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Program Comment Issued for the Department of Energy.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) issued a Program Comment to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to extend the duration of agreements based on the DOE prototype Programmatic Agreement (PA) for its Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), State Energy Program (SEP), and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). The ACHP membership voted in favor of issuing the Program Comment via an unassembled vote that concluded on March 11, 2013. Read more here.

Preserve America Celebrates a Milestone, Looks for Feedback
The Preserve America program celebrated its 10th anniversary on March 3. Now with 887 designated communities, 38 stewards, and numerous awards, millions of dollars in grants, and improved historic preservation in communities across the United States, Preserve America is a successful endeavor. This anniversary opens up the opportunity to share what has been accomplished in your communities and to see what else can be done.
Please read more and send us feedback!

ACHP Chairman Blogs for White House
Chairman Wayne Donaldson's blog about the ACHP plan to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been posted on the White House Web site. Read it here.

Spring Brings a Fresh Crop of Webinars
The ACHP’s series of one-hour, interactive learning experiences about Section 106 review introduces two brand new programs in April and May. For course descriptions and registration details, read more.

ACHP and CEQ Release Handbook on Coordination of Important Federal Processes
Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the ACHP released a handbook designed to help coordinate required review processes under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The handbook stands to significantly improve the coordination of environmental reviews across the government. This handbook provides practical advice to practitioners and stakeholders to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal agencies’ environmental review.
Read the press release. 
Read the handbook. 
Read more from CEQ and the ACHP about this important guidance.

ACHP Participates in Broadband Infrastructure Working Group
The ACHP is participating as a member of the interagency Working Group, co-chaired by the Department of Homeland Security and the General Services Administration, to implement the requirements of Executive Order 13616, “Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment.” The E.O., issued in June 14, 2012, is intended to facilitate wired and wireless broadband infrastructure deployment on Federal lands, buildings, and right of way, federally assisted highways, and Tribal lands, particularly in underserved communities. Based upon the E.O., the acceleration of broadband is essential to the Nation’s global competitiveness in the 21st century, driving job creation, promoting innovation, and expanding markets for American businesses, and affords public safety agencies the opportunity for greater levels of effectiveness and interoperability. Because of the breadth and scope of broadband on diverse resources controlled and managed by the Federal government, the ACHP would like to share this initiative with our constituents.

In accordance with the E.O., an Interim Report was released by the Working Group on March 15, 2013, outlining the actions and recommendations that agencies should implement to meet the goals of the E.O. One of the recommendations included in this Interim Report under “Environmental Compliance” is “to improve Section 106 compliance by developing and implementing alternate procedures under Section 800.14 of the ACHP’s, regulations, “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR Part 800).” In order to implement this recommendation, the ACHP will collaborate with federal agencies, State Historic Preservation Officers, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Indian tribes, and other preservation organizations in coming weeks to explore which program alternatives should be pursued to accelerate the deployment of broadband.

ACHP Business Meeting Provides Plenty of Preservation News
Members of the ACHP met March 1 to pass resolutions, discuss the 50th anniversary of the NHPA, swear in new members, and discuss plenty of historic preservation initiatives and news. Read the highlights of the business meeting.

Secretary of the Interior Presents Awards at Winter Meeting
Secretary Ken Salazar today presented the Department of the Interior’s 2012 Historic Preservation Awards and administered the oath of office to s of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). Read more 

ACHP Endorses Plan to Support U.N. Declaration
At its Winter Business Meeting, ACHP members voted to endorse a plan supporting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, becoming the first federal agency to do this. Read more.

ACHP Sends Final Comments on Pawtucket Dam to FERC
The ACHP has prepared final comments for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding proposed alterations to the historic Pawtucket Dam in the Merrimack River at Lowell, Massachusetts. The action comes in the wake of FERC’s January 8 notification that the agency was terminating the Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act. That provision requires federal agencies to consider the impacts of undertakings they carry out, fund, or license on properties listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places. Read more, including the comments to FERC.

First Lady Designates New Communities
Michelle Obama has signed and sent letters of designation to five new Preserve America Communities. Please read more.

ACHP Announces GAO Report Calling for Improved Data on Historic Properties
The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently released a report entitled “Improved Data Needed to Strategically Manage Historic Buildings, Address Multiple Challenges” http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-35. This report was developed in consultation with the ACHP as well as the General Services Administration, the National Park Service, and the Department o f Veterans Affairs. Read more about the importance of this data and links to the ACHP’s Section 3 report.

