FACACLASSIC

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DOI - 1657 - Preservation Technology and Training Board - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Preservation Technology and Training Board	Agency Name	Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1657
Original Establishment Date	10/30/1992	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nps.gov/subjects/ncptt/ptt-board.htm
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	13
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Acting Executive Director, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	5/26/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Andy
Date Of Renewal Charter	5/26/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Ferrell
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(318) 356--7444
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(318) 581-0349
Specific Establishment Authority*	P.L. 102-575	Designated Federal Officer Email*	andrew_ferrell@nps.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	10/30/1992
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	Annual meetings of the Board are held (1) in Natchitoches, Louisiana (location of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT)) to provide opportunity for the Board to observe the progress of the Center staff in the development of Center programs and facilities which have been developed to serve historic preservation across the United States; or (2) in various other locations throughout the United States to provide opportunity for the Board to meet with preservation professionals to speak about the Center programs and how the programs might serve the field at large. 2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I) The Board met in Natchitoches, Louisiana on August 16-17, 2023. II) Reviewing competitive grant submissions and making recommendations for final award decisions by the Secretary's designee (Director, NPS). In FY 2023, the Center awarded $220,942.00 in grants for projects to develop or adapt techniques to preserve historical sites and cultural heritage. Twelve preservation technology and training grant applications across ten states were awarded: 1) APTI (Illinois), $20,000; 2) Cal Poly Humboldt (California), $20,000; 3) Louisiana State University (Louisiana), $20,000; 4) Louisiana State University (Louisiana), $20,000; 5) Notre Dame (Indiana), $20,000; 6) Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma), $19,975; 7) Florida A&M University (Florida), $19582; 8) Coastal Carolina University (South Carolina), $14,939; 9) Repurpose Savannah (Georgia), $14,736; 10) Wichita State University (Kansas), $11,711; 11) Cornell (New York), $19,999; 12) NCPE (New York), $20,000.
How is membership balanced?*	Membership is as prescribed by the enabling legislation and is comprised of 13 members, as follows: (1) the Secretary of the Interior's designee; (2) six members appointed by the Secretary who represent appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, State and local historic preservation commissions, and other public and international organizations; and (3) six members appointed by the Secretary on the basis of outstanding professional qualifications who represent major organizations in the fields of archeology, architecture, conservation, curation, engineering, history, historic preservation, landscape architecture, planning, or preservation education.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Regular meetings of the Board are scheduled once a year in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where the National Center for Preservation and Technology is located, or at varying locations across the United States. The Board provides critical insight to the Secretary and the staff of the Center.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Preservation Technology and Training Board has been established by the Congress to (1) provide leadership, policy advice, and professional oversight to the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, located at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana; (2) advise the Secretary of the Interior on priorities and the allocation of grants among the activities of the Center; and (3) submit an annual report to the President and the Congress. There is no parallel advisory committee with the balance of expertise and representation available to advise the Secretary of the Interior on matters of preservation technology and related training issues.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings are open.
Recommendation Remarks	The Board met in San Antonio, Texas on July 17-18, 2024.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	Yes
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	N/A
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	Yes
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	20
Outcome Comment	Not Applicable	Number Of Grants Recommended	7
Cost Savings*	None	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$220,942.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	50	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The Board made 15 recommendations in FY 2024. Recommendations to Congress: 1. Operating costs and personnel costs have increased each year while the NCPTT budget has remained relatively unchanged for many years. This has resulted in the inability to fill vacant program chief and staff positions, a steadily decreasing amount of funds available for grants, and a decreasing amount of money available to maintain the facilities and other operating costs. We recommend either increasing the annual budget to re-establish CPI-Adjusted 1994 levels or providing separate funding of grants to re-establish grant funding levels to CPI-Adjusted 1994 levels. 2. With the diminishing amount of funds available for the NCPTT Grant Program, we recommend revising the legislative requirement that no grantee receive more than 10% of total grant funds and increase maximum percentage of individual grantee award to 25% of total grant distribution. Recommendations to NCPTT Staff: 1. Review the goals and objectives of the grants program and work with the Advisory Board to develop creative ways to increase the impact of the grants program while meeting the distribution requirements of the legislation. This may include a. Opportunities for grant funded fellowships to support doctoral research, academicians on research sabbaticals, or other means to cover direct costs of researchers; b. Revise language for grants to focus on emerging technologies and be more direct in asking for proposals for specific research topics or agendas support and expand the work happening at NCPTT in lieu of an open call for grant RFPs; c. Provide RFP to conduct training in focused areas identified by the staff and board; 2. Foster more inter-program coordination and planning within NCPTT program areas. 3. Develop a NCPTT Strategic Plan. This should include a business plan for the Technical Services program. 4. Expand training in the basics of in each of the program areas of Landscape Preservation, Building Preservation, Conservation Sciences, and Archeological Sciences. This may include training opportunities both at NCPTT and outside of NCPTT. Work with board members in each specialty areas to identified needed training topics. 5. Continue and expand research relationships with academic institutions that will expand the research impact of NCPTT. 6. Review and update Preservation Matters Briefs and other literature to ensure they are up to date on best practices. This should be done on a regular basis. 7. Explore opportunities to fund the activities of the board through funds outside of the NCPTT annual budget. 8. Provide short (1 or 2 page maximum) quarterly or semi-annual reports from each NCPTT Program area to the board. 9. Ensure the staff is acting in a professional and engaging manner during NCPTT Annual Board Meeting taking full advantage of the time spent together. Recommendations to the NCPTT Board: 1. Identify and create 3 to 4 sub-committees or NCPTT working groups allowing the Board to provide continued support to NCPTT throughout the year. 2. The Board Chair should work with the NCPTT Director and/or deputy director to create the board report in a timely fashion shortly after the annual board meeting. 3. Currently, the Board works with NCPTT on an ad-hoc manner with the staff throughout the year. Develop more formal mechanism for the Board to support the work of NCPTT throughout the year. 4. Consider new formats and/or facilitators for the Annual Board meeting to ensure the continue and increase productivity.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	N/A	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	N/A	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Provide feedback by reporting at following board meeting how recommendations were implemented.	Narrative Description*	Created by Public Law 102-575 in 1992, the purpose of the Board is to provide leadership, policy advice, and professional oversight to the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training located at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, Louisiana. A unit of the National Park Service, the Center was created by the 1992 Amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act to coordinate and promote preservation research, distribute information, and provide training about preservation skills and technologies. Other responsibilities of the Board include advising the Secretary on priorities and the allocation of grants among the activities of the Center and submitting an annual report to the President and the Congress.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/19/2025 10:50 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Applied Science Applied Sciences Computer Technology Information Technology Education Education Emergency Disaster Assistance Emergency Preparedness and Management Land Conservation and Preservation National Parks, Sites, Trails, Recreational Areas Monuments Social Sciences History

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