A bipartisan letter addressed to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is circulating both chambers of Congress, urging the ACHP to reconsider its proposal to weaken Section 106 Regulations.

The letter, addressed to ACHP Vice Chairman Travis Voyles, asks the ACHP to reconsider its proposed overhaul to Section 106. Over the past 60 years, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act has provided local communities, the public, and Tribal Nations a meaningful voice in projects that impact historic and cultural places. The proposed revisions to Section 106 threaten to dismantle this framework by making public comment optional, weakening Tribal consultation, redefining what constitutes “historic,” and giving federal agencies authority and discretion over the review process.

The letter from Congress to the ACHP outlines several concerns with the proposed regulations, targeting rules that would:

  • Concentrate decision-making regarding potential adverse effects within federal agencies
  • Make public participation in the Section 106 process discretionary
  • Narrow the circumstances in which adverse effects to historic properties are considered
  • Limit consideration of setting and other characteristics that contribute to a property’s historic significance
  • Redefine “historic property” in ways that could exclude important landscapes and other places of cultural significance
  • Reduce the meaningful role of State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) in the consultation process

Source: National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers

Take Action!

Make your voice heard today:

  • Call your representative and senators to protect Section 106: Find your representative and senators and ask them to sign the bipartisan Section 106 letter to the ACHP. A direct phone script is: ”Hello, My name is [Your name], and I am a constituent from [City/Zip Code]. I am calling to urge [Representative Name] to sign on as [a signer] of the ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation opposing the proposed revisions to Section 106. Thank you.”
  • Stay up to date: Follow the Washington Trust, National Trust, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, Cultural Heritage Partners, and other preservation partners for updates.
  • Be prepared: When the public comment period opens, be ready to send comments to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Advocacy Alerts – Stay Engaged!

Stay in the loop on the Washington Trust’s advocacy work and learn how you can help raise your voice in support of historic preservation. Click below to sign up for emails and make sure to select “Preservation Issues and Advocacy Alerts” from the list as an area of interest!

Sign up for Advocacy Emails