Programmatic Agreement for Historic Bridge Minor Projects in the State of Hawaii (HI)
Case Details
The State of Hawaiʻi has approximately 400 highway bridges that have been deemed eligible or potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in coordination with the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), seeks to more efficiently deliver federally funded projects at the state and local levels. The proposed programmatic agreement (PA) will result in a statewide agreement for historic bridge maintenance, repair and minor rehabilitation projects. The Hawaiʻi Historic Bridge Minor Projects PA is intended to streamline implementation, review, and reporting for individual bridge projects that will not affect, are not likely to affect, or have minor effects on historic properties, consistent with the requirements of Section 106 of the NHPA, and the implementing regulations in 36 C.F.R. 800. This PA is intended to address maintenance, repair and minor rehabilitation projects and similar activities. The PA will not address major bridge rehabilitation or replacement projects. Additionally, it is proposed that the PA reference through an appendix a parallel, yet separate, state-level regulatory review for minor historic bridge projects to comply with Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 6E-8 and 6E-42 and Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 13-275. The Hawaiʻi Historic Bridge Minor Projects PA will set forth a process that (l) achieves safe and efficient transportation operations; (2) avoids, minimizes, and mitigates adverse effects on historic bridges; and (3) makes efficient use of federal aid in historic bridge maintenance, repair and minor rehabilitation by developing a Section 106 process that: (a) simplifies procedural requirements, and (b) reduces the project-by-project review role of the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) by focusing time and attention on projects that warrant their oversight and attention. This PA would establish the roles and responsibilities of FHWA, HDOT, SHPD, and the ACHP, as well as the involvement of the Army Corps of Engineers, Central Federal Lands Highway Division, City & County of Honolulu, the County of Kaua‘i, the County of Maui, the County of Hawaiʻi, Native Hawaiian Organizations, Historic Hawaii Foundation, and other consulting parties.