36 Cfr 61

Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR61]
[Page 332]
TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
CHAPTER I--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PART 61_PROCEDURES FOR STATE, TRIBAL, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT HISTORIC
PRESERVATION PROGRAMS--Table of Contents
Sec. 61.1 Authorization.
Sec.
61.1 Authorization.
61.2 Definitions.
61.3 Implementation of this part.
61.4 State programs.
61.5 Grants to State programs.
61.6 Certified local government programs.
61.7 Subgrants to certified local governments.
61.8 Tribal programs. [Reserved]
61.9 Grants to tribal programs. [Reserved]
61.10 Waiver.
61.11 Information collection.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.
Source: 64 FR 11742, Mar. 9, 1999, unless otherwise noted.
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.):
(a) Requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to promulgate regulations for:
(1) Approving and overseeing State historic preservation programs;
(2) Certifying local governments to carry out the purposes of the Act;
(3) Ensuring that applicable State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) allocate to
certified local governments (CLGs) a share of grants that the SHPOs receive under
the Act; and
(4) Assisting Indian tribes in preserving their particular ``historic properties'' (as defined
by the Act);
(b) Directs the Secretary to administer a program of grants-in-aid to States and Indian tribes for
historic preservation projects and programs that the Secretary has approved; and

(c)

Requires the Secretary to make available information concerning professional standards,
methods, and techniques for the preservation of ``historic properties'' (as defined by the
Act) and the administration of historic preservation programs.

Sec. 61.2 Definitions.
As used in this part:
(a) All terms that the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, defines have the
same meaning in the regulations in this part that the statute provides; see especially
sections 101(a)(1)(A), 101(b), 101(c)(4), 108, and 301.
(b) Act means the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 470 et
seq.).
(c) Chief elected local official means the elected head of a local government.
(d) The Secretary's Standards means only the ``Standards'' portions and not the ``Guidelines''
portions of ``the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and
Historic Preservation.'' The Secretary's Standards provide broad national principles of
archeological and historic preservation practices and methods. ``The Secretary of the
Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation'' also contains
``the Secretary's Guidelines'' which provide broad national guidance on how to apply ``the
Secretary's Standards.''
(e) State historic preservation program or State program means a State government
organization or program meeting the requirements that section 101(b) of the Act specifies.
Sec. 61.3 Implementation of this part.
(a)

(b)

(c)

National Park Service policy of management by exception. The National Park Service
(NPS) will administer the regulations in this part in such a way (and where feasible) as to:
(1) Limit the use of direct Federal management review procedures to high risk situations,
to new programs, or to activities that are appropriate for the Federal Government to
oversee;
(2) Presume that State, tribal, and local government historic preservation officials
manage their programs in an accountable way unless situations indicate the contrary;
and
(3) Rely to the maximum extent feasible on State, tribal, and local government systems
of financial and program management that meet Federal standards. At the discretion
of the Secretary, each State, tribal, and local government may substitute its own fiscal
audit and management systems for the Secretary's comparable fiscal audit and
management requirements, so long as the State, tribal, or local government system
establishes and maintains accounting standards substantially [[Page 333]]similar to
Federal standards and provides for independent peer review.
The Secretary's Standards. NPS will use the Secretary's Standards as technical performance
standards for matters covered by this part. NPS may also use as technical performance
standards (for matters covered by this part) additional guidance that NPS identifies and
provides from time to time after appropriate consultation and notice.
Each State historic preservation program staff member, State Historic Preservation Review
Board (Review Board) member, and certified local government (CLG) historic preservation

(d)

review commission (Commission) member whom the Secretary has approved as meeting
``the Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional Qualifications Standards'' will retain
that status, regardless of subsequent revisions to those Standards, until such time as that
individual no longer works in that program, or serves on that Review Board, or serves on
that Commission with which that individual was affiliated as of the date of that individual's
approval.
You may obtain publications and other information mentioned in this part by contacting:
Heritage Preservation Services, National Center for Cultural Resource Stewardship and
Partnership Programs, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW (NC Suite 200),
Washington, D.C. 20240 or via the National Park Service Home Page for cultural programs
at http://www.cr.nps.gov.

