§8906 Criteria for issuance of construction permit

Summary

Before issuing a permit to build a memorial in Washington, D.C., the Interior Secretary or the GSA Administrator must confirm four things: the site and design are approved by them plus the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts; preservation and maintenance experts have checked the design for strength and durability; the sponsor has given construction contract papers; and the sponsor has enough money to finish the project. The sponsor must also give an amount equal to 10% of the estimated construction cost for long‑term upkeep, unless a federal agency builds the work and less than 50% of the funding is private. Money already in the Treasury on the date of enactment of the Commemorative Works Clarification and Revision Act of 2003 goes into a separate Treasury account. Money given after that date goes into a separate National Park Foundation account. The Treasury or Foundation will release funds to the Secretary or Administrator on request, but not more than the account holds; the funds stay available until spent. The Secretary or Administrator may stop work if fundraising wrongly claims a federal link. The sponsor must send an annual operations report with audited financial statements and pay for that audit.