News
Join the Fight to Save the National Historic Preservation Act (Cultural Heritage Partners)
We currently face the most serious threat the National Historic Preservation Act has faced in its 60-year history. On July 24, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation voted (16–5, with two abstentions) to advance a new draft of the regulations that implement the Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act. Rather than taking into account the input from Council Members, advocates, Tribes, and the public, this draft was developed and presented in secret, was released before the Council's own deadline for internal feedback, and fundamentally guts the process that has protected historic properties since 1966.
This proposal would:
- Strip away the public's voice in federal decisions affecting historic and cultural sites;
- Make consultation with communities, local governments, and Tribal Nations optional;
- Narrow which places qualify for protection;
- Eliminate consideration of certain types of impacts; and
- Give Federal agencies unilateral control over project timelines and involvement of public stakeholders.
The result: irreplaceable landmarks, sacred sites, and neighborhood landmarks could be altered or destroyed to fast-track federal projects—and once these places are gone, they're gone forever.
How you can fight back
We are organizing preservation organizations, cultural groups, Tribes, activists, scholars, and the interested public to combat this existential threat for historic preservation through a new advocacy email list and using three working groups:
- Litigation: to support litigation strategy as potential plaintiff, funder, or expert
- Communications: to coordinate messaging and outreach to our memberships, media, and elected officials
- Public comments: to coordinate content of comments for the administrative record
Subscribe to our Fight Back email list and/or add yourself to a working group through this link:
https://mailchi.mp/14260981b7ed/defend-section-106
The stakes have never been higher -- and the national response has been extraordinary
Since these changes were announced, we have been developing analysis, talking points, and organizing news coverage on our website here. Preservation advocates have generated unprecedented national press on what's at stake, highlighting dangers to historic places, local communities, and Tribes, as well as connecting the throughlines in the Trump administration's attacks on historic sites and preservation laws.
What else can you do?
Every person who cares about historic places has an opportunity to make a difference in this fight. Please take action TODAY to:
—Visit the CHP Defend Section 106 Page regularly for the released ACHP drafts, talking points, slides of previous presentations, news, and other resources.
—Educate your organization leadership, non-profit boards, company owners, Tribal governments, and other leaders about this critical threat so that your organizations can be prepared to take quick and decisive action for the upcoming rulemaking.
—Invite other concerned colleagues and friends to sign up for our advocacy alerts and committees to our Fight Back list here, and forward this email to a friend.
—Start preparing your public comments for the rulemaking. Once ACHP issues its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the public comment period will last only 30 days. Start now by identifying positive impacts of Section 106 in your communities and states.
Thank you for your support and for your commitment to protecting our cultural heritage and the rule of law.
Warm regards,
Cultural Heritage Partners, PLLC
culturalheritagepartners.com
