[Federal Register: November 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 214)] [Notices] [Page 60456-60457] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05no99-93] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Ocmulgee Old Fields Historic District; Determination of Eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places ACTION: Request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- On August 14, 1997, the National Register of Historic Places determined that the Ocmulgee Old Fields Historic District, near Macon, in Bibb County, Georgia, was eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The district was determined to meet National Register Criterion A (associated with important events) in the area of Ethnic Heritage: Native American, because of the cultural and historical significance of this area to the Muscogean peoples who were forced to abandon it in the early 19th century and who still revere it as their ancestral homeland. The district also was determined to meet National Register Criterion D (likely to yield important information), because it has provided and can be expected to continue to provide important information on the long history of the Macon Plateau and the Ocmulgee River valley. The finding of eligibility was based on a request from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and included a review of extensive documentation submitted by the Advisory Council, the Federal Highway Administration, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, representatives of a number of Muscogean Indian tribes, and other interested parties. A copy of the determination of eligibility is available from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Room NC400, Washington, DC 20240. To establish precise boundaries for the eligible district, the Keeper requested additional documentation. On July 23, 1999, the National Register completed the determination of eligibility for this property based on additional material provided by the Federal Highway Administration, Indian tribal representatives, and others. Boundaries were established based on the extent of the historically significant area that still retains the imprint of traditional Muscogean culture, excluding those areas which have lost their ability to testify to their cultural or archeological significance because of non-historic residential, commercial, or industrial development. A copy of the determination and a map showing the boundaries are also available from the National Register of Historic Places. Since the determination of eligibility was made, the Keeper of the National Register has received written comments from a property owner within the boundary of the determined eligible area and from other interested parties questioning the boundaries established for the district. In order to accommodate those who wish to provide new information to define the scope of the area that meets the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, the National Park Service is providing a 60-day comment period on this issue. The National Register Criteria for Evaluation are set forth below. Anyone wishing to submit additional information bearing on the scope of the area of the Ocmulgee Old Fields Historic District that meets the National Register Criteria for Evaluation should do so within 60 days of the date of this notice. A written statement on the determination of eligibility will be issued by the National Park Service within 30 days of the close of the comment period. The determination of eligibility remains in effect pending review of responses submitted during the comment period. In order to revise the boundary the National Park Service must receive authoritative information, which, evaluated in conjunction with documentation already on file, results in a finding that the boundary for the determined eligible district does not [[Page 60457]] accurately delineate the scope of the district in accordance with established National Register standards. Comments should be addressed to the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Room NC400, Washington, DC 20240. Carol D. Shull, Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, National Register, History and Education. National Register Criteria for Evaluation The National Register criteria define, for the nation as a whole, the scope and nature of historic and archeological properties that are considered for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association and: A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or B. That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or D. That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important to prehistory or history. Ordinarily, cemeteries, birthplaces, or graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious purposes, structures that have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, properties primarily commemorative in nature, and properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years shall not be considered eligible for the National Register. However, such properties will qualify if they are integral parts of districts that do meet the criteria or if they fall within the following categories: (a) A religious property deriving primary significance from architectural or artistic distinction or historical importance; or (b) A building or structure removed from its original location but which is significant primarily for architectural value, or which is the surviving structure most importantly associated with a historic person or event; or (c) A birthplace or grave of a historical figure of outstanding importance if there is no appropriate site or building directly associated with his productive life; or (d) A cemetery which derives its primary significance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, from age, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events; or (e) A reconstructed building when accurately executed in a suitable environment and presented in a dignified manner as part of a restoration master plan, and when no other building or structure with the same association has survived; or (f) A property primarily commemorative in intent if design, age, tradition, or symbolic value has invested it with its own exceptional significance; or (g) A property achieving significance within the past 50 years if it is of exceptional importance. [FR Doc. 99-28973 Filed 11-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P