Program Comment Now Available for NHPA Section 106 Reviews of Broadband Communication Projects

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240

http://www.blm.gov

August 11, 2017

In Reply Refer To:

8110 (240) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 08/23/2017

Information Bulletin No. 2017-052

To:                            State Directors and Center Directors

From:                       Assistant Director, Resources and Planning

Subject:                    Program Comment Now Available for NHPA Section 106 Reviews of Broadband Communication Projects

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently completed the development and interagency review of guidance to evaluate cultural resources associated with communications and broadband projects on federal lands. This guidance comes in the form of a “Program Comment,” which is now available for use (Attachment 1), and some frequently asked questions (Attachment 2). The BLM was joined in developing this guidance by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs

A Program Comment is a method that allows federal agencies to meet their National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 responsibilities, rather than following the standard regulations found at 36 CFR Part 800. Most of the BLM is familiar with the National Programmatic Agreement the BLM uses to meet its compliance responsibilities under Section 106, and that will not change. This Program Comment provides a different alternative process and may contain useful practices not previously considered in state protocols.

Both DHS and ACHP solicited comments about the Program Comment from State Historic Preservation Officers, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, consulting parties, tribes and the public. The document was modified based on those comments and was approved by the ACHP in April. 

Should your state protocol not provide efficiencies similar to those found through this Program Comment, we encourage you to engage with your State Historic Preservation Officers and determine whether portions or all of this Program Comment can be used for applicable undertakings occurring in your State.

Broadband and other telecommunications infrastructure plays a key role in facilitating economic activity within the U.S.  This Program Comment effort can be seen as part of streamlining rights-of-way processing, enhancing our relationships with states, local and tribal governments, not to mention deploying security and communications systems to enhance employee safety, emergency notification and accountability both for the Department of the Interior as well as the DHS, and supports the Administration’s economic development goals. 

If there are any questions about this Program Comment, please contact Ranel Stephenson Capron, Federal Preservation Officer, at 202-912-7241 or rcapron@blm.gov. 

Signed by:                                                              Authenticated by:

Steve Tryon                                                           Robert M. Williams

Acting, Assistant Director                                    Division of IT Policy & Planning,WO-870

Resources and Planning

2 Attachments

    1 – Program Comment for Communications Projects on Federal Lands and Property (15 pp)

    2 – Frequently Asked Questions for Using the ACHP’s Program Comment for Communications Projects on Federal Lands and Property (3 pp)