The Owners' Manual Newsletter | Issue 23 | Winter 2022

Cultural Resources are the bridge between present day and understanding the past. Often times, various state and federal regulatory aspects of a project with land disturbance will require review and clearance from the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO). Cultural resources include both above-ground (historic structures) and subsurface (archaeological) sites that the SHPO may request to be assessed for potential impacts from a project. Our Environmental Resources Group has the experience and expertise to initiate project reviews and state agency consultations. If additional field studies are required, we can help to guide projects through the process. If stream or wetland impacts are part of a project and a federal US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit is required, part of the permitting process typically requires demonstration that coordination under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) has been completed prior to issuance of any Department of the Army Permits pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. If cultural resources are identified on-site or in close proximity to a project, the permit review process includes working with USACE on identifying consulting parties and initiating consultation with these identified parties to ensure the public has an opportunity to comment on potential effects to cultural resources. States may also have a permitting nexus that is triggered when land disturbance is proposed (i.e. NPDES, Sewer Planning, Fine Grading, etc.), additional coordination or field studies may be required prior to the SHPO recommendation of approval for the proposed permit. We have the experience and expertise to guide projects through this process from start to finish to ensure Section 106 obligations are met and completed in the best interest of the project and our clients. As a multi-discipline firm, we have a wealth of in-house expertise that can enhance many projects that we perform. Our Environmental Resources Group can help our clients to prevent unwanted delays on their projects. Please be sure to keep BL’s in-house services in mind!

If you have questions about our environmental resources services and how they can benefit a project you’re involved in, please reach out to Wesley Wolf .

Wes Wolf is a Senior Project Manager in the Environmental Group out of the Harrisburg, PA office. Wes can be reached at wwolf@blcompanies or at 717-943-1672.

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