Energy Gateway South Transmission Line Project

---

Section 106  Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 Map Project Area

Cultural Resources

BLM will lead the effort to prepare the environmental impact statement and resource management plan amendments, and ensure compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Section 106 of the NHPA requires the BLM and cooperating federal agencies to consider the effects of the agency’s undertaking on properties listed on, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places (which can include a diversity of archaeological, historical, and traditional tribal and cultural resources). Regulations for Protection of Historic Properties (36 Code of Federal Regulations 800) implement Section 106 and define a process for federal agencies to use in consulting with State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), tribes, and other interested parties as they assess the effects of their undertakings.

BLM has initiated Section 106 consultation with 33 tribes and the Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah SHPOs. These consultations will be ongoing and solicit input regarding cultural resource concerns associated with the project. A Programmatic Agreement will be prepared to document agreement among agencies, tribes, and other consulting parties regarding the manner in which the BLM will meet its responsibilities under the NHPA. Any member of the public may self-identify to BLM as being interested in participating in the Section 106 process.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has created guidance to assist the public: Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106, found at www.achp.gov/work106.html.

Initiating tribal consultation and identifying consulting parties are the initial stages of the Section 106 process. Steps to complete the Section 106 compliance process may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Section 106 Consultation

• Initiate tribal consultation (sample letter posted to website – with mailing list) 
• Initiate Section 106 consultation with SHPO(s) (include letters on website) 
• Initiate consulting parties consultation (sample letter posted to website – with mailing list) 
• Prepare Programmatic Agreement
• Prepare Historic Properties Inventory Plans

Cultural Resource Inventory

• Collect resource data
• Prepare cultural resource results
• Identify and resolve data gaps (Class II Inventory) 
• Prepare Class II cultural resource site and report document
• Complete field investigations (Class III Inventory) 
• Cultural-visual studies
• Ethno-geographic studies (if appropriate) 
• Prepare Class III cultural report documentation
• Agency reviews of Class III cultural resource report

Mitigation of Adverse Effects

• Prepare, review and implement Historic Properties Treatment Plan