§ 470. Short title; Congressional finding and declaration of policy

(a) This subchapter may be cited as the “National Historic Preservation Act”.

(b) The Congress finds and declares that—

(1) the spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage;

(2) the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people;

(3) historic properties significant to the Nation’s heritage are being lost or substantially altered, often inadvertently, with increasing frequency;

(4) the preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations of Americans;

(5) in the face of ever-increasing extensions of urban centers, highways, and residential, commercial, and industrial developments, the present governmental and nongovernmental historic preservation programs and activities are inadequate to insure future generations a genuine opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the rich heritage of our Nation;

(6) the increased knowledge of our historic resources, the establishment of better means of identifying and administering them, and the encouragement of their preservation will improve the planning and execution of Federal and federally assisted projects and will assist economic growth and development; and

(7) although the major burdens of historic preservation have been borne and major efforts initiated by private agencies and individuals, and both should continue to play a vital role, it is nevertheless necessary and appropriate for the Federal Government to accelerate its historic preservation programs and activities, to give maximum encouragement to agencies and individuals undertaking preservation by private means, and to assist State and local governments and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States to expand and accelerate their historic preservation programs and activities.

(Pub. L. 89–665, § 1, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 915; Pub. L. 96–515, title I, § 101(a), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2987.)

Amendments

Amendments

1980—Pub. L. 96–515 added subsec. (a), designated existing provision as subsec. (b), and in subsec. (b) as so designated, redesignated pars. (a) to (d) as (1), (2), (5), and (7), respectively, in par. (1) as so redesignated, substituted “heritage” for “past”, and added pars. (3), (4), and (6).

Short Title Of Amendment

Short Title of 2006 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–453, § 1(a), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3367, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 470v–2 of this title and amending sections 470h, 470i, 470m, and 470t of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Historic Preservation Act Amendments Act of 2006’.”

Short Title of 2000 Amendments

Pub. L. 106–355, § 1, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1385, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 470w–7 and 470w–8 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000’.”

Pub. L. 106–208, § 1, May 26, 2000, 114 Stat. 318, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 470a, 470b, 470c, 470h, 470h–2, 470h–4, 470n, 470t, 470w, 470w–6, and 470x–3 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 2000’.”

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–575, title XL, § 4001, Oct. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 4753, provided that: “This title [enacting sections 470h–4, 470h–5, and 470x to 470x–6 of this title, amending sections 466, 470–1, 470a, 470b, 470c, 470h, 470h–2, 470h–3, 470i, 470s, 470t, 470w, and 470w–3 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 470a of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 461 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1992’.”

Short Title of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–515, § 1, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2987, provided: “That this Act [enacting sections 469c–2, 470–1 470a–1, 470a–2, 470h–2, 470h–3, 470u, 470v and 470w to 470w–6 of this title, amending this section and sections 470a, 470b, 470c, 470d, 470h to 470j, 470l, 470m, and 470r to 470t of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 470a, 470j and 470h of this title and section 874 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works] may be cited as the ‘National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980’.”

Executive Order

Ex. Ord. No. 11593. Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment

Ex. Ord. No. 11593, May 13, 1971, 36 F.R. 8921, provided:

By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States and in furtherance of the purposes and policies of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (83 Stat. 852, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (80 Stat. 915, 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), the Historic Sites Act of 1935 (49 Stat. 666, 16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), and the Antiquities Act of 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The Federal Government shall provide leadership in preserving, restoring and maintaining the historic and cultural environment of the Nation. Agencies of the executive branch of the Government (hereinafter referred to as “Federal agencies”) shall (1) administer the cultural properties under their control in a spirit of stewardship and trusteeship for future generations, (2) initiate measures necessary to direct their policies, plans and programs in such a way that federally owned sites, structures, and objects of historical, architectural or archaeological significance are preserved, restored and maintained for the inspiration and benefit of the people, and (3), in consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (16 U.S.C. 470i), institute procedures to assure that Federal plans and programs contribute to the preservation and enhancement of non-federally owned sites, structures and objects of historical, architectural or archaeological significance.

Sec. 2. Responsibilities of Federal agencies. Consonant with the provisions of the acts cited in the first paragraph of this order, the heads of Federal agencies shall:

(a) no later than July 1, 1973, with the advice of the Secretary of the Interior, and in cooperation with the liaison officer for historic preservation for the State or territory involved, locate, inventory, and nominate to the Secretary of the Interior all sites, buildings, districts, and objects under their jurisdiction or control that appear to qualify for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

(b) exercise caution during the interim period until inventories and evaluations required by subsection (a) are completed to assure that any federally owned property that might qualify for nomination is not inadvertently transferred, sold, demolished or substantially altered. The agency head shall refer any questionable actions to the Secretary of the Interior for an opinion respecting the property’s eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The Secretary shall consult with the liaison officer for historic preservation for the State or territory involved in arriving at his opinion. Where, after a reasonable period in which to review and evaluate the property, the Secretary determines that the property is likely to meet the criteria prescribed for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the Federal agency head shall reconsider the proposal in light of national environmental and preservation policy. Where, after such reconsideration, the Federal agency head proposes to transfer, sell, demolish or substantially alter the property he shall not act with respect to the property until the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation shall have been provided an opportunity to comment on the proposal.

(c) initiate measures to assure that where as a result of Federal action or assistance a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places is to be substantially altered or demolished, timely steps be taken to make or have made records, including measured drawings, photographs and maps, of the property, and that copy of such records then be deposited in the Library of Congress as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey or Historic American Engineering Record for future use and reference. Agencies may call on the Department of the Interior for advice and technical assistance in the completion of the above records.

(d) initiate measures and procedures to provide for the maintenance, through preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration, of federally owned and registered sites at professional standards prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior.

(e) submit procedures required pursuant to subsection (d) to the Secretary of the Interior and to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation no later than January 1, 1972, and annually thereafter, for review and comment.

(f) cooperate with purchasers and transferees of a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the development of viable plans to use such property in a manner compatible with preservation objectives and which does not result in an unreasonable economic burden to public or private interests.

Sec. 3. Responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior shall:

(a) encourage State and local historic preservation officials to evaluate and survey federally owned historic properties and, where appropriate, to nominate such properties for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

(b) develop criteria and procedures to be applied by Federal agencies in the reviews and nominations required by section 2(a). Such criteria and procedures shall be developed in consultation with the affected agencies.

(c) expedite action upon nominations to the National Register of Historic Places concerning federally owned properties proposed for sale, transfer, demolition or substantial alteration.

(d) encourage State and Territorial liaison officers for historic preservation to furnish information upon request to Federal agencies regarding their properties which have been evaluated with respect to historic, architectural or archaeological significance and which as a result of such evaluations have not been found suitable for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

(e) develop and make available to Federal agencies and State and local governments information concerning professional methods and techniques for preserving, improving, restoring and maintaining historic properties.

(f) advise Federal agencies in the evaluation, identification, preservation, improvement, restoration and maintenance of historic properties.

(g) review and evaluate the plans of transferees of surplus Federal properties transferred for historic monument purposes to assure that the historic character of such properties is preserved in rehabilitation, restoration, improvement, maintenance and repair of such properties.

(h) review and comment upon Federal agency procedures submitted pursuant to section 2(e) of this order.

Richard Nixon.