WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) today issued a blanket extension through May 29, 2020, for federal agency use of emergency Section 106 procedures regarding undertakings that respond to emergency and disaster declarations on the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID -19).
The extension applies to projects that respond to COVID-19 under the national emergency declared by President Trump on March 13, 2020, and other COVID-19 emergencies or disaster declarations that have already been issued by the President, a tribal government, or the governor of a state, or may be issued by any of them while the extension is in place.
“President Trump has repeatedly said that combating this global pandemic in the U.S. will take a whole-of-government response,” ACHP Chairman Aimee Jorjani said. “We are grateful for congressional action, as Americans need assistance now. In support of this unified effort, the Section 106 regulations provide a mechanism to address the immediate need for flexibility in the federal response of this national emergency.”
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies that carry out, license, or assist projects that may affect historic properties to take into account such effects and provide the ACHP a reasonable opportunity to comment.