Sec. 61.4 State programs.
(a)
(b)

For a State to participate in the program that this part describes, the Governor must appoint
and designate a State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) to administer the State historic
preservation program.
It is the responsibility of the SHPO to carry out the duties and activities that section
101(b)(3) of the Act describes. In performing those duties and activities:
(1) The SHPO must carry out a historic preservation planning process that includes the
development and implementation of a comprehensive statewide historic preservation
plan that provides guidance for effective decision making about historic property
preservation throughout the State.
(2) The SHPO, in addition to surveying and maintaining inventories of historic
properties, may also obtain:
(i) Comparative data valuable in determining the National Register eligibility of
properties;
(ii) Information on properties that may become eligible for the National Register of
Historic Places with the passage of time; and/or
(iii) Information on the absence of historic properties for use in planning for public
and private development projects.
(3) The SHPO must provide for adequate public participation in the State historic
preservation program as a whole.
(i) As part of the process of recommending a property to the National Register, the
SHPO must comply with the consultation and notification procedures contained
in 36 CFR part 60.
(ii) The SHPO may authorize other persons or entities to fulfill the notice
requirements in 36 CFR part 60 pursuant to the Secretary's written guidance.
(iii) The SHPO also may authorize the historic preservation review commission
(Commission) of a certified local government (CLG) to act in place of the State
Historic Preservation Review Board (Review Board) for the purpose of
considering National Register nominations within its jurisdiction, provided that
the Commission both meets the professional qualifications required for the
Review Board when considering such nominations and otherwise follows the
Secretary's written guidance.

(c)

(d)

(e)

(iv) In accordance with the Secretary's written guidance and with the consent of both
the property owners in a nomination and the chief elected local official, the
Review Board (or the Commission acting in its place) may consider the
nomination without a face-to-face meeting.
(4) The SHPO may carry out all or any part of his or her responsibilities by contract or
cooperative agreement with any qualified nonprofit organization, educational
institution, or otherwise pursuant to State law. However, [[Page 334]] the SHPO may
not delegate the responsibility for compliance with the Act or with grant assistance
terms and conditions.
The Secretary will consider individual SHPO proposals for programs that, for a specified
period, include fewer duties than those section 101(b)(3) of the Act specifies, if a different
approach would better serve an appropriate balance of historic property, customer or
constituent, and historic preservation needs.
Procedures for review and approval of State historic preservation programs.
(1) In accordance with the Act, the Secretary will evaluate each State program for
consistency with the Act periodically, but not less often than every four years. If the
Secretary determines that it meets the program requirements of paragraphs (a), (b), (e)
and (f) of this section, he or she will approve the State program as set forth in this
section.
(2) The Secretary may use on-site and/or off-site inquiries to perform such evaluation.
The Secretary will provide the SHPO with a timely report containing written findings
and analyses that highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the State program.
(3) Approval method.
(i) If the Secretary determines that a State program is consistent with the Act, the
report will include notice that the State program's approved status continues.
(ii) If the Secretary determines that a State program has major aspects not consistent
with the Act, the report will include notice of deficiencies along with required
actions for correcting them. Unless circumstances warrant immediate action, the
Secretary will provide a specified period to allow the SHPO either to correct the
deficiencies or to present for Secretarial approval a justifiable plan and
timetable for correcting the deficiencies. During this period, the SHPO has the
opportunity to request that the Secretary reconsider any findings and required
actions.
(iii) The Secretary will provide timely notice of continued approved State program
status to a SHPO successfully resolving deficiencies. Once the Secretary renews
a State program's approved status, he or she generally will not review the
program until the next regular evaluation period. However, if the Secretary
deems it necessary, he or she may conduct a review more often.
(iv) The Secretary will provide timely notice of the revocation of a program's
approved status to any SHPO whose program has deficiencies that warrant
immediate action or that remain uncorrected after the expiration of the period
specified pursuant to paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section. The Secretary will then
initiate financial suspension and other actions in accordance with the Act,
applicable regulatory requirements, and related guidance that the National Park
Service issues.
The SHPO must appoint or employ a professionally qualified staff.

