2017/11/02 Army Environmental Program Division Curation of Federal - - PDF document

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Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management

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Army Environmental Program Division

Curation of Federal Collections

kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil (571) 256-9726

Kathleen McLaughlin Department of the Army Deputy Federal Preservation Officer

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

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Federal Collections

Archaeological collections are sometimes the only physical record of our national heritage for the prehistoric and early historic eras. They are irreplaceable and care of federal collections is regulated by legislative mandate.

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

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Curation of Artifacts and Collections

• Objectives:

– Identify federal legal authorities and responsibilities for curation activities – Discuss roles and responsibilities

• f the installation cultural resource

manager (CRM) in curation planning and activities

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Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

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Curation

• Long-term care of collections including artifacts,

associated hard-copy records and digital data

• Available for study and analysis
• Required by law

Artifact examples from Pre- and post historic sites

Petroglyphs are found on a number of Army installations

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

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Legislative Mandate

• NHPA

– Artifacts and records in appropriate institutions – 36 CFR Part 79, Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archeological Collections – Required in agreements under Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800

• ARPA

– Resources are property of U.S. – Preserve in suitable institutions

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

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Ownership of Archaeological Material

• Federal land

– Federal government, except for… – Native American “Cultural Items”

• Indian land

– Indian tribe

• State land

– State government

• Private property

– Private land owner

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Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

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Who Is Responsible?

• Active Installations
• Installation Commander ultimately responsible
• Environmental Office staff (CRM) typically handle duties
• Installations in BRAC process (minimal military

presence)

• Staff with NEPA compliance duties
• Responsibility shifts to Region or Command Headquarters.
• Closed Installations (no military presence)
• Command Headquarters inherits responsibility
• May delegate duties to region or installation

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

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Curatorial Facilities

• Where to Curate

– Professional curatorial facilities – museums – academic institutions or – regional centers (Legacy Program grant)

• Costs of Curation

– One time per box fee – Processing fee + annual maintenance – Rehabilitation and conservator costs

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

36 CFR Part 79

• Requirements for

handling and storing artifacts, records, and digital data

• Standards, procedures, and

guidelines

• Climate controlled

environments

• Security
• Qualified staff

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Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

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36 CFR Part 79 (Cont)

• Repositories should have adequate space for:
• Collection storage areas
• Offices
• Research areas
• Registration activities
• Repositories should meet all building codes,

including:

• Structural adequacy
• Fire detection and suppression systems
• Security

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

Curation of Digital Data

“Archaeological curation repositories are not able to act as digital archives. Digital files are vulnerable to corruption, hardware failure, and format obsolescence if not properly maintained, preserved, and migrated. Without suitable management and preservation of digital data, the results of expensive archaeological work may be lost altogether, wasting money and leaving installations unable to factor significant archaeological resources into their activities, developments, and training plans.” Legacy Project 13-711

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management McLaughlin ACSIM-ISE/571-256-9726/ kathleen.a.mclaughlin8.civ@mail.mil

Army Environmental Program Division

Best Practices

• Curation should begin before archaeological materials are collected or a

document is created.

• Develop and implement a collection acquisition plan.
• Develop and implement a curation plan.
• Consider that all curation actions may have a permanent, rather than temporary,

effect.

• Inappropriate curation methods have decreased “survivability” of many collections and increased

costs for conservation, rehabilitation, and migration of digital data.

• Document each action.
• Maintain chain of custody and administrative control over collections.
• Follow Federal Standards in 36 CFR Part 79.
• Curate collections in a professional repository that meets the requirements outlined 36 CFR Part 79.

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