1. National Historic Preservation Act
Presentation 1

2. The most important historic preservation law in our country
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended) 16 USC 470 et seq.
The most important historic preservation law in our country
Responsible for the largest amount of archaeological preservation work
Passed as a result of widespread destruction of 1960s urban renewal programs
Has many different provisions
Has been amended several times
Most recent major amendments 1992
Section 106 drives most archaeological work in the United States

3. It Expresses Our National Policy (from Preamble, NHPA)
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;

4. NHPA Selected major provisions: Section 101 Section 106 Section 110
Establishes National Register of Historic Places
Calls for Sec’y of the Interior to issue regulations
Establishes State Historic Preservation Programs
Provides for Historic Preservation grants to states and tribes
Provides for Certified Local Governments
Establishes Tribal Historic Preservation Programs
Section 106
Requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties
Section 110
Requires federal agencies to establish a historic preservation program
Requires federal agencies to appoint FPOs
Section 112
Professional standards
Federal agencies to maintain records and databases

5. NHPA Selected Provisions (continued)
Title II
Establish and organizes the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as an independent federal agency
Section 206
Authorizes U.S. participation in International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
Section 304
Confidentiality of archaeological site locations, exemption from FOIA
Section 401
ICOMOS and World Heritage sites
Title IV
Establishes National Center for Preservation Technology and Training