Project Profile: Improve Compliance Pathways for Cultural Resource Adaptations Resulting from Vulnerability Assessment

Dry Tortugas Light Station Boat House, Loggerhead Key

NPS Photo

Inflation Reduction Act
Resilience | FY23 1,450,000

The National Park Service (NPS) will develop more efficient compliance pathways for routine adaptation actions for cultural resources with observed or anticipated climate change impacts and fund a position to serve as the NPS Liaison to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The project addresses the need for efficient and improved processes in cultural resources compliance related to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Why? The NPS recognizes the urgent impact of climate change on cultural resources and anticipates accelerated effects. Vulnerability assessments highlight the susceptibility of cultural resources, necessitating the development of efficient adaptation actions. The creation of climate change-specific compliance alternatives would enable the NPS to proceed with many treatments following an expedited review process and thereby provide efficiencies for project execution.

What Else? Such adaptation that may be necessary for cultural resources in the face of climate change could include actions ranging from relocation of historic structures, permanent or semi-permanent reburial of archeological sites, to recognizing loss of cultural resources that cannot be saved for the long term.

Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act provides the National Park Service with an historic opportunity to address critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs. Projects funded in national parks represent broad-scale and impactful resource investments across every corner of out nation—from Alaska to Florida to Maine.