Home News New Guidelines Will Improve Historic Preservation at Hydroelectric Sites

In a demonstration of their commitment to facilitate historic preservation efforts and streamline the licensing process, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have jointly issued guidelines for the development of historic properties management plans for hydroelectric projects regulated by FERC.

The guidelines will help FERC, which uses historic properties management plans to address its responsibilities under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, streamline the process. Section 106 requires Federal agencies to identify and assess the effects of their actions on historic resources listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition, because the guidelines provide direction on the scope and content of historic properties management plans, they will help licensees better prepare their plans for considering and managing the effects of hydroelectric projects on National Register listed or eligible properties. Licensees will be able to better organize, predict, and prioritize the scope of effort needed and appropriately budget their resources.

Finally, the guidelines are expected to help FERC integrate historic properties management plans with other management plans, such as recreation plans, wildlife management plans, and operating plans.

ACHP, an independent Federal agency, serves as primary policy advisor to the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy and promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of our Nation's historic resources. It oversees an administrative review process that requires Federal agencies to consider historic properties when planning projects. ACHP is headquartered in Washington, DC, with an office in Denver, Colorado.

Download "Guidelines for the Development of Historic Properties Management Plans for FERC Hydroelectric Projects" (in PDF)

Read more about FERC's Historic Preservation Program

Read more about the Section 106 process

Read more about ACHP

Posted July 22, 2002

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