NPS Revises Policy on Transmitting HABS/HAER/HALS Documentation to Library of Congress

A recent three page memorandum from Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director of Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science at the National Park Service (NPS), announces a reversal of a 1997 policy that limited the transmittal of Historic American Building Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) and Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) to the Library of Congress (LOC) in Washington, D.C. Toothman's memo explains: On October 1, 1997, the NPS,...issued a policy memorandum announcing that documentation to HABS/HAER standards "will continue to be carried out" only for "National Historic Landmarks, properties eligible for the National Register at the national level of significance, and some specifically identified, individually eligible properties significant at the State and local levels." The memo continues by stating: [T]he NPS will reinstate its original policy of accepting and transmitting to the LOC mitigation documentation to HABS/HAER/HALS standards for all historic properties to be substantially altered or demolished by a federal agency's action or assistance, without restrictions as to type of resource or level of significance. For questions or a copy of the memorandum, contact Greg Griffith at greg.griffith@dahp.wa.gov or 360-586-3073.