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The single most significant and costly item included in the backlog of essential maintenance and repair is the replacement of the HVAC system and electrical equipment at the Natural History Building. Over the past several years a number of separate studies of the Natural History Building addressed energy conservation, fire protection and suppression, communications, security upgrading, asbestos abatement, and other remedies to building deficiencies, especially in the HVAC system and electrical systems. Once the magnitude of the work required to keep the building in operational condition was realized, a Master Implementation Effort was initiated to plan and schedule the work in such a way as to limit the major disruption of each area within the building to one period of time and to take advantage of cost savings by grouping tasks together. While fire protection and asbestos removal or containment work has previously been planned, it is the replacement of the HVAC system and major electrical equipment that gives this project major significance and drives the scheduling of the work. A detailed plan and schedule for the replacement of building systems at the Natural History Building have been developed, with work to be phased over fourteen years in order to avoid major disruption of programs or closing of the Museum. The total cost of the project is estimated to be in excess of $100 million.

[[underlined]] Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation [[/underlined]]

The Regents were informed about developments with respect to the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, since their last meeting. These included Senator Moynihan's introduction of a bill authorizing the Museum's use of the New York Custom House, meetings with representatives of the Museum and work on a draft memorandum of understanding with respect to a relationship between the Museum and the Smithsonian, the National Congress of American Indians' announcement of support for the establishment of a National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall in Washington as part of the Smithsonian Institution, the ruling in the Supreme Court of New York on the State which granted the Museum's motion and left its petition to leave the state pending before the Court, and a $200,000 supplemental appropriation for fiscal year 1987 for a study of the feasibility of alternative locations for the Museum.

The Smithsonian does not anticipate negotiating further with the Museum on the proposed memorandum of understanding until the studies are complete. Nor is the Smithsonian in a position to take any action until the situation in New York is resolved. It is clear by now that the American Indian community has become an important force in this matter as well. The Secretary has continued his meetings with tribal representatives and other American Indian leaders to discuss a range of issues relating to museum exhibitions and collections, the repatriation of human skeletal remains and sacred objects in those collections, and the prospect of establishing a national museum in Washington.

[[underlined]] Museum Support Center Storage Equipment [[/underlined]]

Mr. Adams referred to problems resulting from the lack of progress in completing the storage facilities within the Museum Support Center. Efforts by the GSA to obtain performance by the general contractor have been unsuccessful in all respects. As a result, GSA has terminated the