The Region IV Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is developing a Programmatic Agreement (PA) that will apply to Section 106 review of projects in South Carolina that are subject to Part 50 of HUD’s environmental regulations (24 CFR Part 50). The PA will cover review of projects in Multifamily Housing, Healthcare, Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP), and Public Housing. (It does not apply to the Community Development Block Grant/CDBG or HOME programs.) The intent of the PA is to enhance the efficiency of Section 106 review of this group of HUD projects while fostering the protection of historic properties that might be affected by the projects.

We invite the public to provide feedback and participate in the development of this PA. Attached here is a draft.

Please send written comments and suggestions via email or post mail or provide verbal feedback via telephone by September 30, 2016 to: 　

Lenwood E. Smith
Field Environmental Officer
HUD - Greensboro Field Office
1500 Pinecroft Road, Suite 401
Greensboro, NC 27407-3838
(336) 547-4000 ext. 2054

The PA will cover projects that involve mortgage insurance (financing and refinancing) for multifamily housing projects and healthcare facilities, and certain grants for housing construction and rehabilitation, and capital funds for public housing.　 The PA exempts from Section 106 review a list of types of activities that do not cause effects to historic resources, like refinancing of existing buildings without any rehabilitation, replacement of heating systems, bathroom and kitchen remodeling, and repair of roofs and windows. (See Stipulation 1.) Projects that include activities other than those exempted activities, like substantial rehabilitation and new construction, will still undergo a complete Section 106 review, including consultation with South Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), tribes and other consulting parties.

More information is available on the Section 106 review process.