AN ACT To provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes.

Declaration of Policy Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That is hereby declared that it is a national policy to preserve for public use historic sites, buildings and objects of national significance for the inspiration and benefit of the people of the United States.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary), through the National Park Service, for purpose of effectuating the policy expressed in section 1 hereof, shall have the following powers and perform the following duties and functions:

Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (a) Secure, collate, and preserve drawings, plans, photo graphs, and other data of historic and archaeological sites, buildings, and objects.

National Landmarks Program (b) Make a survey of historic and archaeological sites, buildings, and objects for the purpose of determining which possess exceptional value as commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States.

Collection of true and accurate information (c) Make necessary investigations and researches in the United States relating to particular sites, buildings, or objects to obtain true and accurate historical and archaeological facts and information concerning the same.

Acquisition of property (d) For the purpose of this Act, acquire in the name of the United States by gift, purchase, or otherwise any property, per personal or real, or any interest or estate therein, title to any real property to be satisfactory to the Secretary: Provided, That no such property which is owned by any religious or educational institution, or which is owned or administered for the benefit of the public shall be so acquired without the consent of the owner: provided further, That no such property shall be acquired or contractor agreement for the acquisition thereof made which will obligate the general fund of the Treasury for the payment of such property, unless or until Congress has appropriated money which is available for that purpose.

Cooperative Agreements (e) Contract and make cooperative agreements with States, municipal subdivisions, corporations, associations, or individuals, with proper bond where deemed advisable, to protect, preserve, maintain, or operate any historic or archaeologic building, site, object, or property used in connection therewith for public use, regardless as to whether the title thereto is in the United States: Provided, That no contract or cooperative agreement shall be made or entered into which will obligate the general fund of the Treasury unless or until Congress has appropriated money for such purpose.

Use of Historic Properties (f) Restore, reconstruct, rehabilitate, preserve, and maintain historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and property of national historical or archaeological significance and where deemed desirable establish and maintain museums in connection therewith.

Commemorative plaques (g) Erect and maintain tablets to mark or commemorate historic or prehistoric places and events of national historical or archaeological significance.

Operation and management of historic properties (h) Operate and manage historic and archaeologic sites, buildings, and properties acquired under the provisions of this Act together with lands and subordinate buildings for the benefit of the public, such authority to include the power to charge reasonable visitation fees and grant concessions, leases, or permits for the use of land, building space, roads, or trails when necessary or desirable either to accommodate the public or to facilitate administration: Provided, That the Secretary may grant such concessions, leases, or permits and enter into contracts relating to the same with responsible persons, firms, or corporations without advertising and without securing competitive bids.

Organization of special corporations (i) When the Secretary determines that it would be administratively burdensome to restore, reconstruct, operate, or maintain any particular historic or archaeologic site, building, or property donated to the United States through the National Park Service, he may cause the same to be done by organizing a corporation for that purpose under the laws of the District of Columbia or any State.

Educational Programs (j) Develop an educational program and service for the purpose of making available to the public facts and information pertaining to American historic and archaeologic sites, buildings, and properties of national significance. Reasonable charges may be made for the dissemination of any such facts or information.

Regulations and fines (k) Perform any and all acts, and make such rules and regulations not inconsistent with this Act as may be necessary and proper to carry out the provisions thereof. Any person violating any of the rules and regulations authorized by this Act shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 and be adjudged to pay all cost of the proceedings.

National Park System Advisory Board SEC. 3. (a) A general advisory board to be known as the National Park System Advisory Board is hereby established, to be composed of not to exceed twelve persons, citizens of the United States, to include but not be limited to representatives competent in the fields of history, archaeology, architecture, and natural science, who shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term not to exceed four years. The Secretary shall take into consideration nominations for appointees from public and private, professional, civic, and educational societies, associations, and institutions. The members of such board shall receive no salary but may be paid expenses incidental to travel when engaged in discharging their duties as members. It shall be the duty of such board to advise the Secretary on matters relating to the National Park System, to other related areas, and to the administration of this Act, including but not limited to matters submitted to it for consideration by the Secretary, but it shall not be required to recommend as to the suit ability or desirability of surplus real and related personal property for use as an historic monument.

(b) The National Park System Advisory Board shall continue to exist until January 1, 1990.* In all other respects, it shall be subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

*As of this compilation, the Board has been extended administratively bvy the Secretary of the Interior for an additional year.

Technical and professional advice SEC 4. (a) The Secretary, in administering this Act, is authorized to cooperate with and may seek and accept the assistance of any Federal, State, or municipal department or agency, or any educational or scientific institution, or any patriotic association, or any individual.

Technical advisory committees (b) When deemed necessary, technical advisory committees may be established to act in an advisory capacity in connection with the restoration or reconstruction of any historic or prehistoric building or structure.

(c) Such professional and technical assistance may be employed without regard to the civil-service laws, and such service may be established as may be required to accomplish the purposes of this Act and for which money may be appropriated by Congress or made available by gifts for such purpose.

Jurisdiction of Sates and political subdivisions SEC. 5. Nothing in this Act shall be held to deprive any State, or political subdivision thereof, of its civil and criminal jurisdiction in and over lands acquired by the United States under this Act.

Congressional appropriations SEC. 6. There is authorized to be appropriated for carrying out the purposes of this Act such sums as the Congress may from time to time determine.

Controlling provisions SEC. 7The provisions of this Act shall control if any of them are in conflict with any other Act or Acts relating to the same subject matter.

*This title is not an of official short title but is merely a popular name used for the convenience of the reader; the Act has no official short title. The historic Sites Act of 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), as set forth herein, consists of Public Law 74-292 (August 21, 1935) and amendments thereto.

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The Vermont Heritage Network
The University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program
Wheeler House, University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
(802)656-3180
http://www.uvm.edu/~vhnet
E-mail To: vhnet@zoo.uvm.edu