NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT (1966, amended 1980)
16 USC Sec. 470
TITLE 16, CHAPTER 1A, SUBCHAPTER II
Sec. 470. Short title; Congressional finding and declaration of policy
-STATUTE-
(a) This subchapter may be cited as the 'National Historic
Preservation Act'.
(b) The Congress finds and declares that -
- (1) the spirit and direction of the Nation are founded
upon and reflected in its historic heritage;
- (2) the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation
should be preserved as a living part of our community life and
development in order to give a sense of orientation to the
American people;
- (3) historic properties significant to the Nation's
heritage are being lost or substantially altered, often
inadvertently, with increasing frequency;
- (4) the preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in
the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural,
educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy
benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations
of Americans;
- (5) in the face of ever-increasing extensions of urban
centers, highways, and residential, commercial, and industrial
developments, the present governmental and nongovernmental
historic preservation programs and activities are inadequate to
insure future generations a genuine opportunity to appreciate and
enjoy the rich heritage of our Nation;
- (6) the increased knowledge of our historic resources,
the establishment of better means of identifying and
administering them, and the encouragement of their preservation
will improve the planning and execution of Federal and federally
assisted projects and will assist economic growth and
development; and
- (7) although the major burdens of historic preservation
have been borne and major efforts initiated by private agencies
and individuals, and both should continue to play a vital role,
it is nevertheless necessary and appropriate for the Federal
Government to accelerate its historic preservation programs and
activities, to give maximum encouragement to agencies and
individuals undertaking preservation by private means, and to
assist State and local governments and the National Trust for
Historic Preservation in the United States to expand and
accelerate their historic preservation programs and activities.
(Pub. L. 89-665, Sec. 1, Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 915;
Pub. L. 96-515, title I, Sec. 101(a), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat.
2987.)
AMENDMENTS
1980 - Pub. L. 96-515 added subsec.
(a), designated existing provision as subsec.
(b), and in subsec. (b) as so designated, redesignated pars.
(a) to (d) as (1), (2), (5), and (7), respectively, in par. (1)
as so redesignated, substituted 'heritage' for 'past', and added
pars. (3), (4), and (6).
SHORT TITLE OF 1980 AMENDMENT
Section 1 of Pub. L. 96-515 provided: 'That this Act (enacting
sections 469c-2, 470-1 470a-1, 470a-2, 470h-2, 470h-3, 470u, 470v
and 470w to 470w-6 of this title, amending this section and
sections 470a, 470b, 470c, 470d, 470h to 470j, 470l, 470m, and
470r to 470t of this title, and enacting provisions set out as
notes under sections 470a, 470j and 470h of this title and
section 874 of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works)
may be cited as the 'National Historic Preservation Act
Amendments of 1980'.'