2019 US Code
Title 54 - National Park Service and Related Programs
Subtitle III - National Preservation Programs
Division A - Historic Preservation
Content -339

(a) Establishment.—There is established as an independent agency of the United States Government an Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, which shall be composed of the following members:

(b) Designation of Substitutes.—Each member of the Council specified in paragraphs (2) to (5) and (7) through (9) of subsection (a) may designate another officer of the department, agency, or organization to serve on the Council instead of the member, except that, in the case of paragraphs (2) and (4), no officer other than an Assistant Secretary or an officer having major department-wide or agency-wide responsibilities may be designated.

(c) Term of Office.—Each member of the Council appointed under paragraphs (10) through (12) of subsection (a) shall serve for a term of 4 years from the expiration of the term of the member's predecessor. The members appointed under paragraphs (5) and (6) shall serve for the term of their elected office but not in excess of 4 years. An appointed member, other than the Chairman of the Council, may not serve more than 2 terms. An appointed member whose term has expired shall serve until that member's successor has been appointed.

(d) Vacancies.—A vacancy in the Council shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled, not later than 60 days after the vacancy commences, in the same manner as the original appointment (and for the balance of the unexpired term).

(e) Chairman.—(1) After January 20, 2017, the Chairman shall—

(2) The Chairman shall serve for a term of 4 years and may be reappointed once, for a total of not more than 8 years of service as Chairman, except that a Chairman whose appointment has expired under this paragraph shall serve until his or her successor has been appointed. The term of a Chairman shall start (regardless of actual appointment date) on January 20 after each general Presidential election. The first Chairman appointed after the date of enactment of this paragraph shall have a first term commencing on January 20, 2017, and ending on January 19, 2021.

(3) The Chairmen before the first appointment of a Chairman in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection shall receive $100 per diem when engaged in the performance of the duties of the Council, and shall receive reimbursement for necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties of the Council.

(f) Designation of Vice Chairman.—The President shall designate a Vice Chairman from the members appointed under paragraph (5), (6), (10), or (11) of subsection (a). The Vice Chairman shall perform the functions of the Chairman during the absence or disability of the Chairman or when the office is vacant.

(g) Quorum.—Thirteen members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3209; Pub. L. 114–289, title V, §501(a)–(c)(1), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1489.)

In subsection (a)(9), the words "the disciplines of" are omitted as unnecessary.

The date of enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (e)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 114–289, which was approved Dec. 16, 2016.

2016—Subsec. (a)(8) to (12). Pub. L. 114–289, §501(a), added par. (8) and redesignated former pars. (8) to (11) as (9) to (12), respectively.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–289, §501(c)(1)(A), substituted "and (7) through (9)" for ", (7), and (8)".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–289, §501(c)(1)(B), substituted "under paragraphs (10) through (12)" for "under paragraphs (1) and (9) to (11)" and "An appointed member, other than the Chairman of the Council, may not serve more than 2 terms." for "An appointed member may not serve more than 2 terms."

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–289, §501(b)(2), added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 114–289, §501(b)(1), (3), (c)(1)(C), redesignated subsec. (e) as (f) and substituted "paragraph (5), (6), (10), or (11)" for "paragraph (5), (6), (9), or (10)" and "shall perform the functions" for "may act in place". Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 114–289, §501(b)(1), (c)(1)(D), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g) and substituted "Thirteen members" for "Twelve members".

(a) Duties.—The Council shall—

(b) Annual Report.—The Council annually shall submit to the President a comprehensive report of its activities and the results of its studies and shall from time to time submit additional and special reports as it deems advisable. Each report shall propose legislative enactments and other actions as, in the judgment of the Council, are necessary and appropriate to carry out its recommendations and shall provide the Council's assessment of current and emerging problems in the field of historic preservation and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs of Federal agencies, State and local governments, and the private sector in carrying out this division.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3210.)

The Council may secure directly from any Federal agency information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purpose of this chapter. Each Federal agency may furnish information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics to the extent permitted by law and within available funds.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3211.)

The words "Federal agency" are substituted for "department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment or instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government" to eliminate unnecessary words and for consistency in the revised chapter.

The members of the Council specified in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of section 304101(a) of this title shall serve without additional compensation. The Chairman of the Council shall be compensated as provided in subsection (e) of section 304101. The other members of the Council shall receive $100 per diem when engaged in the performance of the duties of the Council. All members of the Council shall receive reimbursement for necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties of the Council.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3211; Pub. L. 114–289, title V, §501(c)(2), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1490.)

2016—Pub. L. 114–289 inserted "The Chairman of the Council shall be compensated as provided in subsection (e) of section 304101." after "without additional compensation."

(a) Executive Director.—There shall be an Executive Director of the Council who shall be appointed by the Chairman with the concurrence of the Council in the competitive service at a rate within the General Schedule, in the competitive service at a rate that may exceed the rate prescribed for the highest rate established for grade 15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, or in the Senior Executive Service under section 3393 of title 5. The Executive Director shall report directly to the Chairman and perform such functions and duties as the Chairman may prescribe.

(b) General Counsel and Appointment of Other Attorneys.—

(c) Appointment and Compensation of Officers and Employees.—The Executive Director of the Council may appoint and fix the compensation of officers and employees in the competitive service who are necessary to perform the functions of the Council at rates not to exceed that prescribed for the highest rate for grade 15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5. The Executive Director, with the concurrence of the Chairman, may appoint and fix the compensation of not to exceed 5 employees in the competitive service at rates that exceed that prescribed for the highest rate established for grade 15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5 or in the Senior Executive Service under section 3393 of title 5.

