The replacement names came from several sources. Initially, a list of five candidate names for each geographic feature was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey as directed by Secretary's Order 3404. These names were derived through a search of nearby named geographic features until at least five nearby names were available. The candidate replacement name replaced the derogatory modifier. For example, “Castle Creek” is the nearest named feature to “Sq___ Mesa”. The first candidate replacement name for the derogatory named feature would be “Castle Mesa.” (Please note the generic term (i.e., Mesa) will not change).
The Task Force also prioritized for consideration any proposals for sq___ name changes that were received by the BGN before 1/24/2022 or submitted during the public comment or Tribal Consultation period. Replacement names, to the extent possible, adhered to the Board on Geographic Names Principles, Policies and Procedures for the Domestic Names Committee.
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How were states involved in the process to respond to Secretary’s Order 3404?
Each state has a state naming authority responsible for management of geographic names within its boundaries. Several of these authorities initiated efforts to generate possible replacement names, or advised stakeholders to submit recommendations directly to the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force during the public comment period.
Does the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) decide what is derogatory or offensive?
The BGN’s Principles, Policies, and Procedures document includes a Policy on Derogatory and Offensive Names. As of 2023, three words are declared derogatory in all occurrences: In 1963, the BGN, at the request of the Secretary of the Interior, mandated that the pejorative form of the word “Negro” be eliminated from all federal maps and publications. The word was replaced with “Negro” for all...
What words are considered “Derogatory” under Secretary’s Orders 3404 and 3405?
Secretary's Order 3404 and the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force considered only the word “sq___” to be within its scope. Secretary’s Order 3405, also issued on November 19, 2021, created an Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names for DOI to receive input from interested parties regarding additional derogatory terms; derogatory terms applied to federal land units; and to establish...
Do Secretary’s Orders 3404 and 3405 affect street names or street signs?
No. The names of cultural or man-made features, such as roads, streets, shopping centers, churches, schools, hospitals and airports are not under the Board on Geographic Names’ (BGN’s) purview. The naming and renaming of these entities are the responsibility of the agency or office that manages them.
Was Secretary’s Order 3404 limited to only those geographic features on federal lands?
The Board on Geographic Names (BGN) has purview over the names of geographic features on all lands, i.e., federal, state, Tribal, county, local and private land. This purview applies to all natural features (i.e., lakes, mountains, etc.), as well as canals, channels and reservoirs in the United States and its territories and outlying areas. Civil features (i.e., counties, minor civil divisions...
What is Secretary’s Order 3404 and the DOI Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force?
Secretary's Order (S.O.) 3404, issued on November 19, 2021, declared the word “sq___” to be derogatory and directed a series of Department of the Interior (DOI) actions to replace the word in all geographic names used by the federal government. S.O. 3404 established a 13-member Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force to reconcile the derogatory geographic feature names. It included...
How will the name changes be used by states and private mapping companies?
All of the changes to the former “sq___” names are reflected in the GNIS, the authoritative database of names for federal use. Federal agencies must use GNIS for the publication of map, products or other services. The decisions of the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) are only binding to federal departments and agencies. A state may maintain its own names database or have other policies that govern...
Are the decisions of the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) on the replacement names final? How can a Tribe participate in the renaming process if they were not able to take part in the Consultations or comment period?
The decisions of the BGN are immediately official for federal use. However, if a Tribe, a member of the public or another interested party believes the replacement name is not the most appropriate choice, they are welcome to propose to the BGN that it be changed to a different name. Such proposals should be submitted to the BGN through the conventional process and the BGN’s usual review process...
What criteria did the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force apply to select replacement names under Secretary’s Order 3404?
A list of five candidate names for each geographic feature was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey as directed by Secretary's Order 3404. The candidate replacement names were derived through a search of nearby named geographic features until at least five nearby names were available. The candidate replacement name will replace the derogatory modifier. For example, “Castle Creek” is the nearest...
How did the Secretary’s Order 3404 Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force reach a final decision on replacement names?
Secretary's Order 3404 outlined a process that concluded in 2022. The Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force reviewed all candidate names, including those generated by the U.S. Geological Survey, received by the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) as part of a formal proposal prior to January 24, 2022, or contributed through a public comment period (February 23 to April 25, 2022) or Tribal...
