Ron Anzalone of the President's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation asked me to publish the following overview of the Council on appropriate mailing lists on the Internet since the Council does not have e-mail access yet. As the situation of the Council has recently been, and continues to be, of interest to the preservation community, and there has been some misunderstanding of what the Council is and the role it plays in historic preservation in the United States, ACRA has agreed to publish this information on the Net. We apologize for any duplicate postings, and hope this background information will be useful as the Senate attempts to eliminate the Council this summer. Tom Wheaton Executive Director - ACRA ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION AN OVERVIEW -What is the Council? The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is an independent federal agency that plays a pivotal role in the National Historic Preservation Program, a federal, state, and local partnership established by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) in 1966. -What does the Council do? *Protects historic properties* The Council reviews the effects of federal undertakings on historic properties in communities and on public lands throughout the nation under the authority of Section 106 of NHPA. It helps protect such resources from harmful impacts caused by federally supported actions, providing a forum for public interest review, consultation, and resolution of disputes concerning historic preservation issues. Section 106 is the principal means for taking historic values into consideration in federal planning and decision making, and the sole legal assurance that state and local governments, Indian tribes, private organizations, and the public will have an opportunity to learn about and help shape federal decisions that affect important resources in their communities. The Council does not direct or control private actions taken by property owners on their property, or those taken by state or local governments under their jurisdiction. Neither does the Council have veto authority over federal projects or the ability to delay projects indefinitely through the Section 106 process. *Administers the "Section 106" process* The Council is the only governmental entity with legal responsibility for balancing historic preservation concerns with other federal program initiatives from a national, government-wide perspective. It establishes procedures, sets standards, provides oversight, and ensures consistency in how those concerns are dealt with. *Promotes federal preservation planning and stewardship* The Council works with all federal agencies to promote responsible project planning and historic property management; accommodate project needs and historic values in cost-effective ways; and improve coordination and cooperation between federal and non-federal parties. *Advises the President and Congress* The Council provides training and educational assistance to federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, and private organizations and individuals on historic preservation law, policy, and practice related to Section 106 review. -How does the Council's work mesh with other federal policies and responsibilities? The Council works in partnership with the Secretary of the Interior and the heads of other federal departments and agencies to coordinate and manage the federal government's interest and involvement in historic preservation. The Council therefore has an important role under other statutes in addition to the NHPA, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and works closely with such diverse federal initiatives as the Defense Base Realignment and Closure program (BRAC), the Community Development Block Grant and Community Reinvestment programs, and the Federal-Aid Highway Program. -How is the Council organized? The Council is comprised of a Cabinet-level body of 20 members specified in the NHPA, and a small professional staff. Members include 11 presidentially-appointed, non-federal members: the Chairman and three other members from the general public, a governor, a mayor, four experts from preservation-related disciplines and a Native American or Native Hawaiian. The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and four other federal agency heads (currently HUD, DOT, EPA, and GSA), the Architect of the Capitol, and ex-officio representatives of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers round out the Council membership. The Council's 40-member staff is made up largely of preservation professionals who carry out the day-to-day work of the Council from offices in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado. -How is the Council funded? Council funds are appropriated throughout the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies appropriation and overseen by the House Committee on Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Its annual budget is about $3 million, which covers the costs of member activities, staff work, informational materials, and administrative overhead. The Council does not provide grants or other financial assistance. -Where can further information be obtained? The Council's Annual Reports to Congress outline many examples of the Council's work, and may be obtained at no cost from the Council. Additional information and publications are also available. For further information, contact the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 809, Washington D.C. 20004; 202 606 8503/FAX 202 606 8672.