3.4 CULTURAL RESOURCES – HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES INFORMATION

USDA Rural Development is responsible to ensure that its programs comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning protection of historic properties. These programs include, but are not limited to, all direct and insured loans, grants, guaranteed loans, and other agency activity that has the potential to adversely affect cultural resources such as historic or archaeological sites and properties.

The Federal government recognizes the value of irreplaceable prehistoric and historic cultural resources and is committed to protecting them from damage. Numerous federal laws have been passed to protect these resources; foremost among these is the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended. The NHPA sets forth the federal government’s position that historic resources provide important benefits to the American people and that the government should provide leadership in the preservation of the prehistoric and historic resources of the United States.   Other Federal laws are the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 and Executive Order 13287 of March 3, 2003.

Rural Development should not authorize, fund, or carry out any proposal or project which would adversely affect the unique values of Native American reservations, sacred sites, or burial grounds. Whenever a proposed action is determined to have the potential for impacting a Native American reservation, sacred site, or burial ground, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and appropriate Tribal Council should be consulted as early in the environmental impact analysis process as possible to evaluate the possible consequences and protection requirements concerning the action.  The public consultation protocols of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as discussed in detail in Section IV.B.3. of this Guide should be followed to adequately solicit comment by interested Native American individuals and organizations.

Link to National Historic Preservation Act - Section 106 Regulations Flowchart