1984-066 - ARCHITEXAS proposal for architectural services

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Federal Register / Vol. 48. No. 'i90 / Thursday, September 29, 1983 / Notices 44721 objectives, chosen methods and techniques, and expected results of the identification activities are specified in a research design. These activities may include archival research and other techniques to develop historic contexts, sampling an area to gain a broad understanding of the kinds of properties it contains, or examining every properly in an area as a basis for property specific decisions. Where possible, use of quantitative methods is important because it can produce an estimate, whose reliability may be assessed, of the kinds of historic properties that may be present in the studied area. Identification activities should use a search procedure consistent with the management needs for information and the character of the area to be investigated. Careful selection of methods, techniques and level of detail is necessary so that the gathered information will provide a sound basis for making decisions. Standard 11. Results of Identification Activities are Integrated Into the Preservation Planning Process Results of identification activities are reviewed for their effects on previous planning data. Archival research or field survey may refine the understanding of one or more historic contexts and may alter the need for additional survey or study of particular property types. Incorporation of the results of these activities into the planning process is necossary to ensure that the planning process is always based on the best available information. Standard III. Identification Activities Include E.eplicit Procedures for Record - Keeping and Inforntatiorr Distribulion Information gathered in identification activities is useful in other preservation planning activities only when it is systematically gathered and recorded, and made available to those responsible for preservation planning. The results of identification activities should be reported in a format that summarizes the design and methods of the Survey, provides a basis for others to review the results, and states where information on identified properties is maintained, However,'sensilive information, like the location of fragile resources, must he safeguarded from general public distribution. Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for identification Introduction i These Guidelines link the Standards for identification with more specific guidance and technical information. The Guidelines outline one approach to mu.,. the Standards for Identification. Agencies, organizations and individuals proposing to npproach identification differently may wish to review their approaches with the National Park Service. The Guidelines are organized as follows: Role of Identification in the Planning Process Performing Identification Integrating Identification Results Reporting Identification Results Recommended Sources of Technical Information Role of Identification in the Planning Process Identification is undertaken for the purpose of locating historic properties and is composed of a number of activities which include, but are not limited to archival research, informant interviews, field survey and analysis. Combinations of these activities may be selected and appropriate levels of effort assigned to produce a flexible series of options. Generally identification activities will have multiple objectives, reflecting complex management needs. Within a comprehensive planning process, identification is normally undertaken to acquire property- specific information needed to refine a particular historic. context or to develop any new historic contexts. (See the Guidelines for preservation Planning for discussion of information gathering to establish plans and to develop historic. contexts.) 'I lie results of identification activities are then integrated into the plannin; process so that subsequent activities are based on the most up -to -dote information. Identification activities are also undertaken in the absence of a comprehensive planning process, most frequently as part of a specific land -use or development project. Even lacking a formally developed preservation planning process, the benefits of efficent, goal- directed research may be obtained by the development of localized historic contexts, suitable in scale for the project area, as part of the background research which customarily occurs before field survey efforts. Performing Iderrtr fication Research Design Identification activities are essentially research activities for which a statement of objectives or research design should be prepared before work is performed. Within the framework of a comprehensive planning process. the research design provides a vehicle for integrating the various activities performed during the identification process and for linking those activities directly to the goals and the historic conlext(s) for which those goals were defined. 1'he research design stipulates the logical integration of historic context(s) and field and laboratory methodology. Although these tasks may be performed individually, they will not contribute in the greatest extent possible in increasing information on the historic context unless they relate to the defined goals and to each other. Additionally, the research design provides a focus for the integration of interdisciplinary information. It ensures that the linkages between specialized activities are real. logical and address the defined research questions. Identification activities should be guided by the research design and the results discussed in those terms. (See Reporting Identification Results) The research design should include the following: 1. Objectives of the identification activities. For example: to characterize the range of historic properties in a region; to identify the number of properties associated with a context; to gather information to determine which properties in an area are significant. The statement of objectives should refer to current knowledge about the historic contexts or property types, bused on background research or assessments of previous research. It should clearly define the physical extent of the area to be investigated and the amount and kinds of information to be gathered about properties in the area. 2. Methods to be used to obtain the information. For example; archival research or field survey. Research methods should be clearly and specifically related to research problems. Archival research or survey methods should be carefully explained so that others using the gathered information can understand how the information was obtained and what its possible limitations or biases are. The methods should be compatible with the past and present environmental character of the geographical area under study and the kinds of properties most likely to be present in the arcs. 3. The expected results and the reasons for those expections. Expectations about the kind, number, location, character and condition of historic properties are generally based on a combination of background research, proposed hypotheses, and analogy to the kinds of properties known m exist in areas of similar environment in history.