National Register: TCP Bulletin Comment Deadline

Description

The National Register of Historic Places is seeking comments on its revised "National Register Bulletin 38: Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties" (TCP Bulletin). This publication provides guidance for identifying, evaluating, and documenting traditional cultural places (TCPs) that are significant in American history, architecture, engineering, archeology, and culture, at local, state, and national levels of significance.

COMMENTING: The NPS invites comments on the Draft TCP Bulletin. Comments may be submitted online by clicking the "Open For Comment" link on this page and selecting the TCP Bulletin file. This action will open the comment submission screen. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via email to nr_tcp@nps.gov or mailed to: 

National Register of Historic Places
National Park Service
Stewart Lee Udall Building
1849 C Street, NW
Mail Stop 7228
Washington, D.C. 20240
ATTN: Draft TCP Bulletin

The deadline for submitting comments is April 30, 2023.

Please note, because U.S. Postal Service mail received at the Udall Building is irradiated, and this may cause damage, we recommended that paper correspondence be delivered to the Udall Building via private courier service, such as DHL, UPS, or FedEx.

BACKGROUND: First issued in 1990, the TCP Bulletin was developed to provide guidance on nominating buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts believed to have traditional cultural significance for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The TCP Bulletin was updated in 1992 to address concerns that properties of importance to Tribes or Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) were being excluded from listing by virtue of the fact that religious properties are not typically eligible for listing in the National Register. It was again updated in 1998 to re-state that TCPs are not a new property type nor an additional level of significance.

From 2011 to 2013, in response to ever-increasing requests for additional assistance on TCP identification and evaluation, NPS held listening sessions around the country to gather comments. NPS hosted webinars and participated in conferences and meetings with Federal and state agencies, Native Americans, Native Hawai'ians, Native Alaskans, and preservation organizations. Most comments received asked for clarification on just what is eligible as a TCP and just how the federal review process (Section 106 consultation) applies to TCPs.

From 2014 to 2017, NPS developed a revised draft that to include plain language and successful nominations as examples. In mid-2017, the update initiative was halted. The NPS is now relaunching that effort to revised the TCP Bulletin. The 2017 draft has been further revised to enhance plain language and include additional examples and images.

Contact Information: nr_tcp@nps.gov