Introduction

• Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) states: "The head of any Federal agency having direct or indirect jurisdiction over a proposed Federal or federally assisted undertaking in any State and the head of any Federal department or independent agency having authority to license any undertaking shall, prior to the approval of the expenditure of any Federal funds on the undertaking or prior to the issuance of any license, as the case may be, take into account the effect of the undertaking on any district, site, building, structure, or object that is included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register. The head of any such Federal agency shall afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation established under Title II of this Act a reasonable opportunity to comment with regard to such undertaking."

• Under the NHPA, the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development is given the role of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Within the SHPO there are two offices that conduct Section 106 on a joint basis, the Division of Archaeology and the Division of Historic Preservation. In Louisiana, the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Cultural Development serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer.

• The Division of Archaeology deals primarily with archaeological projects based upon Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The National Historic Preservation Act requires the State Historic Preservation Office to “advise and assist” (Section 101) federal agencies in carrying out their historic preservation responsibilities. This includes consulting on federally funded, licensed and permitted projects and advising agencies on cultural resources projects undertaken as a result of those projects (Sections 106 and 110). This advice includes considering the appropriateness and adequacy of the efforts undertaken to identify and mitigate archaeological sites. More specifically, under state law La. R.S. 41:1604(1), the Division shall “promulgate reasonable rules and regulations concerning the recovery and study of historic and prehistoric archaeological remains . . . in, on, or under any of the lands belonging to the state of Louisiana . . .” This responsibility includes any federally funded, permitted or licensed project for which the Division reviews the reports and/or curates the collections and associated records (36CFR800 and memo to the State Archaeologist from the Attorney General, 8 January 2009).

Submit a Project for Section 106 Review

Submit a CRM Report

Resources for Section 106 Projects

 Comprehensive Plan 2022

National Register Eligibility Statement

Field Standards 

Report Standards

Site Forms

Curation

Human Remains