---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410cc–32"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410cc–32"
heading: "Park preservation plan and index"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410cc-32"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIX–A — Lowell National Historical Park"
  - "Part C — Powers and Duties of Preservation Commission"
---

# §410cc–32. Park preservation plan and index

- (a) **Submission by Commission and approval or disapproval by Secretary of draft and final plans; procedures applicable; revisions in approved plan—**
  - (1) Within one year after the date on which the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) conducts its first meeting, the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) a draft [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan meeting the requirements of [subsection (c)](#c) of this section. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall review the draft [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan and, within ninety days after the date on which such plan is submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), suggest appropriate changes in such plan to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c).
  - (2) Within eighteen months after the date on which the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) conducts its first meeting, the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) a [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan which meets the requirements of [subsection (c)](#c) of this section. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, within ninety days after the date on which such plan is submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), approve or disapprove such plan. The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may not approve such plan unless the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) determines that such plan would adequately carry out the purpose of this subchapter.
  - (3) If the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) disapproves a [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall advise the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) of the reasons for such disapproval together with the recommendations of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) for revision of such plan. Within such period as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may designate, the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall submit a revised [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall approve or disapprove any revised [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan in the same manner as required in paragraph (2) of this subsection for the approval or disapproval of the original [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan.
  - (4) If the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) approves a [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall publish notice of such approval in the Federal Register and shall forward copies of the approved plan to the Congress.
  - (5) Any [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan or draft plan submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) under this subsection shall, upon request, be available to the public.
  - (6) No changes other than minor revisions may be made in the approved [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan without the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall approve or disapprove any proposed change in the approved [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan, except minor revisions in the same manner as required in paragraph (2) of this subsection for the approval or disapproval of the original [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan.
- (b) **Funding availability and requirements for plan implementation, activities, etc.**
  - (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall not make any funds available to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) to carry out section [410cc–33](/usc/16/410cc–33.md) or [410cc–34](/usc/16/410cc–34.md) of this title until a [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan has been approved under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.
  - (2) Before a [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) preservation plan is approved under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may make available to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) such funds as the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) may request to carry out any activity specified in [paragraph (3)](#b-3) of this section. However, no funds shall be made available under this paragraph unless a proposal describing such activity is reviewed and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1).
  - (3) The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) may request funds from the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to—
    - (A) carry out activities to [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2), restore, manage, develop, or maintain any property identified in [subsection (c)(1)](#c-1) of this section;
    - (B) [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) any action the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) considers necessary to provide [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of property with national historical or cultural significance within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) or preservation district with emergency assistance for the purpose of preserving and protecting their property in a manner consistent with the purpose of this subchapter; or
    - (C) [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) in accordance with [section 410cc–34 of this title](/usc/16/410cc–34.md), any property within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) which—
      - (i) is identified in the report of the Lowell Historic Canal District [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) as a property which should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or maintained in a manner consistent with the purpose of this subchapter;
      - (ii) is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, as maintained by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) pursuant to chapter 3021 and [section 320102(c) of title 54](/usc/54/320102.md?p=c); or
      - (iii) is determined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to be of national significance;

      and would be subject to demolition or major alteration in a manner inconsistent with the purpose of this subchapter unless acquired by the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c).

- (c) **Requirements for plan—** Any plan submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section shall—
  - (1) describe the manner in which the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), to the extent practicable in accordance with the recommendations in the report of the Lowell Historic Canal District [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), proposes to provide for the preservation, restoration, management, development, or maintenance of—
    - (A) the Welles Block, 169 Merrimack Street;
    - (B) the Jordan Marsh Company Building, 153 Merrimack Street and 15 Kirk Street;
    - (C) the Yorick Club, 91 Dutton Street;
    - (D) the Lowell Gas Light Company, 22 Shattuck Street;
    - (E) St. Anne’s Church and Rectory, 237 Merrimack Street;
    - (F) Lowell Institution for Savings, 18 Shattuck Street;
    - (G) the Ahepa Building, 31 Kirk Street;
    - (H) Boott Mill, Foot of John Street;
    - (I) Lowell Manufacturing Company on Market Street; and
    - (J) the structure commonly referred to as the Early Residence, 45, 47, and 49 Kirk Street;
  - (2) identify the properties included in the index established pursuant to [subsection (d)](#d) of this section;
  - (3) identify the properties which the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) intends to [acquire](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) under [section 410cc–34 of this title](/usc/16/410cc–34.md) and specify how such properties shall be used;
  - (4) include the standards and criteria established pursuant to [subsection (e)](#e) of this section;
  - (5) provide a detailed description of the manner in which the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) intends to implement the grant and loan programs under [section 410cc–33 of this title](/usc/16/410cc–33.md), including information relating to the estimated amount of such grants and the manner in which such grants shall be awarded by the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c);
  - (6) provide for a transportation program by which the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall provide, directly or by agreement with any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) or any public or private entity, transportation services and facilities for [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) and preservation district visitors, including barge equipment, docking facilities, and local rail facilities;
  - (7) provide for educational and cultural programs to encourage appreciation of the resources of the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) and preservation district; and
  - (8) include a tentative budget for the subsequent five fiscal years.
- (d) **Establishment and contents of index; modification of index—** The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall establish, within one year after the date on which the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) conducts its first meeting, an index which includes—
  - (1) any property in the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) or preservation district (except for any property identified in [section 410cc–21(a)(2) of this title](/usc/16/410cc–21.md?p=a-2)) which should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, maintained, or acquired by the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) because of its national historic or cultural significance; and
  - (2) any property which should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or maintained in a manner compatible with the purpose of this subchapter because of its proximity to (A) any property referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, or (B) any property designated in [section 410cc–21(a)(2) of this title](/usc/16/410cc–21.md?p=a-2).

  The index may be modified only by a majority vote of the members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), taken when a quorum is present.

- (e) **Standards and criteria for construction, preservation, etc., of properties within preservation district and park; authorization; establishment; revisions; publication in Federal Register—**
  - (1) The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall establish standards and criteria applicable to the construction, preservation, restoration, alteration, and use of all properties within the preservation district with the advice of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), and the consent of the city manager of Lowell.
  - (2) The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall establish the standards and criteria described in paragraph (1) of this subsection for any property within the [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) with the advice of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the city manager of Lowell and subject to the review and approval of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1).
  - (3) The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall establish standards and criteria under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection within one year after the date on which the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) conducts its first meeting. Such standards and criteria may be revised in the same manner in which they were originally established.
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall publish the standards and criteria established under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, and any revisions thereof, in the Federal Register.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–290, title III, § 302, June 5, 1978, 92 Stat. 297.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

In subsec. (b)(3)(C)(ii), “chapter 3021 and section 320102(c) of title 54” substituted for “section 101(a) of the Act entitled ‘An Act to establish a program for the preservation of additional historic properties throughout the Nation, and for other purposes’, approved October 15, 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470a), and section 2(b) of the Act entitled ‘An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes’, approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 462)” on authority of Pub. L. 113–287, § 6(e), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3272, which Act enacted Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs.