As a nation and as a people, Americans have one of the most diverse and rich legacies in the history of mankind. Often in the rush to grow and expand, however, this nation has lost the signposts of the past. The recognition and awareness of who we are; the meaning of where we live, work, and play; the special meaning of our natural and historic landmarks; and a renewed reverence for the quality of our natural environment comprise a consciousness very real in America today. By preserving those places of special, natural, historic, and scientific value, we can ensure that our children and grandchildren will have a chance to know a part of America which we and our ancestors might otherwise have taken for granted.

While the federal government has been involved in natural and historic preservation for some time, efforts have not always been well coordinated from a policy and program point of view. In his May 1977 Environmental Message, President Carter directed the Secretary of the Interior to formulate an integrated program to identify, acquire, and protect the most significant examples of our natural and historical heritage and to encourage, support, and coordinate ongoing private, state, and federal programs.

In response to that directive, Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. Andrus assembled a National Heritage Task Force composed of representatives of 55 private organizations and state and federal agencies to assist in the development of a National Heritage Program. The resultant proposed program is based on the concept that the key to successful heritage conservation is voluntary action by private individuals and organizations and by local and state governments, supported by a responsive federal government. Below is a brief summary of how a heritage resource would be identified, evaluated, registered, and protected:

Identification — A potential heritage resource would be located or identified in one of two ways: (1) By private organizations or individuals, local jurisdictions, state or federal agencies, or (2) by a federal agency or an applicant to that agency for a license or permit. The efforts of private, local, and state organizations or agencies to identify these resources may be financed in part with federal grant funds administered through the states as part of the comprehensive statewide inventory process. The information gained on heritage resources from these identification efforts would flow into state natural and historic inventories.

Evaluation — Identification resources of potential heritage value would be professionally evaluated against criteria for the National Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Natural Areas. In the course of the complete state and federal inventory process, the identified resources would be evaluated periodically on a regular basis, or (1) before any federal action is taken which might adversely affect them, or (2) when they are involved in an application for federal assistance.

Registration — Heritage resources that have been professionally evaluated and have been found to meet the criteria would be entered in one of the registers. The registers would be maintained by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, with detailed information on registered resources maintained by the state heritage offices.

Protection — Registration of a heritage resource or determination of eligibility would trigger a protective review and comment system for federal projects and programs with consultation among the Council on Heritage Conservation, the federal program-project agency, and the state heritage office. Once determined by the HCRS to be of national significance, registered resources would be designated National Heritage Landmarks. Such designation would trigger a requirement that a federal agency proposing an action which would affect that property must find that there is no prudent or feasible alternative to its proposed action. Registered heritage resources may be eligible for federal financial assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and from the Historic Preservation Fund. Technical assistance also would be available.

As the shape and substance of the National Heritage Program become firm, we will provide you with timely information on its operation. It should be emphasized that, while taking on these new responsibilities for the preservation of our natural and historical heritage, the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service remains the federal focal point for outdoor recreation.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 30 May/June, 1978