Do Section 106 and the PA mean that emergency response can be delayed or stopped entirely?
No, they do not. The OSC’s first priority is protection of public health and the environment. Nothing in the PA changes that. Neither the PA nor Section 106, moreover, are designed to stop an emergency response. Rather they require that the potential effects of undertakings on historic structures be considered. 5. Can I get help in complying with the PA? Yes. The PA details a host of Federal, State and private parties who will help the OSC. These include professionals in the National Program Center of the National Park Service, State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) and historic property experts. (SHPOs are appointed by the Governor of each State as part of the States’ participation in National Historic Preservation Act programs. They are the primary source of information on historic properties on non-Federal lands.) The key to considering potential effects on historic structures is pre-incident planning, so that expertise is available when the OSC actually requires assistance. A
