On Friday, July 24,  2026  the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation voted to approve a draft revision of 36 C.F.R. Part 800. You can read the redlined version here and the draft here.

While the proposed rule has not been published to the Federal Register there are a few steps we can collectively take now:

• Contact your elected officials and help them understand the adverse effects of the proposed rulemaking. You can use these scripts and ideas for talking points to craft a personal message that highlights your concerns or the concerns of your community or organization.

• We urge you all to begin the process of drafting comment letters now in order to make your voice heard and your comment count. You can do this by focusing on 8 key points:
  • Answer ACHP’s Numbered Questions: Cite the specific question number from the NPRM you’re responding to.
  • Lead With Evidence: Real projects, data, costs, and delays outweigh opinions in the record.
  • Cite the Exact Provision: Reference the specific section — e.g., § 800.16(k)(2) — not the rule in general.
  • Propose Alternative Text: Don’t just object — suggest the specific fix you want to see adopted.
  • State Who You Are: Tribes, SHPOs, CRM firms, and local governments each carry distinct weight.
  • Preserve Issues for Litigation: Courts generally only review arguments raised during the comment period.
  • Keep It Organized & Concise: Executive summary, section headers, one clear ask per point.
  • Nail the Mechanics: 30-day deadline; submit via regulations.gov with the docket/RIN number. We will let you know when the comment period has started and how to submit when it is time.