Cultural Resource Coordination
The purpose of cultural resource coordination is to ensure that a project’s potential effects on historic properties are considered early in project planning so that adverse effects can be avoided, minimized, or mitigated. Access projects must be coordinated with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) Project Review Section. By providing VDHR with a complete Project Review Form, the Locality will obtain their concurrence on the type of effect the Access road project will have on historic properties.
VDHR will respond in writing to your Project Review Form and either request additional information to make an effect determination or let you know in writing what the effect on historic properties is. It is possible that VDHR will require that the Locality conduct additional studies, such as archaeological surveys, to enable them to make an effect determination.
Please note that if the Locality must conduct archaeological surveys on property owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia (includes State-owned highway Right-of-Way), the Locality must receive a Virginia Antiquities Act permit (§10.1-2300 Code of Virginia) from VDHR prior to conducting the survey.
When you receive VDHR’s effect determination (No Historic Properties Affected; No Adverse Effect; Adverse Effect on Historic Properties), please read the letter carefully. Often, VDHR conditions their effect determinations on the Locality doing additional coordination, conducting additional work, or on not doing something. Examples of conditions include, but are not limited to, conducting an archaeological survey, providing VDHR with copies of final plans before construction, avoiding a significant archaeological site, etc. These conditions are environmental commitments, and the Locality is required to implement them.
To evidence compliance, the Locality must provide both the VDOT Project Coordinator and the VDOT District Environmental Manager copies of the VDHR’s effect determination and supporting documentation indicating the Locality has implemented all cultural resource commitments.
Please direct the Project Review Forms to Marc Holma, Architectural Historian: (804) 367-2323, ext. 114. FAX: (804) 367-2391. The mailing address is Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221.
Construction Monitoring
Regardless of who is responsible for construction of an Access road project, VDOT may monitor projects as per policy, to ensure any environmental commitments identified have been implemented (such as VA air pollution regulations, permit requirements, cultural resource commitments, etc.).
Forms:
Guidance:
- VDHR Project Review Section
- VDHR Archives Search
- Environmental Certification – completed by VDOT Environmental Manager prior to project authorization for advertisement and construction. Agency coordination allows this to be completed.
- VDOT Instructional & Informational Memorandum 216.5 – VDOT policy on projects designed/administered/advertised by Localities
- VDOT District Environmental Manager Contacts
Related links:
