FEDERAL PRESERVATION INSTITUTE FAQ

What is the authority for this responsibility?

The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and other Federal laws, executive orders, and regulations establish our historic preservation responsibilities. Every administration since the early 1960s has contributed to this mandate. The National Historic Preservation Act directs each Federal agency to have a historic preservation program -- that is, a program to manage historic resources and avoid or minimize possible harm that may result from agency decisions and actions. The Act does not prohibit change to historic properties, but it does require that alternatives be considered. Early consideration of historic places in agency planning and full consultation with all concerned citizens are the keys to effective historic preservation.

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

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's "historic"?

While many things are historic, the National Historic Preservation Act gives particular attention to "historic resources" or "historic properties," which are buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts with historic significance. Examples of these may include court houses and industrial plants, bridges and barns, ships and airplanes, archeological sites and Native American spiritual places, or neighborhoods and landscapes that are associated with local, tribal, state, or national history, prehistory, and culture. The National Park Service maintains a National Register of Historic Places which currently includes over one million properties that have been nominated through State and Federal preservation officers. Federal agencies are responsible for thoughtfully managing resources both included in and also eligible for the National Register.

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?

Two Federal agencies, the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, provide printed and on-line guidance and can be consulted on many preservation issues and opportunities. All states, as well as many Indian tribes, have State Historic Preservation Officers or Tribal Historic Preservation Officers who consult with and advise all Federal agencies. Another Federal agency, the General Services Administration, helps locate historic facilities to meet agency needs for offices and other workspace. Local governments, historic preservation commissions, and architectural review boards can be consulted about historic places in their communities. Non-profit historic preservation organizations, such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as colleges and universities can offer important partnership opportunities. For-profit firms and private property owners can often help find creative and cost-effective ways of managing historic properties.

Who coordinates preservation responsibilites in my agency?

Every agency has a Federal Preservation Officer(FPO). The National Historic Preservation Act charges the FPOs with coordinating agency preservation programs, including interactions with other agencies, States, Indian tribes, and others. It is up to each agency to designate the FPO and establish the FPO's specific responsibilities. Agencies with regional or field offices often designate regional or field FPOs as well. It is the responsibility of each agency to maintain qualified preservation staff and have the management systems needed to carry out its historic preservation program.

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?

Some preservation-related laws -- such as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act -- outline Federal agency responsibilities for additional kinds of cultural resources, such as ancestral American Indian and Native Hawaiian graves and cultural items, archeological artifact collections, traditional religious places and practices, and broad cultural values. Your Federal Preservation Officer can help make sure your agency complies wisely with these laws, as well as with the National Historic Preservation Act.