US Code
CHAPTER 3201— POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
§ 320102. Powers and duties of Secretary

(a)
In General.—
The Secretary, acting through the Director, for the purpose of effectuating the
policy expressed in section 320101 of this
title, has the powers and shall perform the duties set out in this
section.
(b)
Preservation of Data.—
The Secretary shall secure, collate, and preserve drawings, plans, photographs,
and other data of historic and archeologic sites, buildings, and objects.
(c)
Survey.—
The Secretary shall make a survey of historic and archeologic sites, buildings,
and objects for the purpose of determining which possess exceptional value as
commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States.
(d)
Investigations and Researches.—
The Secretary shall make necessary investigations and researches in the United
States relating to particular sites, buildings, and objects to obtain accurate
historical and archeological facts and information concerning the sites, buildings,
and objects.
(e)
Acquisition of Property.—
The Secretary may, for the purpose of this chapter, acquire in the name of the
United States by gift, purchase, or otherwise any property, personal or real, or any
interest or estate in property, title to any real property to be satisfactory to the
Secretary. Property that is owned by any religious or educational institution or
that is owned or administered for the benefit of the public shall not be acquired
without the consent of the owner. No property shall be acquired or contract or
agreement for the acquisition of the property made that will obligate the general
fund of the Treasury for the payment of the property, unless Congress has
appropriated money that is available for that purpose.
(f)
Contracts and Cooperative Agreements.—
The Secretary may contract and make cooperative agreements with States,
municipal subdivisions, corporations, associations, or individuals, with proper bond
where considered advisable, to protect, preserve, maintain, or operate any historic
or archeologic building, site, or object, or property used in connection with the
building, site, or object, for public use, regardless whether the title to the
building, site, object, or property is in the United States. No contract or
cooperative agreement shall be made or entered into that will obligate the general
fund of the Treasury unless or until Congress has appropriated money for that
purpose.
(g)
Protection of Sites, Buildings, Objects, and
Property.—
The Secretary shall restore, reconstruct, rehabilitate, preserve, and maintain
historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and property of national
historical or archeological significance and where considered desirable establish
and maintain museums in connection with the sites, buildings, objects, and property.
(h)
Tablets To Mark or Commemorate Places and
Events.—
The Secretary shall erect and maintain tablets to mark or commemorate historic
or prehistoric places and events of national historical or archeological
significance.
(i)
Operation for Benefit of Public.—
The Secretary may operate and manage historic and archeologic sites, buildings,
and property acquired under this chapter together with land and subordinate
buildings for the benefit of the public and may charge reasonable visitation fees
and grant concessions, leases, or permits for the use of land, building space,
roads, or trails when necessary or desirable either to accommodate the public or to
facilitate administration. The Secretary may grant those concessions, leases, or
permits and enter into contracts relating to the contracts, leases, or permits with
responsible persons, firms, or corporations without advertising and without securing
competitive bids.
(j)
Corporation To Carry Out Duties.—
When the Secretary determines that it would be administratively burdensome to
restore, reconstruct, operate, or maintain any particular historic or archeologic
site, building, or property donated to the United States through the Service, the
Secretary may cause the restoration, reconstruction, operation, or maintenance to be
done by organizing a corporation for that purpose under the laws of the District of
Columbia or any State.
(k)
Educational Program and Service.—
The Secretary shall develop an educational program and service for the purpose
of making available to the public information pertaining to American historic and
archeologic sites, buildings, and properties of national significance. Reasonable
charges may be made for the dissemination of any such information.
(l)
Actions and Regulations Necessary To Carry Out
Chapter.—
The Secretary shall perform any and all acts and make regulations not
inconsistent with this chapter that may be necessary and proper to carry out this
chapter.

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