Environmental Review
Environmental Review Program
The Environmental Review Program is a planning process that helps protect New York State’s historic cultural resources from the potential impacts of projects that are undertaken, funded, licensed, or approved by state or federal agencies.
Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Section 14.09 of the New York State Historic Preservation Act, the State Historic Preservation Office’s (SHPO) role in the environmental review process is to work with state and federal agencies to ensure that effects or impacts on eligible or listed properties are considered and avoided or mitigated during the project planning process.
In addition, the SHPO advises local communities on historic preservation matters as part of local environmental review, upon request, under the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
Consultation Process
SHPO Environmental Review consultation should be initiated by the state or federal agency responsible for undertaking, permitting, funding, and/or approving the project.
SHPO generally responds to all inquiries and submissions within 30 days. If a project submission is incomplete, or the SHPO requires additional information, additional review time may be needed.
For Environmental Review consultation, the project lead must provide (at minimum):
- A project description
- Photos of the project site and its surroundings (including buildings) keyed to a site map
SHPO staff representing different historic preservation disciplines will review the proposed project.
- SHPO staff determine if the property is listed in the New York State or National Registers of Historic Places.
- If it is not listed, the property is evaluated to determine whether or not it meets the criteria to be listed.
- If it is listed or determined eligible for listing, then SHPO staff reviews potential impact.
- SHPO staff determine if the proposed action/project will have an impact/effect on the qualities of the property that make it eligible for the State and National Registers of Historic Places
- For projects involving ground disturbing activities
- SHPO staff determine whether or not the project site falls within an area of archaeological sensitivity
- If it does, SHPO staff will request phased surveys to determine the extent of the potential impact
Documents
To be completed and submitted when providing documentation of buildings, structures or objects.