Press Release
November 18, 2015
Contact: Melvena Heisch
State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-4484
mheisch@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/shpo
HUD Officials to Speak at SHPO December 3 Workshop
Oklahoma City, Okla. — The Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is pleased to announce that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials will be featured speakers for "The Section 106 Review Process: A Workshop for Agency Officials and Cultural Resource Management Consultants" workshop to be held on Thursday, December 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the classroom at the Oklahoma History Center, located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City (immediately northeast of the Oklahoma State Capitol).
Nancy E. Boone, federal preservation officer, and Ashley Bechtold, environmental specialist of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Environment and Energy in Washington, D. C., will present the afternoon session of the workshop. This is a rare opportunity for state and local officials, tribal government representatives and consultants working on projects assisted with HUD funding. Also, HUD, the OKSHPO, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and others are consulting about streamlining Section 106 review for HUD disaster relief programs, and workshop participants will learn important details about implementing these special procedures.
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act provides that federal agencies must consider the effects of their undertakings on archaeological and historic properties listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Melvena Heisch will introduce the day-long workshop, providing an overview of the basic requirements of Section 106, the regulations that govern the process, how to determine National Register eligibility, what constitutes adverse effects, mitigating adverse effects, and streamlining Section 106 review. Then, Boone and Bechtold will discuss general HUD programs and Section 106, including what responsibilities rest with the Responsible Entities (REs) and how the HUD FPO (and other officials) assist them; how HUD addresses issues related to tribal consultation; HUD programs not delegated to an RE; resources and training HUD offers REs and others; and the proposed streamlining of HUD disaster relief programs.
NOTE TO DESIGN PROFESSIONALS: The workshop qualifies for HSW hours needed to fulfill requirements of the State of Oklahoma's Board of Governors of Licensed Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers. The OKSHPO will provide a certificate of attendance, and participants must self-report their attendance to the board.
The workshop is free and open to the public, but space is limited. If you may have questions about workshop content, contact Melvena Heisch at 405-522-4484 or mheisch@okhistory.org. To register for the workshop contact Jesse Dearman at 405-521-6249 or jdearman@okhistory.org by Wednesday, November 25, at 5 p.m. You also may register online at http://www.okhistory.org/shpo/workshops.php.
The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains 31 museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
