An amusement park on Mount Vernon? The agency tasked to protect cultural heritage just abdicated its responsibilities, opening the door for federal agencies to wipe out our past
Proposed federal rule changes would eliminate the requirement for public feedback and consultation with key parties like Tribal Nations and ultimately lead to the destruction of much of our cultural heritage. There's still time to weigh in, says consultant Joe Watkins .
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has reportedly abandoned its responsibility to protect cultural heritage, paving the way for federal agencies to potentially destroy sacred Indigenous sites and significant archaeological locations. The ACHP, an agency dedicated to preserving America's historic places, has voted to approve a new rule that alters how Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is implemented.
This legislation mandates federal agencies to evaluate the effects of their actions or approved projects on historic, archaeological, and cultural properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. However, the proposed regulations would grant federal agencies the discretion to decide whether public participation is necessary, potentially bypassing the consultation process with Tribal Nations and the public.
This decision violates federal law, which acknowledges Tribal Nations as domestic, dependent nations and requires consultation with them on a government-to-government basis. Furthermore, the new regulations narrow the definition of what constitutes a historic property, potentially excluding a wide range of historic sites from protection.
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