Programmatic Agreement Among the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System, the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer, the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Regarding the Fort Whipple Enhanced Use Lease Housing Development Project at the Bob Stump Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has amended the referenced Program Comment which avoids duplicate reviews under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act regarding telecommunications projects that undergo Section 106 review by the Federal Communications Commission under existing Nationwide Programmatic Agreements. Amendments in 2015 extended the duration of the Program Comment, added agencies that can use the Program Comment, and provided for a monitoring system.

Executive Summary The National Historic Preservation Act directs the Federal Government to administer federally owned, administered, and controlled historic resources in a spirit of stewardship. Executive Order 13287, issued in 2003 as part of the Administration’s Preserve America initiative, reaffirms this mandate. Section 4(e) of the order requires that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation make recommendations to the President and Federal agencies on further stimulating initiative, creativity, and efficiency in the Federal stewardship of historic properties.

A set of FAQs on federal agency coordination where an undertaking subject to review in accordance with Section 106 involves more than one federal agency.

A panel of ACHP members issued recommendations in September 2021 identifying actions the ACHP can take to improve the use of Program Comments as a tool for Section 106 review efficiency.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) adopted a plan to support the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Declaration) on March 1, 2013. In the plan, the ACHP commits to raising awareness about the Declaration in the historic preservation community and incorporating the principles and aspirations of the Declaration into ACHP initiatives and programs. As part of the effort to raise awareness, the ACHP also committed to developing guidance on the intersection of the Section 106 process and the Declaration.

Section 213 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) [54 USC §304110] directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), if requested by the Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to provide a report to assist the ACHP in discharging its responsibilities under the Act. Specifically, Section 213 states: