[MassHistPres] Local Preservation Update E-Newsletter-January 13, 2014

[Skelly, Christopher (SEC)]

LOCAL PRESERVATION UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER
Published by the Massachusetts Historical Commission
January 13, 2014

Announcing Mass Preservation Projects Fund  -  Round 20
Secretary William F. Galvin, Chair of the Massachusetts Historical Commission is pleased to announce that Round 20 of the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) grant program has been scheduled. It is anticipated that funding will be in the range of the previous grant round, Round 19, which was $780,000.  Administered by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), the MPPF is a state-funded 50% reimbursable matching grant program established in 1984 to support the preservation of properties, landscapes, and sites listed in the State Register of Historic Places. Applicants must be a municipality or nonprofit organization. The program is administered in accordance with 950 CMR 73.00. Please note that grant disbursement is subject to reauthorization of the capital accounts and the availability of sufficient allocated funds.  Two afternoon MPPF workshops have been scheduled in January of 2014. The first workshop will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 from 3:30 - 5:30 pm at the Millbury Public Library in Millbury, MA. The second workshop will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the MHC offices in the Massachusetts Archives Building in Dorchester, MA.  Join a member of the MHC's Grants Division as they explain the program requirements, go over program materials, and give you the opportunity to ask questions. Workshops are free of charge and no registration is required. Applications for the next round of MPPF grants, Round 20, are due March 14, 2014. MPPF program information, downloadable Application/Instructions, and directions for the upcoming grant workshops will be available starting the week of January 6, 2014. Please visit the MPPF main page of the MHC's website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcmppf/mppfidx.htm . Limited quantities of the hardcopy version of the Application and Instructions will be made available shortly and at each workshop. Please call the MHC at 617-727-8470 if you have any questions or would like to receive hardcopies of the Application and Instructions.

NEW LISTINGS IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Sarah Davidson Apartment Block, Boston

Pilgrim Trinitarian Congregational Church, Boston

Walton and Roslin Halls, Boston


LOCAL COMMISSION'S ROLE IN FEDERAL AND STATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REVIEWS
As a local historical or historic district commission, you will occasionally get letters or inquiries from federal or state agencies, professional consultants, or the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) asking for your comments on a state or federally assisted project in your municipality.  Your comments are sought because of your knowledge and legal role in representing the interests of your city or town government and its citizens in historic resources.

When you receive such a letter, if you have any concerns regarding the project's impacts on historic resources and wish to participate in the impact review and consultation process, respond in writing and be sure that the MHC gets a copy of your comments. Timeliness is important: typically, comments are required within 30 days.


The MHC reviews and comments on the potential impacts to historic properties from projects that require funding, licenses or permits from state and federal government agencies.  However, it is important to remember that MHC's review is not triggered by a listing in the National or State Register of Historic Places or MHC's Inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets.  A listing does not necessarily require MHC review, and a lack of any previously identified historic property does not eliminate the need for MHC review.  It is the federal or state agency involvement with a project that triggers the MHC review.



If a historic property is not included in MHC's statewide Inventory, then it may be difficult or impossible for project planners to consider impacts. For that reason, completing a comprehensive town-wide historic properties survey in coordination with the MHC is critical to proactive preservation efforts.


If a project will have an adverse effect, then consultation begins among the participating parties to discuss alternatives. As a result of being a party in the process, the participants endeavor to help agencies find a solution that will be implemented to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts to the resource. However, it is important to note that the MHC does not have a veto or approval authority on projects.  It is a consultative process to consider feasible alternatives and to attempt to resolve the adverse effect. The results of the consultation may be outlined in a formal Memorandum of Agreement that your local commission may be asked to sign to represent your commission's agreement with the proposed resolution of the adverse effect.



When a project involves only local permits, MHC does not have any formal review role, although MHC may be able to provide some technical assistance to your commission that your commission may implement.  Because the majority of the projects proposed in your town or city do not require state or federal agency involvement, local bylaws and ordinances are the most essential tools for the protection of significant historic resources in your community.

A few useful websites regarding the state and federal review process can be found at:
MHC Website - Frequently Asked Questions about MHC's State & Federal Environmental Impact Review
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcrevcom/revcomidx.htm
Advisory Council for Historic Preservation - Overview Brochure & Citizen's Guide
http://www.achp.gov/using106.pdf
http://www.achp.gov/pubs-citizensguide.html
Advisory Council for Historic Preservation - Summary with link to regulations 36 CFR 800 for Federal Review Projects
http://www.achp.gov/106summary.html

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DATES TO REMEMBER
January 15, 2014
Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund Workshop.  Millbury Public Library. See above.
January 22, 2014
Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund Workshop.  MHC Offices.  See Above.
February 14, 2014
MHC Preservation Awards Nominations Due.  Visit www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc<http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc> for more information.

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Please forward this newsletter on to others that may be interested.  If you are receiving this as a forwarded message and would like to receive it directly, please contact the Massachusetts Historical Commission.   The Massachusetts Historical Commission also has a listserve, known as masshistpres, specifically for historic preservation.  You can join this listserve by visiting http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres.  This newsletter is posted on masshistpres directly and sent to local commission members.  We welcome your thoughts on what you would like to see in this newsletter.  The website for the Massachusetts Historical Commission is http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm
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