The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) — the only federal agency whose sole mission is promoting the protection of America’s irreplaceable historic places –- has asked its member to vote by Friday, July 24, on proposed changes to the regulations governing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
If adopted, the changes could significantly weaken the federal review process that protects historic and cultural resources.
Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider how projects they carry out, fund, permit, license or approve could affect historic properties. These projects can include new highways, railroad improvements, cell tower sites, and changes to federal buildings or lands. The process also gives consulting parties and members of the public an opportunity to participate before final decisions are made.
Please email the ACHP today at [email protected] to oppose the proposed changes and ask the council to delay the vote to allow more time for public input. The address is the agency’s official public contact email.
One of the earliest examples of a successful Section 106 process was in the late 1960s when the federal review process helped halt the proposed Riverfront Expressway, which would have cut off the French Quarter from the Mississippi River.
The Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans is tracking the proposal closely and will share updates as they become available.
For more information about the proposed changes, read the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Section 106 explainer and visit Preservation Action.
National Trust for HIstoric Preservation explainer: Section 106 is Under Threat: What You Need to Know | National Trust for Historic Preservation
Preservation Action’s website: https://preservationaction.org/