(1)

(f)

Except as approved pursuant to paragraph (e)(2) of this section, the staff must include
at a minimum, one individual meeting ``the Secretary's (Historic Preservation)
Professional Qualifications Standards'' for history, one individual meeting ``the
Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional Qualifications Standards'' for historic
or prehistoric archeology, and one individual meeting ``the Secretary's (Historic
Preservation) Professional Qualifications Standards'' for architectural history. ``The
Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional Qualifications Standards'' and related
guidance are part of the larger ``Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines
for Archeology and Historic Preservation.'' The SHPO may determine that additional
professional staff members representing the required or other disciplines are
necessary to administer the State program in accordance with the Act.
(2) The Secretary will consider proposals from a SHPO for a minimum required staff
composition that differs from the requirement that paragraph (e)(1) of this section
specifies, if the proposal addresses better an appropriate balance of historic property,
customer or constituent, and historic preservation needs in that State.
(3) When a staff position that paragraph (e)(1) of this section requires becomes vacant,
the SHPO must fill the [[Page 335]] vacancy in a timely manner. In the interim, the
SHPO must ensure that appropriately qualified individuals address technical matters.
A vacancy in a required position that persists for more than six months is cause for
review, comment, and appropriate action by the Secretary.
Unless State law provides for a different method of appointment, the SHPO must appoint
an adequate and qualified State historic preservation Review Board (Review Board).
(1) All Review Board members must have demonstrated competence, interest, or
knowledge in historic preservation. A majority of Review Board members must meet
``the Secretary of the Interior's (Historic Preservation) Professional Qualifications
Standards'' which are part of the larger ``Secretary's Standards and Guidelines for
Archeology and Historic Preservation.'' The members meeting ``the Secretary's
(Historic Preservation) Professional Qualifications Standards'' must include at a
minimum, one individual meeting ``the Secretary's (Historic Preservation)
Professional Qualifications Standards'' for history, one individual meeting ``the
Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional Qualifications Standards'' for
prehistoric archeology or historic archeology, and one individual meeting ``the
Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional Qualifications Standards'' for
architectural history. One person may meet the Standards for more than one required
discipline. The other Review Board members, if any, who comprise the majority that
meets ``the Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional Qualifications Standards''
may represent, subject to the SHPO's selection, any of the disciplines that those
``Standards'' describe.
(2) The Secretary will consider proposals from a SHPO for a minimum required Review
Board composition that differs from the requirement that paragraph (f)(1) of this
section specifies, if the proposal addresses better an appropriate balance of historic
property, customer or constituent, and historic preservation needs in that State.
(3) When a required Review Board position becomes vacant, the SHPO must fill the
vacancy in a timely manner. In the interim, the SHPO must ensure that the Review
Board has access to advice from appropriately qualified individuals. A lapse of more

(4)
(5)
(6)

than one year in filling the vacancy is cause for review, comment, and appropriate
action by the Secretary.
The Review Board must meet as often as is necessary to complete its work in a timely
fashion but no less often than once a year.
The Review Board must adopt written procedures governing its operations consistent
with the provisions of this section and related guidance that the National Park Service
issues.
Review Board responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i) Providing advice to the SHPO on the full range of Historic Preservation Fundsupported activities, that section 101 (b)(3) of the Act describes;
(ii) Reviewing and making recommendations on National Register nomination
proposals;
(iii) Participating in the review of appeals to National Register nominations; and
(iv) Performing such other duties as may be appropriate.

Sec. 61.5 Grants to State programs.
(a)
(b)

Each State with an approved State program is eligible for grants-in-aid from the Historic
Preservation Fund (HPF).
The National Park Service (NPS) will administer HPF matching grants-in-aid in
accordance with the Act, OMB Circular A-133 and 43 CFR part 12, and related guidance
that NPS issues. Failure by a State program to meet these requirements is cause for
comment and appropriate action by the Secretary.

Sec. 61.6 Certified local government programs.
(a)
(b)

(c)

(d)

Each approved State program must provide a mechanism for certification (by the State
Historic Preservation Officer and the Secretary) of local governments to carry out the
purposes of the Act.
Each State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) must follow procedures that the Secretary
approves for the certification of local governments. [[Page 336]] Each SHPO also must
follow procedures for removal of certified local government (CLG) status for cause. A
SHPO must submit any proposed amendment to its procedures to the Secretary for
approval. The Secretary will act on each proposal in a timely fashion generally within 45
days of receipt.
When a SHPO approves a local government certification request in accordance with the
State program's National Park Service (NPS)-approved certification process, the SHPO
must prepare a written certification agreement between the SHPO and the local
government. The certification agreement must list the specific responsibilities of the local
government when certified. The SHPO must submit to the Secretary the written
certification agreement and any additional information as is necessary for the Secretary to
certify the local government pursuant to the Act and this part. If the Secretary does not
disapprove the proposed certification within 15 working days of receipt, the Secretary has
certified the local government.
Beyond the minimum responsibilities set out in the Act for all CLGs, the SHPO may make
additional delegations of responsibility to individual CLGs. However, these delegations

