[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47875-47876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19594]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NRNHL-10550; 2200-3200-665]


National Register of Historic Places Request for Comments on 
Identifying, Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties 
and Native American Landscapes

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Through October 31, 2012, the National Park Service (NPS) will 
be soliciting written comments and recommendations from its tribal, 
national, state, and local historic preservation partners, NPS regional 
offices and parks, other Federal agencies, and the public at large 
regarding updating National Register (NR) Program guidance for 
identifying, evaluating, and documenting properties that are 
historically significant as Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs) and/
or Native American landscapes.

DATES: Submit comments through October 31, 2012.

ADDRESSES: NPS requests that all comments and recommendations related 
to the issues outlined above should be

[[Page 47876]]

forwarded via email to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis Abernathy, National Register of 
Historic Places program, National Park Service; 1849 C Street NW 
(2280); Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 354-2236; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With the 1990 release of National Register 
Bulletin 38, Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional 
Cultural Properties, NPS clarified a broader scope of properties that 
could be considered eligible for listing in the National Register of 
Historic Places (NR) for their significance as Traditional Cultural 
Properties, and provided written guidance on working with these 
properties. This policy direction was followed by the provision in the 
1992 amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act stating: 
``Properties of traditional religious and cultural importance to an 
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization may be determined to be 
eligible for inclusion in the National Register.'' While Bulletin 38 
remains an essential, basic resource for identifying, evaluating, and 
documenting TCPs, in recent years the number of requests for additional 
assistance in this regard from State and Tribal Historic Preservation 
Offices, Federal agencies, and preservation professionals has increased 
significantly. NPS believes the best way to address these requests is 
through the provision of updated, published guidance on how to better 
identify and evaluate:

 What constitutes a ``traditional'' community
 ``Continuity of use'' by a traditional community
 Evolving uses of resources by a traditional community
 Multiple lines of documentary evidence
 Broad ethnographic landscapes
 Property boundaries
 Resource integrity

    In addition to the issues noted above, NPS is also seeking to 
identify and address any other ``user-identified'' TCP-related issues, 
as well as requesting comments and recommendations that specifically 
address the development of published guidance related to identifying, 
evaluating, and documenting NR-eligible Native American landscapes. NPS 
requests that all comments and recommendations related to the issues 
outlined above should be forwarded via email to: [email protected]. 
Respondents should identify their submission(s) as a ``TCP/NAL 
Comment'' in their email ``subject'' box. Responses submitted via email 
will be posted on an ongoing basis beginning the first week of June, 
2012 on the NR Web site located at: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/guidance/TCP_comments.htm. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    The National Register Program looks forward to hearing comments on 
these issues.

    Dated: July 10, 2012.
J. Paul Loether,
Chief, National Register of Historic Places/National Historic Landmarks 
Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-19594 Filed 8-9-12; 8:45 am]
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