PART 656—PROCEDURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL PROPERTIES ENCOUNTERED IN NRCS-ASSISTED PROGRAMS Authority: Pub. L. 86-523, 74 Stat. 220, as amended (16 U.S.C. 469 et seq. et seq. Source: 42 FR 36804, July 18, 1977, unless otherwise noted. § 656.1 Purpose. This part prescribes Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) policy, procedures, and guidelines for the implementation of archeological and historical laws and appropriate executive orders for administering NRCS programs. § 656.2 Archeological and historical laws and Executive orders applicable to NRCS-assisted programs. (a) The Act of June 27, 1960, et seq. (b) The National Historic Preservation Act, et seq. (c) Executive Order 11593 (36 FR 8921, 3 CFR 1971 Comp. P. 154 § 656.3 Policy. (a) NRCS recognizes that significant historical, archeological, and architectural resources are an important part of our national heritage, the protection of which requires careful consideration in this agency's project planning and implementation process. (b) NRCS will take reasonable precautions to avoid damaging any significant historic, cultural, or natural aspects of our national heritage and will work with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) in identifying and seeking to avoid or mitigate adverse effects of NRCS-assisted projects on the Nation's significant cultural resources. The procedures contained in this part have been developed to comply with sections 1(3) and 2(c) of Executive Order 11593. §§ 656.4-656.9 [Reserved]