NEPA NHPA Section 106 Handbook

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued two handbooks that align the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process with other review processes.

CEQ and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) issued a new handbook, "NEPA and NHPA: Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106 Reviews." A joint letter from Chair Sutley and Chairman Donaldson distributed the handbook to the Federal Departments and Agencies. The preparation of this handbook has been a joint effort between CEQ and the ACHP. It provides advice to Federal agencies, applicants, project sponsors, and consultants on how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 review processes.

CEQ and the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research OPR jointly issued a Draft Handbook for Integrating California State and Federal environmental reviews for public review and comment.

NEPA NHPA Section 106 Handbook

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) issued a new handbook, "NEPA and NHPA: Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106 Reviews" on March 5, 2013. The handbook is a joint CEQ and the ACHP effort that provides advice to Federal agencies, applicants, project sponsors, and consultants on how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 review processes.

The "NEPA and NHPA: Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106 Reviews" was informed by views and comments from a working group of NEPA and NHPA Section 106 practitioners, as well as comments from drafts circulated among them and the Federal preservation community. The Handbook is designed to clarify potential areas of confusion and duplication that have long existed in administering these two separate statutes.

This handbook complements the suite of guidance and memoranda to agencies that CEQ has issued to reaffirm the NEPA principles of early coordination and collaboration to promote efficient Federal environmental reviews. This handbook is also in line with the goals of President Obama's 2012 Executive Order on Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects.

• Read the NEPA-NHPA Section 106 Handbook