Home News ACHP Considers Program Comment for Select GSA Repairs and Upgrades

ACHP Considers Program Comment for Select GSA Repairs and Upgrades

June 26, 2009 – The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is considering issuing a Program Comment, pursuant to 36 CFR 800.14(e), for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) setting forth the way in which it will comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for select repairs and upgrades to windows; lighting; roofing; and heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems within historic public buildings. The ACHP is seeking public input on the issue.

Under Section 800.14(e) of the regulations, agencies can request the ACHP to provide a Program Comment on a particular category of undertakings in lieu of conducting individual reviews of each individual undertaking under such category, as set forth in 36 CFR 800.4 through 800.7. An agency can meet its Section 106 responsibilities for considering the effects of particular aspects of those undertakings on historic properties by following the steps set forth in the Program Comment.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) legislation has provided GSA with significant stewardship opportunities for its historic public buildings. However, the rigid spending deadline associated with the legislation has prompted the need for this alternative approach to preservation compliance for the mentioned select routine repairs and upgrades. The resulting proposed Program Comment, which may be applied to ARRA-funded projects and projects with other funding sources, was conceived to promote best preservation practices within the GSA for the mentioned select routine repairs and upgrades.

The ACHP is seeking public input on the proposed Program Comment. Read the draft Program Comment and background as published on the Federal Register here.

The public input period will close on Monday, July 20, 2009.

Please address all comments concerning this proposed Program Comment to Kirsten Brinker Kulis, Office of Federal Agency Programs, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 803, Washington, DC 20004. Fax (202) 606-8647. You may submit electronic comments to: kkulis@achp.gov.

For more information, please contact Kirsten Brinker Kulis at (202) 606-8517.

Posted June 26, 2009

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