(e)

may not include the SHPO's overall responsibility derived from the Act or where law or
regulation specifies.
The SHPO must ensure that each local government satisfies the following minimum
requirements as conditions for certification. Each CLG must:
(1) Enforce appropriate State or local legislation for the designation and protection of
historic properties. The State procedures must define what constitutes appropriate
legislation, as long as:
(i) Designation provisions in such legislation include the identification and
registration of properties for protection that meet criteria established by the
State or the locality for significant historic and prehistoric resources within the
jurisdiction of the local government;
(ii) Protection provisions in such legislation include a local review process under
State or local law for proposed demolitions of, changes to, or other action that
may affect historic properties as paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section describes;
and
(iii) The legislation otherwise is consistent with the Act.
(2) Establish by State or local law and maintain an adequate and qualified historic
preservation review commission (Commission). All Commission members must have
a demonstrated interest, competence, or knowledge in historic preservation. Unless
State or local legislation provides for a different method of appointment, the chief
elected local official must appoint all Commission members.
(i) The State procedures must encourage certified local governments to include
individuals who meet ``the Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional
Qualifications Standards'' among the membership of the Commission, to the
extent that such individuals are available in the community.
(ii) The State procedures may specify the minimum number of Commission
members who must meet ``the Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional
Qualifications Standards.'' The State procedures may also specify which, if any,
disciplines the Commission's membership must include from among those
disciplines that the Standards describe. Membership requirements set by the
State procedures for Commissions must be cognizant of the needs and functions
of Commissions in the State and subject to the availability of such professionals
in the community concerned.
(iii) Provided that the Commission is otherwise adequate and qualified to carry out
the responsibilities delegated to it, the SHPO may certify a local government
without the minimum number or types of disciplines established in State
procedures, if the local government can demonstrate that it has made a
reasonable effort to fill those positions, or that an alternative composition of the
Commission best meets the needs of the Commission and of the local
government.
(iv) The SHPO must make available to each Commission orientation materials and
training designed to provide a working knowledge of the roles and operations of
Federal, State, and local [[Page 337]] historic preservation programs, and
historic preservation in general.
(3) Maintain a system for the survey and inventory of historic properties. The SHPO
must ensure that such systems and the data that they produce are capable of

(f)

(g)

(h)

integration into and are compatible with statewide inventories and (when and as
appropriate) with State and local planning processes.
(4) Provide for adequate public participation in the local historic preservation program as
a whole. The SHPO must provide each CLG with appropriate guidance on
mechanisms to ensure adequate public participation in the local historic preservation
program including the process for evaluating properties for nomination to the
National Register of Historic Places.
(5) Satisfactorily perform the responsibilities delegated to it under the Act. The SHPO
must monitor and evaluate the performance of each CLG according to written
standards and procedures that the SHPO establishes. If a SHPO's evaluation of a
CLG's performance indicates that such performance is inadequate, the SHPO must
suggest in writing ways to improve performance. If, after a period of time that the
SHPO stipulates, the SHPO determines that the CLG has not improved its
performance sufficiently, the SHPO may recommend that the Secretary decertify the
local government. If the Secretary does not object within 30 working days of receipt,
the Secretary has approved the decertification.
Effects of certification include:
(1) Inclusion in the process of nominating properties to the National Register of Historic
Places in accordance with sections 101 (c)(2)(A) and (c)(2)(B) of the Act. The SHPO
may delegate to a CLG any of the responsibilities of the SHPO and the Review Board
in processing National Register nominations as specified in 36 CFR part 60 (see also
Sec. 61.4(b)(3)), except for the authority to nominate properties directly to the
National Register. A CLG may make nominations directly to NPS only when the
State does not have an approved program pursuant to Sec. 61.4.
(2) Eligibility to apply for a portion of the State's annual Historic Preservation Fund
(HPF) grant award. Each State must transfer at least 10 percent of its annual HPF
grant award to CLGs for historic preservation projects and programs in accordance
with the Act and as Sec. 61.7 specifies.
The District of Columbia is exempt from the requirements of this section because there are
no subordinated local governments in the District. If any other jurisdiction that section
301(2) of the Act defines as a State believes that its political subdivisions lack authorities
similar to those of local governments in other States, and hence cannot satisfy the
requirements for local government certification, it may apply to the Secretary for
exemption from the requirements of this section.
Procedures for direct certification by the Secretary where there is no approved State
program pursuant to Sec. 61.4. To the extent feasible, the Secretary will ensure that there is
consistency and continuity in the CLG program of a State that does not have an approved
State program.
(1) Where there is no approved State program, a local government wishing to become
certified must apply directly to the Secretary.
(2) The application must demonstrate that the local government meets the specifications
for certification set forth in paragraph (e) of this section.
(3) The Secretary will review certification applications under this paragraph (h) and take
action in a timely fashion generally within 90 days of receipt.

