Department of the Interior
Departmental Manual
Effective Date: 8/11/04
Series: Organization
Part 145: National Park Service
Chapter 5: Associate Director for Cultural Resources
Originating Office: National Park Service
145 DM 5
5.1 Associate Director for Cultural Resources. This Associate Director utilizes the tools of a wide range of cultural resources disciplines to enable the National Park Service to fulfill its core mission: the protection of park resources and values. This directorate provides leadership, expertise, and research support so that the cultural resources of our nation=s national parks are unimpaired for future generations. The responsibilities of the Directorate include:
A. Developing Servicewide and national policies and guidance and administers a broad range of statutory programs for identifying, evaluating, registering, documenting, and protecting our nation=s historic properties and archeological resources, both inside and outside the field units, and museum collections inside the field units.
B. Overseeing the advancement of NPS leadership in researching and using advanced technologies for managing cultural resources.
C. Overseeing the development of high quality resources for teachers, students of all ages, and the American public that integrate the best scholarship and creative interpretive methods to increase understanding of the nation=s history and to improve the care of America=s tangible heritage.
D. Enhancing the protection and public understanding of historic properties, archeological resources, and museum collections through effective partnerships that showcase the importance of cultural resources and invite public involvement.
E. Overseeing two national programs and two national program centers.
5.2 Federal Preservation Institute (FPI). The FPI is a virtual academy of education and training opportunities in historic preservation that serves federal agency personnel. The Institute responds to the historic preservation and cultural conservation needs of all federal agencies, provides historic preservation-related training and technical assistance to help federal agencies fulfill their cultural resources management responsibilities that affect over one-third of the nation=s land mass. FPI is responsible for the following:
A. Providing education, training, and technical assistance necessary to carry out every federal agency=s responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act.
B. Developing training programs and materials that serve multi-agency needs delivered in a variety of media, including publications and online training.
C. Identifying instructors, programs, and materials that match the needs of the federal workforce.
5.3 Heritage Areas Program Office. This office coordinates National Park Service responsibilities relating to the creation and management of National Heritage Areas outside the field units. Each National Heritage Area is designated by Congress and funded through the Service budget. Through this office, the Service provides technical expertise and training regarding heritage areas to local governments, heritage areas staff, colleges and universities, and the private sector.
5.4 National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT). This national center identifies critical challenges to the preservation of our nation=s cultural heritage and seeks solutions through innovative applications of science and technology. NCPTT sponsors research and training initiatives and serves as a clearinghouse for information about historic preservation technologies. NCPTT also seeks to promote technology transfer to the historic preservation community by working with a wide range of partners in the National Park Service and throughout the public and private sectors, both in the U.S. and abroad.
5.5 National Center for Cultural Resources (NCCR). This national center provides cultural resources program support including policy and strategic planning and standards, guidance, and technical assistance to parks and State, tribal, and local partners. The center manager coordinates the interdisciplinary collaboration both within NCCR and between NCCR and partner organizations. The center manager oversees the following eight historic preservation-related programs.
A. Archeology and Ethnography Office. This office formulates and promotes policies, guidelines, and standards for and promotes the identification, evaluation, documentation, conservation, protection, interpretation, and management of archeological and ethnographic resources nationwide. Responsibilities include:
(1) providing coordination and leadership for federal, state, tribal, and local public archeology programs,
(2) undertaking cooperative activities with other agencies and organizations;
(3) fostering positive relationships between National Park Service units and researchers, communities, tribes, and other Native American groups traditionally associated with park units;
(4) broadening public and professional access to information about the Nation's archeological record and its history;
(5) assisting the protection and preservation of archeological and ethnographic resources in place; and
(6) enhancing the care of archeological and ethnographic collections and archives.
B. Diversity and Special Projects Office. This office works to improve historic preservation-related professions to reflect the diversity of the American people and to encourage the recognition and protection of diverse cultural resources. It sponsors diversity internships throughout the United States, works with colleges and universities on curriculum development, publishes information, and sponsors conferences on diversity-related topics.
C. Heritage Preservation Services Office. This office has three main components:
(1) Technical Preservation Services administers the historic preservation tax certification program, the historic surplus property program, the historic preservation internship training program, and provides technical assistance, training, and educational materials that support the Secretary of the Interior=s Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
(2) Preservation Initiatives administers the American Battlefield Protection Program, the Historic Preservation Planning Program, the American Historic Landscapes Initiative, and the Tribal Historic Preservation Program.
(3) State, Tribal, and Local Programs administers the Historic Preservation Fund State Grants including apportionment, application policy, and procedures; State Historic Preservation Office program reviews; the Certified Local Government program; and, administers Tribal Historic Preservation Grants, American Battlefield Protection Program Grants, Save America=s Treasures Grants, and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA) Grants, and Preservation Technology and Training Grants.
Heritage Preservation Services establishes regulations, standards, and guidelines for these programs and provides technical assistance to the public, as well as federal, state, tribal, and local agencies through web sites, publications, and training programs.
D. Historic American Building Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey (HABS/HAER/HALS) Office. This office documents the design and construction of architecturally or historically significant structures, the engineering and industrial heritage, and the cultural landscapes of the United States. The program provides critical baseline documentation and Geographic Information System (GIS) data for the study and ongoing stewardship of historic structures and sites and trains future historical architects, historians, and historic preservationists in the fields of architectural, engineering, and landscape documentation.
E. Museum Management Office. This office supports the development and coordination of Servicewide policies, standards, and procedures for managing museum collections, including natural, cultural, archival, and manuscript materials. It provides technical assistance, professional development, and educational materials on museum collections management for the National Park Service, other DOI bureaus and offices, and partners. It develops and maintains a Servicewide catalog of museum records and other statistics on museum collections.
F. National NAGPRA Program Office. This office administers some of the Secretary of the Interior's responsibilities under NAGPRA and its implementing regulations. The program manager serves as the Designated Federal Officer for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee, a citizen committee that advises the Secretary on the implementation of some aspects of NAGPRA. The program administers an annual grants program that assists tribes and museums in meeting their responsibilities under NAGPRA.
G. National Register, History, and Education Office. This office administers the park and the administrative history programs the maritime history program, the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) Survey. It provides standards, guidance and assistance to the public, and federal, state, tribal, and local agencies. It maintains a national archive and databases and administers the Teaching with Historic Places curriculum series and Discover Our Shared Heritage travel itinerary series.
5.6 Park Historic Structures and Cultural Landscapes Office. This office supports the development and coordination of Servicewide policies, standards, and procedures for park historic structures and cultural landscapes. It ensures that park structures and cultural landscapes retain their significant characteristics and values. It supports the historic property leasing program and the park prehistoric and historic structures and cultural landscapes programs. It develops and maintains management inventories and information systems for these resources and provides technical assistance, training, and educational materials relating to these resources for parks and partners.