A bill to amend the Act of June 27, 1960 (74 Stat. 220), relating to the preservation of historical and archeological data.
Public Law 93-291 · S. 514 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on May 24, 1974 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Sen. Frank Moss (D-UT)
Cosponsors (46): Sen. James Abourezk, Sen. John Beall,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Provides for the preservation of historical and archeological data. Extends coverage to all Federal and federally assisted or licensed programs which alter the terrain and potentially cause loss of scientific, prehistorical, historical or archeological data. Directs Federal agencies to notify the Secretary of the Interior if in their operations archeological or other scientific data is revealed or threatened. Provides that whenever any Federal agency finds or is made aware by a responsible authority that its operations in connection with any Federal, federally assisted, or federally licensed activity or program adversely affects or may adversely affect significant scientific, prehistorical, historical, or archeological data, such agency may request the Secretary to undertake protection measures, or may itself expend program or activity funds for the recovery, protection, and preservation of such data (including preliminary survey, analysis, and publication) and shall provide the Secretary with appropriate information concerning the project and the investigation.
Provides that if the Secretary is notified by a competent authority that historical, archeological, or paleontological resources are being or may be irrevocably lost at a Federal, federally assisted or licensed project or under a Federal program and that the loss would be significant then he must: (1) notify the agency involved of this fact and (2) effect a survey of the area and recover any data which he determines should be preserved in the public interest.
Permits the Secretary and the agency involved to reach a mutual understanding with respect to the date of termination of the salvage program.
States that any Federal agency responsible for a construction project may assist the Secretary and/or it may transfer to him such funds as may be agreed upon, but not more than 1 percent of the total amount authorized to be appropriated for such project, except that the 1 percent limitation shall not apply in the event that the project involves $50,000 or less. States that the costs of such survey, recovery, analysis, and publication shall be considered nonreimbursable project costs.
Authorizes the Secretary, where Federal loan or grant programs are involved, to seek appropriations totaling $6,000,000 for fiscal years 1974-1978 to undertake survey and salvage operations directly.
Authorizes, where Federal construction is involved, $13,000,000 to be appropriated in annual installments for fiscal years 1974-1978.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 11 actions.
- May 24, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-291.
- May 13, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- May 9, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment.
- May 6, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 296.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Natural Resources Committee
- May 23, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- May 22, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- May 18, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 23, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.