As a steward of the Nation's natural and cultural heritage, the primary responsibility of the NPS is to preserve and protect park resources and values. The NPS actively manages cultural resources in the national park system to meet its statutory responsibility to preserve these resources unimpaired for future generations. The National Park Service (NPS) conducts cultural resource stewardship largely at the park level. To carry out and further this stewardship responsibility, the Service implements programs that encompass a broad range of research, operational, and educational activities. The NPS conducts: ��� Research to identify, evaluate, document, register, and establish basic information about cultural resources and traditionally associated peoples; ��� Planning to ensure that management processes for making decisions and setting priorities integrate information about cultural resources, and provide for consultation and collaboration with outside entities; and ��� Stewardship to ensure that cultural resources are preserved and protected, receive appropriate treatments (including maintenance), and are made available for public understanding and enjoyment. This work is conducted at all units of the NPS and helps to perpetuate resources and allows for their continued appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment. The solicitation, award and administration of Cooperative Agreements is done on a project by project bases generally at the park level. Additionally, the National Park Service is authorized by Congress as the principal federal agency to lead the Nation's efforts in historic preservation, providing for the identification, documentation, registration of, treatment of, and preservation planning for, the nation's historic and cultural resources. The National Park Service is directed by Congress and the National Historic Preservation Act to administer programs and partnerships with State, Tribal, and Local governments and nonprofit organizations.