The Handbook clarifies and provides information to project managers on the successful integration of Section 106 and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with a specific focus on Section 106 as it applies to transportation projects for which the project applicant is a state department of transportation (DOT). The Handbook is not a beginner introduction to the Section 106 process, nor is it an exhaustive technical guide for Section 106 practitioners.

Practical tips include preparing for Section 106 consultation, defining an area of potential effects (APE), inviting consulting parties and public involvement; evaluating eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places;, determining and resolving adverse effects, developing memoranda of agreement (MOAs) and programmatic agreements (PAs), and using alternative procedures to satisfy Section 106 requirements.

View the online Programmatic Agreement Library (PAL) for Section 106

Download the Handbook

Handbook Resources

General Reference

ACHP Website
http://www.achp.gov

The Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines
http://www.cr.nps.gov/local-law/arch_stnds_0.htm

Section 106 Consultation Steps

ACHP and CEQ, “NEPA and NHPA – A Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106” (March 2013)
http://www.achp.gov/docs/NEPA_NHPA_Section_106_Handbook_Mar2013.pdf

ACHP, “NEPA and Section 106 Process Flowcharts”
http://www.achp.gov/docs/NEPA%20and%20Section%20106%20Coordination%20P
rocess%20Flow%20Charts.pdf

Identification and Eligibility Evaluation

ACHP, “Meeting the ‘Reasonable and Good Faith Identification’ Standard in Section 106 Review”
http://www.achp.gov/docs/reasonable_good_faith_identification.pdf

National Park Service bulletins for applying the National Register eligibility criteria
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins.htm

Section 106 Agreement Documents

ACHP, “Guidance on Agreement Documents”
http://www.achp.gov/agreementdocguidance.html

ACHP, Applicant Toolkit and Checklist
http://www.achp.gov/apptoolkit.html

ACHP, “Prototype Programmatic Agreement Guidance” (Feb. 3, 2012)
http://www.achp.gov/docs/guidance_prototype_agreements.pdf

Tribal Consultation

National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) website
http://www.nathpo.org

ACHP, “Consultation with Indian Tribes in the Section 106 Review Process: A Handbook” (Nov. 2008)
http://www.achp.gov/regs-tribes2008.pdf

ACHP, “Native American Traditional Cultural Landscapes and the Section 106 Review Process: Questions and Answers”
http://www.achp.gov/docs/landscapes%20q%20&%20a%207-11-12.pdf

Interstate Highway System

ACHP’s Section 106 exemption for the Interstate System
http://www.achp.gov/final_interstate_exemption_notice.pdf

FHWA’s list of Interstate System elements that are excluded from the exemption for the Interstate System
http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/histpres/highways_list.asp

Mid-Century Bridges

ACHP, “Program Comment for Actions Affecting Post-1945 Concrete and Steel Bridges” (Nov. 16, 2012)
http://www.achp.gov/progalt/Post-1945%20Bridge%20Program%20Comment.pdf

National Historic Landmarks

ACHP, “Section 106 Consultation Involving National Historic Landmarks”
http://www.achp.gov/regs-nhl.html

Emergency Response

ACHP, “Role of Section 106 in Disaster Response – Frequently Asked Questions”
http://www.achp.gov/sec106_disaster-responseFAQ.html

FAST Act Guidance

FHWA guidance regarding Section 106 and Section 4(f) provisions in the FAST Act
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/guidance.cfm