Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. Projects funded under the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), State Energy Program (SEP), and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program are considered undertakings subject to review under Section 106 of the NHPA.

In 2010, DOE, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers developed a first-of-its-kind Prototype Programmatic Agreement (Prototype PA) for Section 106 reviews. The Prototype PA provides a streamlined Section 106 process for projects funded under DOE’s WAP, SEP and EECBG program. To date, a total of 55 state- and territory-specific subsequent PAs have been executed with DOE in accordance with the Prototype PA. The subsequent PAs make it possible for DOE recipients to execute a large number of undertakings, in compliance with Section 106, by expediting reviews for those that do not have the potential to adversely impact historic properties and establishing the review process for those projects that require individual consideration.

Recipients with a subsequent PA, can select the appropriate link to see the Prototype PA between the U.S. Department of Energy, State Energy Offices and State Historic Preservation Offices regarding SEP, WAP, and EECBG undertakings or to see the individual state and territory executed subsequent PAs.

Not all recipients have a subsequent PA. DOE has identified a parallel review process for these recipients. Recipients without a subsequent PA can review a PowerPoint presentation and the Historic Preservation Worksheet used to notify DOE when activities are proposed for structures 45 years and older.

For training information, including historic preservation training, please see The National Environmental Policy Act and Historic Preservation Training Website for the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office.