Conference Agenda

In today’s disrupted regulatory landscape, borders—of states, agency jurisdiction, and legal applicability—shape where historic preservation review happens, how substantive it is, and whether Tribes and consulting parties have meaningful opportunities to weigh in. This interactive forum explores how sweeping federal actions like the “national energy emergency” are redrawing the boundaries that govern archaeological review. These changes weaken federal safeguards while prompting growing state resistance—most notably, a lawsuit by a coalition of state attorneys general. As more responsibility shifts to states, protections for cultural and environmental resources now vary widely across jurisdictions. This forum will encourage audience participation after analysis from panelists working on the frontlines of this changing landscape. Audience members are encouraged to share experiences, insights, and strategies for responding to these shifts in real time. Together, we’ll examine how to protect core consultation and review principles in a fractured regulatory environment.