To the Editor:
It has been four months since the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation (ACHP) submitted proposed rule changes that substantially alter the National Historic Preservation Act. The proposal changes how federal agencies review projects that potentially affect historic and cultural places. The established rules are known as Section 106 Review, and this process has identified and saved historic places across our country since the National Historic Preservation Act was signed 60 years ago on Oct. 15, 1966.
The second wave of attacks on preservation in our country is here. Congress has been negotiating permitting reform for several years and they have recently introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. This bill
does many things to streamline permitting reviews, but it also codifies the proposed changes made by the ACHP.
The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will remove state, local, and tribal voices from the review of federal projects. It narrows what constitutes negative impacts on historic places and allows agencies to internalize reviews and decision making. The bill also fails to define key terms causing regulatory confusion. Ultimately, these changes will cause the very delays the sponsors claim it will fix.
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act was a promise from the federal government to the people that our tax dollars would not be used to destroy our cultural heritage. The proposals from both the ACHP and this new Senate bill break that promise.
The Senate bill is slated for a vote on Nov. 9. Call your senators and tell them to vote against any bill that opens the door for the destruction of our historic places.
Sincerely,
Collier Neeley
President and CEO
Historic Savannah Foundation
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Proposed Senate bill puts historic sites at risk
