Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires federal
agencies to take into account the effects of federally assisted undertakings on historic properties.
The Section 106 review process is administered by the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), in partnership with the
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) established in each state.
In Ohio, the State Historic Preservation Office is the Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the
Ohio Historical Society. The federal regulations created to facilitate
this review process are found at 36 CFR Part 800- "Protection of Historic
Properties."
Federal agencies or their federally delegated authorities are required to provide information about their projects and
determine through consultation whether projects might affect historic properties. Federal agencies must actively consult
with specific individuals and organizations with an interest in their projects throughout the Section 106 review process.
It is also the responsibility of the federal agency to seek and consider the views of the public in a manner that reflects
the nature and complexity of the undertaking and its effects on historic properties. This interactive process of consultation
is at the heart of Section 106 review.
It is important that consideration of historic properties occur in the early stages of a project's development so that
preservation concerns can receive thorough consideration as a project is planned. The Section 106 review process is intended
to ensure that preservation values are factored into federal agency planning and decision-making.
The Section 106 regulations at 36 CFR Section 800.11
establish documentation standards for agencies to use in supporting their evaluation of federally assisted projects. They
must prepare information that describes their project and identify historic properties that might be affected by project
activities. Using this information as a basis, agencies are required to make a formal effect finding for their project and
to request concurrence with that finding from the SHPO.
Incomplete or inaccurate information about projects often create unnecessary delays in completing project reviews.
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office (OHPO) has
created a series of organizational tools so that agencies and applicants for federal assistance can more effectively collect
information about their projects in Ohio.
Starting February 1, 2007, the Ohio Historic Preservation Office is recommending that agencies use the new
Section 106 Review Project Summary Form and
its supporting documents to submit most routine projects for review.* It is our hope that the form will help streamline
the Section 106 review process by standardizing the format of project submissions and reducing the need to request additional
information about projects. State agencies seeking comments from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office under
Section 149.53 of the Ohio Revised Code may also use this form to provide project information.
Click here to download the Project Summary Form and its supporting
documents. Click here to review the Section 106 regulations and federal
guidance about the review process.
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office will be offering training classes to help familiarize agency staff with the use of
the new form in 2007. Click here to see more information about
specific training dates.
At any time during your project's development, you can contact the Ohio Historic Preservation Office if you have questions
about how to use the Project Summary Form or about the Section 106 review process. Agencies that are planning large or
complex projects are strongly encouraged to contact the Ohio Historic Preservation Office early in their project planning process,
so that we can discuss alternative survey options that could help you meet your responsibilities under 36 CFR Part 800.
Questions can be directed to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office staff by email
or by phone at (614) 298-2000.
*NOTE: Projects that should NOT use the new Form include:
- Projects requiring a license from the Federal Communications Commission. For these projects, please submit
FCC Forms 620 or 621.
- Projects undertaken by the Ohio Department of Transportation / Federal Highway Administration
- Projects undertaken by non-entitlement Community Development Block Grant communities that use federal funds administered
by Ohio Department of Development (with no other federal assistance)
- Projects covered by existing agreements that include alternative procedures and documentation requirements
(i.e. Nationwide Programmatic Agreements or State-level Programmatic Agreements)
If you are unsure whether these exceptions apply to your project, please contact the Ohio Historic Preservation Office.
Click here to return to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office front page.
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