The National Trust for Historic Preservation has launched an online tool intended to help preservation advocates track state spending of economic stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The National Trust has identified what it calls “The Perfect Storm” created by a flood of stimulus money intended for “shovel-ready” projects arriving at the same time that state and local governments are facing budget pressures that can lead to the reduction or elimination of funding for historic preservation projects. The Trust also highlights a potential unintended side effect of the economic stimulus funding: when states and localities are pressured to “fast-track” projects they may be forced to repeal or weaken required environmental and preservation reviews. The Trust’s new State-by-State Storm Tracker is designed to help preservation advocates track state stimulus funding so that it can be directed towards preservation and revitalization efforts. For more information, link to the State-by-State Storm Tracker. (4-6-09)

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A new Community of Practice (COP) forum on Historic Bridges has been launched on the Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO website. The COP provides an online venue for invited participants to identify emerging issues, trends, procedures, research, and data needs associated with the identification, evaluation, and management of our nation’s historic bridges. It will also contribute to current discussions on how to effectively preserve and manage the nation’s highway bridge assets. Individuals invited to participate in this Community of Practice include bridge engineers and historic preservation professionals from public and private sectors and academia. For more information, link to the Historic Bridges COP. (4/1/09)

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The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, signed into law on March 30, permanently authorizes two complementary national historic preservation programs - the Preserve America and Save America’s Treasures grant programs. The law authorizes $25 million annually for the Preserve America program, which provides matching funds for educational, marketing, planning, and related historic interpretation and heritage tourism efforts. The law also authorizes $50 million per year for Save America’s Treasures, which funds restoration and preservation work on nationally significant collections and historic properties. For more information, link to the ACHP news release and text of the legislation. (3-30-09)

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The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has made available on its website information on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects and programs that may affect historic properties. The new webpage provides links to White House and Office of Management and Budget resources on the Recovery Act, offers an overview of the economic benefits of historic preservation, and includes information on coordination of requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The webpage also will provide updated information as projects are planned and implemented and highlight opportunities for public involvement and consultation. For more information, link to the ACHP Recovery Act webpage. (3-12-09)

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The March 2009 issue of the Federal Highway Administration's Successes in Stewardship newsletter features a successful project to renovate historic Front Street in Natchitoches, La., while maintaining its historic character. The Front Street Rehabilitation Project, which received funding under the Transportation Enhancements program, included the implementation of needed improvements the roadway’s surface and subsurface infrastructure while preserving its 105 year-old brick surface. Highlights of the case study include the successful use of preservation methods stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding for the project and effective public outreach and stakeholder involvement in the NEPA process. For more information, link to the March 2009 Successes in Stewardship newsletter, Balancing Infrastructure Improvements with Historic Preservation: The Front Street Rehabilitation Project. (3-2-09)

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Presentations on the potential effects of transportation funding developments on community preservation and the environment have been posted on Pennsylvania’s Statewide Conference on Heritage website. The resources stem from a session at the 2008 conference, Protecting Pennsylvania’s Historic Resources: A Conference on Transportation, Heritage and the Environment. Links include two essays, three PowerPoint presentations, and a video of the roundtable discussion. To access the information link to the Statewide Conference on Heritage website. (January 2009)

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The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has published its latest digest of court cases relevant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Also available is a new online case digest index searchable by state, agency, or project name. For more information, link to Winter 2009 Case Digest: Section 106 in Action. (2-4-09)

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A panel of experts selected by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to evaluate the structure of the federal historic preservation program has submitted an executive summary of its findings. The panel was formed following the national Preserve America Summit held in October 2006 to study the current structure of the program and to recommend improvements. The executive summary offers seven recommendations that address the following issues: federal preservation programs lack strong leadership; Department of the Interior preservation programs need better coordination and visibility; natural and cultural resource programs should be better integrated; federal preservation officers are not fully effective within their agencies; federal funding is inadequate to meet mandates of the National Historic Preservation Act; funding and technical support for tribal preservation efforts is inadequate; and the Section 106 function is lagging and must be strengthened. A full report of the panel’s findings is scheduled to be presented at a February 2009 council meeting. For more information, link to Executive Summary: Recommendations to Improve the Structure of the Federal Historic Preservation Program. (2-1-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration has issued a memorandum requesting new applications for project funding under the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program. The program provides grants to assist states with rehabilitation, repair, or preservation of historic covered bridges that are listed or eligible for listing on the National Register for Historic Places. The notice also includes criteria for eligible projects and an update on the fiscal year 2008 program. The total amount of funds available for 2009 has not yet been determined. Applications are due March 2, 2009. For more information, link to the memorandum. (1-14-09)

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