National Historic Preservation Act NHPA

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• National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
• and Cultural Resources
• Making it work on the ground.
• Panel Discussion J. Eric Scherer, State
  Resource Conservationist
• National Environmental Policy Meeting
• Sacramento, CA
• Tuesday, June 14, 2005

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What are we trying to do?

• There are at least ten U.S. laws, executive
  orders, and regulations other then the NHPA that
  deal with cultural resources of several kinds -
  Federal Planning and Historic Places The Section
  106 Process pg 12.

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American Indians often retain deep emotional
ties to their ancestral lands that were ceded by
treaty or lost in war. In these ancestral places
lie the graves of their ancestors and other
significant sites that the tribes are seeking to
protect Patricia Parker Keepers of the
Treasures
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Why are we concerned and what concerns us?

• Cultural resources are the traces of all the
  past activities and accomplishments of people.
  They include tangible traces such as historic
  districts, sites, buildings, structures traces
  of less tangible objects such as dance forms,
  aspects of folk-life, cultural or religious
  practices historical documents and some
  landscapes, vistas, and cemeteries. - CULTURAL
  RESOURCES NE-CPA-52 HELP SHEET

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A Brief Look At Rhode Island Cultural Resources
Issues

• Hundreds of archaeological sites, dating as
  early as 8,000-10,000 years ago, are located
  throughout Rhode Island and under the waters of
  Narragansett Bay and the state's rivers. The
  location, study, and protection of these sites is
  an important component of Rhode Island's historic
  preservation program. - RI SHPO

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Coastal Resources

• Rhode Island has more shipwrecks per square
  mile than any other state. Over 2,000 wrecks,
  including colonial trading ships, ships of war,
  and luxury passenger vessels from the 19th
  century, can be found in state waters. (Shipwreck
  at Agassiz Cove, Newport, c. 1885)

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Historic Cemeteries

• Cemeteries are among Rhode Island's most
  unique and most overlooked historic resources.
  Rhode Island contains at least 2833 historic
  cemeteries, from small family burial grounds to
  landscaped garden cemeteries. Rhode Island has
  the highest number of historic, private
  cemeteries per square mile of any state. Sarah
  Gardiner grave, Platform Cemetery, North
  Kingstown (Photo Michael Bell)

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Casey Farm North Kingstown, RI
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Watson Farm Jamestown, Rhode Island
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Historical Cemetery Beaverhead Farm, Jamestown
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What NRCS Rhode Island is doing

• NRCS will identify and protect cultural resources
  early in the planning and environmental
  evaluation processes of all assistance activities
  classified as an undertaking.
• NRCS will protect cultural resources in their
  original location to the fullest extent
  practicable by avoiding adverse impacts.
• NRCS will consider cultural resources that may be
  significant for reasons in addition to or apart
  from authorities such as section 106 of the NHPA.
  When such resources (e.g. traditional cultural
  properties (TCP), traditional cultural values,
  landscape, or features having religious
  importance) may be impacted, NRCS will consult
  with concerned parties to determine what
  practices or treatments, if any, are acceptable
  to the concerned parties and will document the
  outcome of such consultation according to the
  statutes and authorities under which they are
  considered.
• Part 401.20 General Policy, Subpart C Policy,
  Part 401 Cultural Resources (Archeological and
  Historic Properties

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Where We Are in Rhode Island with CR

• Since 1996 most of NRCS Rhode Islands focus on
  Cultural Resources has been on USDA Farm Bill
  programs such as EQIP and WHIP.
• In the past several years our focus has begun to
  include the easement programs like FRPP, WRP and
  now GRP.

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Farm and Ranch land Protection Program

• Eligible land is privately owned land on a farm
  or ranch that contains prime, unique, Statewide,
  or locally important soil, or contains historical
  or archaeological resources
• Note For farms accepted into the program based
  solely on containing historical and
  archaeological resources, the conservation
  easement should address the protection of the
  archaeological or historical resource, in order
  to be eligible for FRPP funding.
• -NRCS Policy, 440-V-CPM, Part 519, FRPP - 519.32
  Land Eligibility (A) Description

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Grassland Reserve Program

• Grasslands provide both ecological and economic
  benefits to local residents and society in
  general. Grassland importance lies not only in
  the immense area covered, but also in the
  diversity of benefits they produce. These lands
  provide water for urban and rural uses, livestock
  products, flood protection, wildlife habitat, and
  carbon sequestration. These lands also provide
  aesthetic value in the form of open space and are
  vital links in the enhancement of rural social
  stability and economic vigor, as well as being
  part of the Nations history.
• Therefore, the overall program emphasis will be
  on preserving native and natural species.
• - 7 CFR Part 1415

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Walker Farm WRP Saltmarsh Restoration Project
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Gorham Farm - GRP
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Historical Use of landforms