Cultural resources are important remnants of the past and tell the collective stories of our Nation, and all the many peoples and cultures that live here. The Department is committed to identifying, using, and protecting these resources through compliance with key laws and executive orders, such as:
- Archaeological Resource Protection Act
- National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations at 36 CFR 800
- Native American Graves and Repatriation Act
- Executive Order 13007 “Indian Sacred Sites”
Other cultural resource and historic preservation initiatives within the Department include:
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s HSI Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Program, is actively involved in preventing the trafficking of cultural artifacts by collaborating with law enforcement agencies and international partners to protect cultural heritage from illegal trade.
- U.S. Coast Guard continues to maintain active aids to navigation at or near specific lighthouses, the structures themselves are often no longer critical to mission needs. In accordance with the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2000, USCG works with the National Park Service and General Services Administration to protect these important historic properties through the transfers to new owners.
- The Transportation Security Administration coordinates with Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to facilitate domestic and international repatriation in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
DHS follows the policy and procedures in the following Directive and Instruction for cultural resource management.
The Department has developed Program Alternatives with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Indian tribes, including Alaska Native Communities and Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, State Historic Preservation Offices, and others to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act reviews and streamline routine interactions.
Department-wide Program Alternatives
- Program Comment for Federal Communications Projects
- Program Comment to Avoid Duplicative Reviews for Wireless Communications Facilities Construction and Modification
Government-wide Program Alternatives
- Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Exemption
- Exemption for Indigenous Knowledge-Informed Activities by Native Hawaiian Organizations
Component-specific Program Alternatives
DHS engages in meaningful consultation with Federally Recognized Tribes, including Alaska Native Communities and Native Hawaiian organizations, on proposed activities to inform environmental decision-making. The Tribal Desk within the DHS Office of Intergovernmental Affairs leads Department-wide tribal consultation efforts and provides assistance and guidance to other DHS tribal consultation efforts. Tribal consultation allows DHS to uphold our Trust Responsibility and ensures that tribal perspectives are respected and considered in our decisions.
DHS Tribal Consultation Policy
Additional Resources for Tribal Consultation
- Bureau of Indian Affairs - Tribal Leaders Directory
- U.S. Department of Interior - Native Hawaiian Organizations List
- National Park Service - Tribal Historic Preservation Officer List
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Tribal Directory Assessment Tool
- CBP Historic Preservation
- FEMA Historic Preservation
- Coast Guard Historic Preservation
- The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
- The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers
- The National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers
- The National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places
For more information, please contact the Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Program at sep-ephp@hq.dhs.gov.