(d) Appointment and Compensation of Additional Personnel.—The Executive Director may appoint and fix the compensation of such additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out the Council's duties, without regard to the civil service laws and chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5.

(e) Expert and Consultant Services.—The Executive Director may procure expert and consultant services in accordance with section 3109 of title 5.

(f) Financial and Administrative Services.—

(g) Funds, Personnel, Facilities, and Services.—

(h) Rights, Benefits, and Privileges of Transferred Employees.—Any employee in the competitive service of the United States transferred to the Council under section 207 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Public Law 89–665) retains all the rights, benefits, and privileges pertaining to the competitive service held prior to the transfer.

(i) Exemption From Federal Advisory Committee Act.—The Council is exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

(j) Provisions That Govern Operations of Council.—Subchapter II of chapter 5 and chapter 7 of title 5 shall govern the operations of the Council.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3211; Pub. L. 114–289, title V, §501(c)(3), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1490.)

In subsection (a), the words "at a rate within the Executive Schedule" are added to retain the ability to hire an Executive Director within the General Schedule. The words "in the competitive service at a rate that may exceed the rate prescribed for the highest rate established for grade 15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, or in the Senior Executive Service under section 3393 of title 5" are added for consistency with the intent of the source provision language as it existed in 1966, which included all Federal employees. The language is updated to reflect the existence of the Senior Executive Service and senior level employees above grade 15.

In subsection (c), the words "that exceed that prescribed for the highest rate established for grade 15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5 or in the Senior Executive Service under section 3393 of title 5" are substituted for "not to exceed that now or hereafter prescribed for the highest rate of grade 15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5" for consistency with the intent of the source provision language as it existed in 1966, which included all Federal employees. The language is updated to reflect the existence of the Senior Executive Service and senior level employees above grade 15.

In subsection (d), the words "chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5" are substituted for "the Classification Act of 1949" because of section 7(b) of the Act of September 6, 1966 (Public Law 89–554, 80 Stat. 631), the 1st section of which enacted Title 5, United States Code.

In subsection (f)(1), the word "Secretary" is substituted for "Department of the Interior" because of 43 U.S.C. 1451.

Section 207 of the National Historic Preservation Act, referred to in subsec. (h), is section 207 of Pub. L. 89–665, as added Pub. L. 94–422, title II, §201(9), Sept. 28, 1976, 90 Stat. 1322, which related to transfer of personnel and property by Department of the Interior to Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and was classified to section 470o of Title 16, Conservation, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 113–287, §7, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3272.

The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (i), is Pub. L. 92–463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–289 substituted "report directly to the Chairman" for "report directly to the Council" and "duties as the Chairman may prescribe" for "duties as the Council may prescribe".

(a) Authorization of Participation.—The participation of the United States as a member in the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property is authorized.

(b) Official Delegation.—The Council shall recommend to the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Smithsonian Institution and other public and private organizations concerned with the technical problems of preservation, the members of the official delegation that will participate in the activities of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property on behalf of the United States. The Secretary of State shall appoint the members of the official delegation from the persons recommended to the Secretary of State by the Council.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3213.)

The text of 16 U.S.C. 470n(c) is omitted as obsolete.

No officer or agency of the United States shall have any authority to require the Council to submit its legislative recommendations, or testimony, or comments on legislation to any officer or agency of the United States for approval, comments, or review, prior to the submission of the recommendations, testimony, or comments to Congress. When the Council voluntarily seeks to obtain the comments or review of any officer or agency of the United States, the Council shall include a description of the actions in its legislative recommendations, testimony, or comments on legislation that it transmits to Congress.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3213.)

(a) In General.—The Council may promulgate regulations as it considers necessary to govern the implementation of section 306108 of this title in its entirety.

(b) Participation by Local Governments.—The Council shall by regulation establish such procedures as may be necessary to provide for participation by local governments in proceedings and other actions taken by the Council with respect to undertakings referred to in section 306108 of this title that affect the local governments.

(c) Exemption for Federal Programs or Undertakings.—The Council, with the concurrence of the Secretary, shall promulgate regulations or guidelines, as appropriate, under which Federal programs or undertakings may be exempted from any or all of the requirements of this division when the exemption is determined to be consistent with the purposes of this division, taking into consideration the magnitude of the exempted undertaking or program and the likelihood of impairment of historic property.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3214.)

(a) Time and Manner of Submission.—The Council shall submit its budget annually as a related agency of the Department of the Interior.

(b) Transmittal of Copies to Congressional Committees.—Whenever the Council submits any budget estimate or request to the President or the Office of Management and Budget, it shall concurrently transmit copies of that estimate or request to the Committee on Natural Resources and Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3214.)

To assist the Council in discharging its responsibilities under this division, the Secretary at the request of the Chairman shall provide a report to the Council detailing the significance of any historic property, describing the effects of any proposed undertaking on the affected property, and recommending measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3214.)

Subject to applicable conflict of interest laws, the Council may receive reimbursements from State and local agencies and others pursuant to agreements executed in furtherance of this division.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3214.)

(a) Cooperative Agreements.—The Council may enter into a cooperative agreement with any Federal agency that administers a grant or assistance program for the purpose of improving the effectiveness of the administration of the program in meeting the purposes and policies of this division. The cooperative agreement may include provisions that modify the selection criteria for a grant or assistance program to further the purposes of this division or that allow the Council to participate in the selection of recipients, if those provisions are not inconsistent with the grant or assistance program's statutory authorization and purpose.

(b) Review of Grant and Assistance Programs.—The Council may—

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3214.)