Environmental Review
The Environmental Review program is a planning process that helps protect New York's historic cultural resources from the potential impacts of projects that are 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 SHPO's role in the review process is 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 local preservation environmental reviews, upon request, under the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
Please be aware that reviews undertaken by the Field Services Bureau relate only to Historic/Cultural resources. They do not include potential environmental impacts to New York State Parkland that may be involved in or near your project. Such impacts must be considered as part of the environmental review of the project pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (New York Environmental Conservation Law Article 8) and its implementing regulations (6 NYCRR Part 617).
If your project involves or is adjacent to New York State parkland please contact the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to determine the location of New York State parkland please use the Public GIS program found at the On-Line Resources section of this web site.
Consultation Process
The Environmental Review program is an interdisciplinary process that involves all SHPO program areas. Project review is conducted in two stages. First, the Survey and Evaluation assesses a property to determine whether or not it is listed in the New York State or National Registers of Historic Places. If not, it is evaluated to determine whether or not it meets the criteria to be included in the registers. If listed or determined eligible for listing, then the second stage of the review is undertaken. This portion of the review involves the staff of the Technical Services Unit who determine whether or not the proposed action/project will have an impact/effect on the qualities of the property that make it eligible. For projects that involve new construction or the significant expansion of existing buildings, the project will also be reviewed by the staff of the Archeology Unit who determine whether or not the project site falls within a known area of archeological sensitivity. If so, they 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.
- Phase I Report Standards (pdf)
- Indigenous Nation Areas of Interest in New York State (pdf map)
- Indigenous Nation Areas of Interest in New York State (web map)
- Human Remains Discovery Protocol (pdf)