OHP’s Project Review Unit is charged with ensuring that projects and programs carried out or sponsored by federal and state agencies comply with federal and state historic preservation laws and that projects are planned in ways that avoid or minimize adverse effects to heritage resources. OHP reviews and comments on several thousand projects annually.
Federal and federally-sponsored programs and projects are reviewed pursuant to Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended, requires federal agencies to consider the effects of proposed federal undertakings on historic properties. NHPA’s implementing regulations found in 36 CFR Part 800, require federal agencies (and their designees, permitees, licensees, or grantees) to initiate consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) as part of the Section 106 review process.
State programs and projects are reviewed pursuant to
Sections 5024 and 5024.5 of the
California Public Resources Code. Additionally, Section 5024 requires consultation with OHP when a project may impact historical resources located on State-owned land.
OHP also reviews and comments on a select number of projects pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) . CEQA requires that public agencies consider the effects of their actions on historical resources eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources.
Many local governments throughout California have ordinances that require the review of projects at the local level that may adversely impact historical resources. For information on these types of programs, contact the local government with jurisdiction over the resource in question.
