State Historic Preservation Officer
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The State Historic Preservation Office is a federally mandated office that is funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). In 1976, Congress specifically authorized the deposit of a portion of Outer Continental Shelf oil lease revenues into an Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) to carry out the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA). Annual appropriations to the HPF provide matching grants to State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs). The SHPO is responsible for: locating and recording historic resources; nominating significant historic resources to the National Register of Historic Places; fostering historic preservation programs at the local government level and the creation of preservation ordinances; providing funds for preservation activities; commenting on projects under consideration for the federal historic preservation tax incentive; providing technical assistance on rehabilitation projects and other preservation activities to federal agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector; and reviewing all federal projects for their impact on historic properties in accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA and the regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
Section 106 requires all federal agencies, or parties who receive federal funding or requires a federal license or permit to consult with the SHPO to determine if a project will have any effects on historic properties (including archaeological sites). Any disputes that cannot be resolved between the SHPO and the federal agency are presented to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