ACHP Weighs in on Senate Bill to Provide $60.4 billion in Hurricane Sandy Recovery Funds
The ACHP, in its role to advise Congress and the President, has offered information regarding money for the Historic Preservation Fund in ongoing negotiations for hurricane recovery funding. Please read more.

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Four Cabinet Departments Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Better Protect Indian Sacred Sites
Four cabinet-level departments joined the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) today in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve the protection of Indian sacred sites. Read more.

Important New Tribal Consultation Tool Launched by HUD
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently launched its Tribal Directory Assessment Tool, an online resource for identifying which Indian tribes have an interest in each state or county in the United States. The tool, originally developed for HUD’s grant recipients, is available for all Section 106 practitioners to use at http://egis.hud.gov/tdat/Tribal.aspx. Read more.

New Guidance on Program Comment for Common Post-1945 Bridges
The ACHP and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have developed joint guidance on implementing the Program Comment for common Post-1945 concrete and steel bridges. The Program Comment eliminates the need for federal agencies to consider many common post-1945 concrete and steel bridges during Section 106 review. Please read more. Questions? Check out the new Q & A on the FHWA website.

National History Teacher of the Year 2012 Named
Joshua Bill, a history teacher from Waukegan, Illinois was named the National History Teacher of the Year Dec. 4 at a ceremony in New York City. Preserve America is a long-time partner of Gilder Lehrman in administering this prestigious award. Read more.

Preservation as a Movement is Key to National Trust Strategy
Stephanie Meeks, president of the ACHP's long-time partner the National Trust for Historic Preservation, gave a moving plenary speech at the National Preservation Conference in Spokane, Washington, recently. Please click here to read her speech and think about the difference you can make as a historic preservationist.

World Heritage Sites Report Released
The ACHP and partners convened a symposium on U.S. World Heritage Sites at the University of Virginia, itself a World Heritage Site. The unique gathering of public and private sector representatives of the preservation and conservation communities and the tourism industry launched an important and ongoing effort to promote U.S. World Heritage Sites as a component of Administration efforts designed to stimulate international travel to the U.S. Read more, including the illustrated report on the findings.

Department of the Interior Announces Plan for Solar Energy Development in Six Western States
Read more about developments with the Department of the Interior and solar energy.

Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes and the Section 106 Review Process: Questions and Answers
The ACHP has issued its Q&A for dealing with Traditional Cultural Landscapes and Section 106. Read more. 

ACHP Chairman Contributes to White House Blog
ACHP Chairman Wayne Donaldson wrote an informative piece on the
Traditional Cultural Landscapes Plan and how the President's initiatives
to engage Native Americans are an integral part of historic preservation
decisions.

Read the blog entitled: Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes Action Plan - Better Decisions for Historic Properties here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/nativeamericans

ACHP Guidance on Reasonable and Good Faith Efforts
Read the policy issued by ACHP.

Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation Study Released
A 2011 study commissioned by the ACHP, with funding assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, identifies and analyzes methods for measuring the economic impacts of historic preservation. The report focuses on such economic indicators as jobs and household income, property values, heritage tourism, sustainable development, and downtown revitalization, and recommends ways to improve our understanding of how preservation activity supports economic vitality.
Read the full report here.
Read a brief compilation of related facts and figures here.

Section 3 Report to the President Now Available
The 2012 Report to the President on the federal government's stewardship of its historic properties is now available.Download the report.

Preserve America E-Newsletter Available
Read the latest e-newsletter with stories of new designations and activities Preserve America Communities can host for heritage tourism, and much more.

New AIA/CES and AICP/CM continuing education opportunity
Planners and architects can now fulfill their continuing education requirements in part by attending ACHP Section 106 training. The ACHP’s Section 106 Essentials course has been approved to offer 12 CM credits to American Institute of Certified Planners members and 12 LUs for members of the American Institute of Architects. For more information or to register, visit the Section 106 Essentials page.

Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 New Edition Now Available
The ACHP is proud to announce it has updated and reissued Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106. The Citizen’s Guide is a useful tool for learning how to protect historic places in your community.

Web-based Archaeology Guidance Now Available
Washington, D.C.—The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has developed new archaeology guidance to assist federal agencies in meeting their responsibilities under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The guidance is available at: www.achp.gov/archguide. Read more.

ACHP News Archive

Section 106 Archaeology Guidance
ACHP Guidance on Program Comments as a Program Alternative
Register for the ACHP's Section 106 Course
Heritage Tourism
Economic Issues in Historic Preservation
Preserve America