November 18, 2014 - WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) has proposed a rule to allow deaccessioning of federally owned archeological items determined to be of insufficient national archeological interest. The amendment to the Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 36 part 79 is open for public comment for 90 days ending Feb. 17, 2015.
Federal agencies, including the NPS, are responsible for millions of archeological objects around the nation. The proposed rule is intended to assist federal agencies in their stewardship of archeological collections which they curate on behalf of the American public.
The new rule would provide agencies with a rigorous procedure to deaccession a limited number of particular material remains that are determined to be “of insufficient archeological interest” by meeting very specific criteria. No human remains or cultural items as defined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) may be disposed of under this proposed rule.
Objects for possible disposition under the proposed rule must be archeological “material remains.” Examples include large quantities of red brick fragments retained during an excavation or soil samples that have become contaminated.
The proposed rule is designed to improve the cost-effectiveness of caring for federal collections. It includes a number of safeguards including consultation with a NPS Collections Advisory Committee, which may include a representative appointed by a federally-recognized tribe; notification of interested parties including State and Tribal Historic Preservation offices and interested universities; and publishing detailed information about the proposed disposition in the Federal Register. Deaccessioned objects are not to be sold or traded as commercial goods.
Public comments will be reviewed and considered before a final rule is drafted. The final rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register in 2015.
To read the proposed rule please visit: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-26839
National Park Service Proposes Deaccessioning Rule for Material Determined to be of Insufficient Archeological Interest
- Details
