Streamlining Recommendations

Statewide Section 106 Programmatic Agreements (PAs)

Example State PAs and Related Agreement Documents

• Alabama Bridge Replacement Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
• Alaska Section 106 PA (type in search box to access the PA)
• Alaska Roads PA (type in search box to access the PA)
• California Section 106 PA
• Iowa Section 106 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• Maryland Section 106 MOU
• Maryland Section 106 PA
• Minnesota Section 106 PA
• Pennsylvania PA for FHWA-Aid Projects
• Texas Section 106 PA
• Vermont Section 106 PA and Implementation Manual
• Washington Section 106 PA

ACHP Guidance on Section 106 Agreement Documents (GAD)

Planning and Environmental Linkages for Historic Preservation

The FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review has developed a report and series of best practices focusing on historic resources to support the goals of the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiatives under Planning and Environmental Linkages. The FHWA and State and local transportation agencies are working hard to deliver projects more quickly and efficiently, and for less cost. One way to achieve these efficiencies is to streamline compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The streamlining practices identified in the report and detailed in the case studies also have the benefit of improving stewardship through early consideration of historic preservation factors in planning and project development. Both the report and a series of case studies that highlight effective practices are available below.

Planning and Environmental Linkages for Historic Preservation Report: HTML   PDF (1.26 MB)

Interstate Highway System Exemption

The vast majority of the Interstate Highway System is exempt from consideration as an historic resource under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act requirements. Certain elements of the Interstate that have been deemed exceptional under National Register criteria have been compiled on a comprehensive, state by state list and must still be considered through the normal historic preservation review process. View the complete list of exceptional elements of the Interstate System, and view the Exemption published in the Federal Register, Exemption Regarding Historic Preservation Review Process for Effects to the Interstate Highway System. Interstate projects must still take into account any potential to affect historic resources other than the Interstate System itself.

Visit the May 2005 issue of Successes in Stewardship for more information.

SAFETEA-LU Section 6002(i)

Section 6002(j) of SAFETEA-LU allows for FHWA to approve funding to federal and state agencies and Indian Tribes to support activities that contribute to expediting and improving transportation project planning and delivery. On September 18, 2002, the White House issued Executive Order 13274, Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews, to further the goals of environmental streamlining.

SAFETEA-LU Section 6009

Section 6009 of SAFETEA-LU amends Section 4(f) legislation to simplify the processing and approval of projects that have only de minimis impacts to lands protected by Section 4(f). The de minimis impact criteria differ for historic sites than for parks, recreation areas, and wildlife and waterfowl refuges. Please refer to the Section 4(f) Policy Paper and the new Section 4(f) regulation at: 23 CFR 774.

For questions or feedback on this subject matter content, please contact David Clarke.