Cultural Resource Coordination

The purpose of cultural resource coordination is to ensure that a project’s potential effects on historic properties are considered early in project planning so that adverse effects can be avoided, minimized, or mitigated. All Enhancement projects must be coordinated with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) Project Review Section.  By providing VDHR with a complete Project Review Form, the Sponsor will obtain their concurrence on the type of effect the Enhancement project will have on historic properties.  Coordination with VDHR is especially important for Enhancement projects since these often involve rehabilitation or restoration of historic structures. VDHR will respond in writing to your Project Review Form and either request additional information to make an effect determination or let you know right away what the effect on historic properties is.  It is possible that VDHR will require that the Sponsor conduct additional studies, such as archaeological surveys, to enable them to make an effect determination. 

When you receive VDHR’s effect determination (No Historic Properties Affected; No Adverse Effect; Adverse Effect on Historic Properties), please read the letter carefully.  Often, VDHR conditions their effect determinations on the Sponsor doing additional coordination, conducting additional work, or on not doing something.  Examples of conditions include, but are not limited to, following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, conducting an archaeological survey, providing VDHR with copies of final plans before construction, or having a qualified archaeologist monitor during ground disturbing activities.  These conditions are environmental commitments, and the Sponsor is required to implement them.

To evidence compliance with federal cultural resource laws, the Sponsor must provide both the VDOT Enhancement Project Coordinator and the VDOT District Environmental Manager copies of VDHR’s effect determination and documentation indicating the Sponsor has implemented all cultural resource commitments.

Please direct your Enhancement project questions, information, and the Project Review Forms to Marc Holma, Architectural Historian: (804) 367-2323, ext. 114.  FAX: (804) 367-2391.  The mailing address is Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221.

Construction Monitoring

VDOT may monitor Enhancement projects during construction, as per policy, to ensure any environmental commitments identified have been implemented (such as permit requirements, cultural resource commitments, etc.). 

Forms:

• VDHR Project Review Form

Guidance:

• VDOT District Environmental Manager Contacts
• Enhancement Sponsor Checklist
• VDHR Project Review Section
• VDHR Archives Search
• Working with Section 106 – Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) information on working with Section 106 regulations
• Historic Rehabilitation information – National Park Service’s interactive web class on rehabilitation of historic buildings
• Historic Preservation Services – NPS website containing historic preservation treatment standards and guidelines
• Preservation Briefs - NPS website containing easy-to read guidance on preserving, rehabilitating and restoring historic buildings
• Historic Preservation Standards & Guidelines
• PS&E Reevaluation – completed by VDOT Environmental Manager prior to Enhancement project authorization for construction.  Agency coordination allows this to be completed.
• Environmental Certification – completed by VDOT Environmental Manager prior to Enhancement project authorization for construction.  Agency coordination allows this to be completed.

Related links:

• FHWA Enhancement Website – guidance information
• American's with Disabilities Act – ADA
• FHWA's policy on ADA – directly related to Enhancement Projects
• National Transportation Enhancement Clearinghouse