Sec. 61.7 Subgrants to certified local governments.

(a)

(b)
(c)

(d)
(e)

(f)

Each SHPO must transfer at least 10 percent of its annual Historic Preservation Fund
(HPF) grant award to CLGs as subgrants for historic preservation projects and programs in
accordance with the Act. In any year that the annual HPF State grant appropriation exceeds
$65,000,000, SHPOs must transfer one half of the amount over $65,000,000 to CLGs
according to procedures that the Secretary will establish.
Each CLG is eligible to receive funds from the 10 percent (or greater) CLG share of the
State's total annual HPF grant award. However, the SHPO need not award funds to all
CLGs. [[Page 338]]
Each SHPO must maintain and follow a procedure that the Secretary approves for the use
and distribution of funds from the State's annual HPF grant award to CLGs to ensure that
no CLG receives a disproportionate share of the allocation. The procedure will provide a
clear basis for the funding decisions. The SHPO must submit any proposed amendment to
its procedure to the Secretary for approval. The Secretary will respond to such a proposal in
a timely fashion generally within 45 days of receipt.
Each SHPO must notify annually each CLG of its opportunity to apply for HPF funding as
well as what is entailed in the application and project selection process.
Each CLG receiving an HPF grant award from the CLG share is a subgrantee of the State.
The SHPO must ensure that each CLG adheres to all applicable grant conditions and
government-wide and program specific requirements that the National Park Service issues.
The SHPO may require specific uses of funds subgranted to CLGs. CLGs may not apply
subgranted HPF monies as matching share for any other Federal grant.
Where there is no approved State program pursuant to Sec. 61.4, the Secretary will
determine the method for allocating funds to CLGs in that State in accordance with the
procedures set forth for the State in this section. To the extent feasible, the Secretary will
ensure consistency and continuity in the funding allocation policy of the CLG program for
a State that does not have an approved historic preservation program.

Sec. 61.8 Tribal programs. [Reserved]
Sec. 61.9 Grants to tribal programs. [Reserved]
Sec. 61.10 Waiver.
The Secretary may waive any of the requirements of the rules in this part that are not mandated
by statute or by other applicable regulations if the Secretary finds, in writing, that the historic
preservation program would benefit from such waiver and the waiver would not compromise the
purposes, conditions, and requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as
amended.
Sec. 61.11 Information collection.
(a)

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3507 et seq., has approved
the collection of information contained in this part. OMB has assigned clearance number
1024-0038 to this collection of information. The National Park Service (NPS) collects this
information as part of the process for reviewing the procedures and programs of State and

(b)

local governments participating in the national historic preservation program and the
Historic Preservation Fund grant program. NPS will use the information to evaluate those
programs and procedures for consistency with the National Historic Preservation Act of
1966, as amended, and compliance with government-wide grant requirements. The
obligation to respond is required to obtain a benefit under these programs. Note that a
Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. NPS
provides no assurance of confidentiality to respondents with the exception of locational
information concerning some properties that government historic preservation property
inventories include. Pursuant to section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act of
1966, as amended, NPS tightly controls release of information when such release could
have the potential of damaging those qualities which make a property historic.
We estimate the public reporting burden for the collection of this information to average
14.06 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing
data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to
Ms. Diane M. Cooke, Information Collection Officer, National Park Service, 1849 C Street
NW, Washington, D.C. 20240 and to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of
Information [[Page 339]] and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior (1024-0038), Washington, D.C. 20503.