How did the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force choose replacement names under Secretary’s Order 3404?
The replacement names came from several sources. Initially, a list of five candidate names for each geographic feature was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey as directed by Secretary's Order 3404. These names were derived through a search of nearby named geographic features until at least five nearby names were available. The candidate replacement name replaced the derogatory modifier. For...
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- FAQ
How were states involved in the process to respond to Secretary’s Order 3404?
Each state has a state naming authority responsible for management of geographic names within its boundaries. Several of these authorities initiated efforts to generate possible replacement names, or advised stakeholders to submit recommendations directly to the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force during the public comment period.
Does the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) decide what is derogatory or offensive?
The BGN’s Principles, Policies, and Procedures document includes a Policy on Derogatory and Offensive Names. As of 2023, three words are declared derogatory in all occurrences: In 1963, the BGN, at the request of the Secretary of the Interior, mandated that the pejorative form of the word “Negro” be eliminated from all federal maps and publications. The word was replaced with “Negro” for all...
What words are considered “Derogatory” under Secretary’s Orders 3404 and 3405?
Secretary's Order 3404 and the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force considered only the word “sq___” to be within its scope. Secretary’s Order 3405, also issued on November 19, 2021, created an Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names for DOI to receive input from interested parties regarding additional derogatory terms; derogatory terms applied to federal land units; and to establish...
Do Secretary’s Orders 3404 and 3405 affect street names or street signs?
No. The names of cultural or man-made features, such as roads, streets, shopping centers, churches, schools, hospitals and airports are not under the Board on Geographic Names’ (BGN’s) purview. The naming and renaming of these entities are the responsibility of the agency or office that manages them.
Was Secretary’s Order 3404 limited to only those geographic features on federal lands?
The Board on Geographic Names (BGN) has purview over the names of geographic features on all lands, i.e., federal, state, Tribal, county, local and private land. This purview applies to all natural features (i.e., lakes, mountains, etc.), as well as canals, channels and reservoirs in the United States and its territories and outlying areas. Civil features (i.e., counties, minor civil divisions...
What is Secretary’s Order 3404 and the DOI Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force?
Secretary's Order (S.O.) 3404, issued on November 19, 2021, declared the word “sq___” to be derogatory and directed a series of Department of the Interior (DOI) actions to replace the word in all geographic names used by the federal government. S.O. 3404 established a 13-member Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force to reconcile the derogatory geographic feature names. It included...
How will the name changes be used by states and private mapping companies?
All of the changes to the former “sq___” names are reflected in the GNIS, the authoritative database of names for federal use. Federal agencies must use GNIS for the publication of map, products or other services. The decisions of the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) are only binding to federal departments and agencies. A state may maintain its own names database or have other policies that govern...
Are the decisions of the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) on the replacement names final? How can a Tribe participate in the renaming process if they were not able to take part in the Consultations or comment period?
The decisions of the BGN are immediately official for federal use. However, if a Tribe, a member of the public or another interested party believes the replacement name is not the most appropriate choice, they are welcome to propose to the BGN that it be changed to a different name. Such proposals should be submitted to the BGN through the conventional process and the BGN’s usual review process...
What criteria did the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force apply to select replacement names under Secretary’s Order 3404?
A list of five candidate names for each geographic feature was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey as directed by Secretary's Order 3404. The candidate replacement names were derived through a search of nearby named geographic features until at least five nearby names were available. The candidate replacement name will replace the derogatory modifier. For example, “Castle Creek” is the nearest...
How did the Secretary’s Order 3404 Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force reach a final decision on replacement names?
Secretary's Order 3404 outlined a process that concluded in 2022. The Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force reviewed all candidate names, including those generated by the U.S. Geological Survey, received by the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) as part of a formal proposal prior to January 24, 2022, or contributed through a public comment period (February 23 to April 25, 2022) or Tribal...
How did the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force choose replacement names under Secretary’s Order 3404?
The replacement names came from several sources. Initially, a list of five candidate names for each geographic feature was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey as directed by Secretary's Order 3404. These names were derived through a search of nearby named geographic features until at least five nearby names were available. The candidate replacement name replaced the derogatory modifier. For...