1/27/21 News Alert from the National Trust for Historic Preservation:
Preservationists around the country have been seriously concerned about proposed changes to the regulations governing the National Register of Historic Places since they were first proposed in 2019. Last fall, despite an outpouring of public concern about the proposal, the new rule was forwarded for review by the Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget. The proposed rule changes would primarily concern National Register nominations of federally owned properties and the process whereby property owners in historic districts object to nominations.
During the review process, historic preservation advocacy organizations, state historic preservation offices, tribal governments, and tribal organizations pressed hard to make the case that the rule should be dropped. As a result, it was not finalized prior to the presidential transition and is not expected to be pursued by the Biden Administration. This is a big win that demonstrates the strength of the historic preservation movement when we work together on policy priorities.
More details about the proposal are available on the Preservation Leadership Forum.
Biden Administration Acts to Review National Monument Revocations
As one of President Biden’s first acts in office, an Executive Order was issued directing the Secretary of the Interior to review the revocation of the Bears Ears National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument. The Secretary is required to complete the review and submit a report to the president within 60 days with recommendations for actions consistent with the Antiquities Act. The ongoing litigation challenging these monument revocations will likely be stayed while this review is completed and the next steps are determined. It is anticipated that legal protections for these monuments will ultimately be restored. More information about the litigation over Bears Ears and the National Trust’s involvement in this issue can be found here.
The National Register of Historic Places is an important repository of information about the nation’s historic places that also serves significant regulatory purposes. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires consultation for federal undertakings that could affect properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register. Properties listed on the National Register are also eligible to access federal historic tax credits (HTCs) to support revitalization efforts. Visit the NPS website for further information.
Images at top: Hulihe‘e Palace, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i; Ka‘ahumanu Church, Kahului, Maui; Chinatown Historic District, O‘ahu all listed on The National Register of Historic Places.