Environmental Review

News & Upcoming Events

NEWS - COVID-19 and Environmental Review

At this time the NC State Historic Preservation Office - Environmental Review Branch is operating remotely. We will continue to process incoming review requests. However, we ask that you submit all requests digitally via the Environmental.Review@ncdcr.gov inbox.

Please note that processing for hard copies submitted via USPS and Courier is delayed. Courier deliveries of hard copy reports or review submittals are being accepted at the loading dock entrance of the building. ER staff will check for mail and packages once per week.

If you have any questions or problems with your submittal please contact the following ER Staff Members. 

Katie Harville, Environmental Review Specialist, katie.harville@ncdcr.gov

Devon Borgardt, Environmental Review Technician, devon.borgardt@ncdcr.gov

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UPDATES - Borrow Pit/Waste Area Review Form

The Environmental Review Branch's Borrow Pit/Waste Area Review Form has been updated to include information that will help us to better serve you and ensure timely review of the proposed pit/area. The updated form is also a fillable PDF!

You can find a permanent link to the form on this page under the "Environmental Review Project Submittal Process" header or over at the  Project Review Checklist page. For your convenience, we've also included a temporary link directly below. 

 Borrow Pit/Waste Area Review Form

UPDATES - Historic Structure Survey Report Standards

The Environmental Review Branch's Historic Structure Survey Report Standards underwent a major update in September 2019. Standards currently posted on this website are effective as of September 30, 2019. Please be sure to review them prior to completing and submitting an architectural survey for satisfaction of Section 106 Environmental Review requirements. 

 Historic Structure Survey Report Standards

UPDATES - Consultants List

If you are currently on our list of available consultants you will be contacted soon to verify your information. If you are not on our list and would like to be, please contact Katie Harville, Environmental Review Specialist, at katie.harville@ncdcr.gov.

Architectural Consultants for ER Survey

Information updated 03/19/2020 - K. Harville

The Laws Behind Environmental Review

Federal Laws

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 provides that properties and districts listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places be considered in the planning of federal undertakings such as highway construction and community development projects. "Federal undertakings" also include activities sponsored by state or local governments or private entities if they are licensed, permitted, approved, or funded (wholly or in part) by the federal government. "Federal undertakings" do not include loans made by banks insured by the FDIC or federal farm subsidies.

There is no absolute protection from federal actions that may affect a historic property. If a federal undertaking is in conflict with the preservation of a historic property, the State Historic Preservation Office will negotiate with the responsible federal agency, sometimes with the involvement of the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, in an effort to eliminate or minimize the effect on the property. This mitigation procedure applies to properties that are determined eligible for the National Register in the day-to-day environmental review process as well as those actually listed in the National Register. See Working with Section 106 posted by the Advisory Council.

State Laws

North Carolina law ( G.S. 121-12(a) ) provides for consideration of National Register properties in undertakings funded or licensed by the state. Where a state undertaking is in conflict with the preservation of a National Register property, the North Carolina Historical Commission is given the opportunity to review the case, "giving due consideration to the competing public interests involved," and make recommendations to the state agency responsible for the undertaking. The commission's recommendations to the state agency are only advisory. Properties potentially eligible for but not actually listed in the National Regster are not protected under G.S. 121-12 (a).

General Statute 121-12 establishes a procedure for the review of state undertakings that affect historic properties that is patterned after that created in federal law for federal undertakings. The North Carolina Historical Commission, through a subcommittee with additional professional members called the National Register Advisory Committee, reviews nominations from the state to the National Register of Historic Places. In matters of state undertakings affecting National Register properties, the Historical Commission acts somewhat as a counterpart to the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Since the State Historic Preservation Officer serves as the secretary of the Historical Commission, federal and state review and protection activities are closely coordinated.

G.S. 121-12 charges the Historical Commission "to provide an advisory and coordinative mechanism in and by which State undertakings of every kind that are potentially harmful to the cause of historic preservation within the State may be discussed, and where possible, resolved, giving due consideration to the competing public interests that may be involved." Unlike federal law, state law does not provide protection for properties that may be eligible for, but not actually listed in, the National Register. Recommendations made by the Historical Commission to state agencies are strictly advisory.

Environmental Review Project Submittal Process

Section 106 Applicant Toolkit posted by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Architecture Consultants for environmental review projects. 

Project Review Checklist and E-mail Submittals

Cell Tower Review Application Form 

Borrow Pit / Waste Area Review Form 

Resources

View a list of past Historic Structure Survey Reports submitted for Section 106 review.

Visitation Policy for using files and maps at the Survey and Planning Branch of the State Historic Preservation Office.

For information about protecting cemeteries, visit OSA's page on the North Carolina Cemetery Survey and Protective Legislation.

Slides from the April 21, 2017 Environmental Review Consultant Workshop

State Review for Historic Properties.  A Powerpoint presentation by Renee Gledhill-Earley to the 31st Annual State Construction Conference, Raleigh, March 22, 2012.  The presentation explains the process of compliance with the North Carolina State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and General Statute 121-12(a).

Environmental Review Branch Staff

For staff assignments for archaeological review, please contact the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology (OSA)  

Office of State Archaeology