The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has released a proposal to simplify and fast-track historic preservation requirements for federal projects that relate to housing, climate change, and equitable access to transportation.
The ACHP is the independent federal agency that advises the president and Congress on national historic preservation policy. It oversees the administration of the National Historic Preservation Act, including the Section 106 process, which requires federally funded or permitted projects to evaluate their effects on historic properties. The Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation, in its role as the State Historic Preservation Office, oversees thousands of reviews under Section 106 every year.
The ACHP released a “draft Program Comment on Accessible, Climate-Resilient, Connected Communities.” The proposal offers an alternative way that federal agencies could comply with Section 106 for projects related to rehabilitation or adaptive reuse for housing, updates to and maintenance of buildings in response to climate concerns, and advancements in climate-friendly transportation. This proposal further advances the guidance presented in two policy statements that the ACHP adopted in 2023 on Housing and Climate Change, respectively.
The ACHP is accepting public feedback on the draft through Oct.9. Comments should be submitted to program alternatives@achp.gov. The PRC will submit comments and encourages others to do the same.
