doing historic preservation work, and that qualified people are available to supervise and advise.
• Plan and carry out historic preservation work-especially when considering project impacts and ways of reducing damage -- in consultation with concerned parties, including State, tribal, and local officials, landowners, and interested citizens.

What other laws should be considered in our agency's historic preservation program?