Home News ACHP Receives "Excellence in Environmental Streamlining" Award from FHWA

April 22, 2002, Washington, DC—In Earth Day ceremonies at the U.S. Department of Transportation today, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) received the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) "Excellence in Environmental Streamlining" award.

Administrator Mary E. Peters of the Federal Highway Administration opens the agency's 2003 Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony on Earth Day, April 22, 2003. The ACHP was among the award recipients. (staff photo)

 The ACHP shared the award with its partners from the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, and the Vermont Division of the Federal Highway Administration. ACHP Expert Member Parker Westbrook, of Washington, Arkansas, accepted the award from FHWA Administrator Mary Peters on behalf of Chairman John L. Nau, III, of Houston, Texas, and other members of the ACHP.

The award for Excellence in Environmental Streamlining is presented by FHWA. From left, Mary E. Peters, FWHA Administrator; Scott Newman, Vermont Agency of Transportation; Emily Wadhams, Vermont State Historic Preservation Officer; Parker Westbrook, Expert Member, ACHP; John Fowler, Executive Director, ACHP; and Cindy Burbank, FHWA Associate Administrator. (staff photo)

"These award winners exemplify what it means to be good environmental stewards," Peters said in presenting the award. "They demonstrate how we can make needed transportation improvements while protecting and enhancing the environment."

The award was in recognition of a Programmatic Agreement and manual on the Section 106 review process for federally aided highway projects that "dramatically streamlines the review of impacts of transportation projects on historic and archeological resources and better protects those resources," according to the FHWA's award citation.

The citation also notes that "consideration of historic and archeological resources early in the project planning process and a strong public involvement component are key elements of the agreement."

According to FHWA, the agreement has been so successful that, to date, 30 other States have requested copies so that they can consider developing similar programs.

An independent Federal agency, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of our Nation's historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. For more information, contact Bruce Milhans at 202-606-8513 or bmilhans@achp.gov

Learn more about the ACHP

Posted April 23, 2003

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