Program Updates

Cultural Resources

Cultural Resources & Section 106

Section 106 and the environmental review process help ensure that our natural, cultural, and historic environment is given consideration in Federal project planning. Federal courts have characterized both laws as requiring the Federal Government to “stop, look, and listen” before making decisions that might affect historic properties as one component of the human environment. Please use this information to learn about our efforts to research and identify historic and archeological resources near the Interstate Bridge Replacement program.

Historic black and white photo of the I-5 corridor from 1956 shows little development

Cultural Resources Review Process

The IBR program is conducting a robust cultural resources consultation process, as federally mandated under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This process requires consideration of the effects on historic properties within the Area of Potential Effect (APE). The feedback that we gather from this process will help us understand these important places.

What is a Historic Property?

Historic property means any precontact or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places (National Register). There are several criteria a property must include in order to be eligible for the National Register. For more information on these qualifications please see the ACHP’s Section 106 website.

What is the Area of Potential Effect?

The APE is the geographic area in which a project may directly or indirectly cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties. Impacts may be direct (such as physically removing, altering, or relocating a property) or indirect (changes to a property’s setting, such as noise or visual impacts).

Process Overview

In addition to complying with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the IBR program is currently in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process. Section 106 and NEPA are separate laws that federal agencies must comply with, and both establish a process to evaluate impacts that result from project design and operation, including impacts to cultural resources and the environment. The laws also require that consultation is undertaken with tribes, the general public and other stakeholders on potential impacts and mitigation. Federal guidance encourages these reviews to occur simultaneously, such that one review informs the other. The program is coordinating these evaluations and both reviews are being taken into consideration as design progresses.

Historic properties within the APE have been researched and identified through field survey and background research. Any identified adverse effects to historic properties will be avoided or minimized and mitigated where necessary.

The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, federal agencies, federally recognized tribes, project consulting parties and the general public will be consulted throughout these efforts.

Identification Efforts

The IBR project team has contacted many local stakeholders requesting information regarding local historic properties. In addition, IBR has begun its own survey and analysis of cultural resources within the Section 106 Area of Potential Effect (APE).

To identify eligible historic and archaeological resources, we:

  • Reviewed research conducted during the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project for relevant information on historic properties within the IBR APE.
  • Researched and evaluated the historic built environment (HBE) resources within the APE, the geographic area where the program may result in impacts to cultural resources. 
  • Conducted a Baseline Survey for resources 40 years or older (constructed in 1982 or earlier) within the APE. This survey identified 46 HBE resources in Portland and 206 in Vancouver within the program area.

Archaeological Resources Examined

The IBR team is currently working to identify archaeological resources within the program area. These efforts include:

  • Review previously conducted fieldwork to identify locations for additional study.
  • Outreach to consulting parties and tribes.
  • Conduct additional archaeological fieldwork in the program area.

Due to the sensitive nature of archaeological resources, findings from this work may not be made available to the public, pursuant to applicable state and federal laws.

More Information

In March 2023, a Historic Resource Baseline Report was completed that summarizes the IBR program's previous efforts up to this point, including the various historic buildings in the APE that have been researched to determine potential eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).  

Learn more about Section 106 and NEPA.

Timeline

The IBR program is conducting a robust cultural resources process that requires consideration of potential effects on historic properties. The program conducted an online openhouse from April 17, 2023 to May 18, 2023 to gather information from the community. The feedback gathered from the online open house is currently being analyzed and will be used to help us understand these important places. 

Section 106 Review Process

We Are Here

Initiate the Process

Does the program have the potential to affect historic properties?

  • Determine program.
  • Coordinate with other reviews.
  • Identify SHPO/THPO, Indian tribes, NHOs, and other parties.
  • Involve the public.

Identify Historic Properties

Are historic properties present or affected?

  • Determine APE and scope of effort.
  • Make reasonable and good-faith effort to identify.
  • Determine National Register eligibility.
  • Identify SHPO/THPO, Indian tribes, NHOs, and other parties.
  • Involve the public.

Assess Adverse Effects

Are historic properties adversely affected?

  • Apply Criteria of Adverse Effects.
  • Identify SHPO/THPO, Indian tribes, NHOs, and other parties.
  • Involve the public.

Resolve Adverse Effects

Agreement or council comment

  • Develop and consider alternatives or modifications to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects.
  • Identify SHPO/THPO, Indian tribes, NHOs, and other parties.
  • Involve the public.

Proceed

The APE is the geographic area where the project actions may result in impacts to cultural resources.
SHPO is the State Historic Preservation Office.
THPO is the Tribal Historic Preservation Office.
NHO is the Native Hawaiian Organization.
ACHP is the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Next Steps

What Happens Next

The Section 106 Cultural Resources Process identifies cultural resources, considers avoidance and minimization measures, and establishes how to mitigate adverse effects to historic built environment and archaeological resources. Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration will develop an agreement that outlines mitigation strategies, in consultation with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, federal agencies, federally recognized tribes, project consulting parties and the general public as part of the Section 106 process, called a Programmatic Agreement.

The Programmatic Agreement and mitigation strategies must be created with consulting party and community input. Consulting party and community input related to this process started in March 2023. The final Programmatic Agreement is anticipated to be completed by end of 2024.

Our immediate next steps include:

  • Prepare Determination of Eligibility (DOE) documents to fully document NRHP-eligibility for resources likely to be impacted within the APE.
  • Hold a public open house to present cultural resource identification efforts and seek additional input through consultation in winter 2023.
  • Consider impacts to identified properties, supplemented by consultation, and consider all avoidance and minimization efforts.
  • Apply the Criteria for Adverse Effect and document within Finding of Effect (FOE) documents.
  • Begin coordination for mitigation of adverse effects, anticipated in early 2024.
  • Hold a public open house to share and consult regarding Finding of Effect documents in summer 2024.
  • Finalize Finding of Effect documents and submit to the State Historic Preservation Offices for review and concurrence.
  • Prepare Programmatic Agreement and finalize in late 2024.

Design work for the replacement bridge is continuing and will be updated as appropriate. 

IBR Program Next Steps

The IBR program team is working in collaboration with local, state, federal and tribal partners, and the community to complete the following work over the next few years. Four years would take us to 2027 – we are still scheduled to begin construction in late 2025/early 2026.

  • Complete the federal environmental review process
  • Obtain necessary state and federal permits
  • Finalize project design
  • Continue to refine the IBR financial plan
  • Secure adequate funding
  • Complete right of way acquisition
  • Advertise for construction

Based on previous planning activities, we estimate it will take three to five years to complete the environmental review process and obtain federal approval before beginning construction. The environmental review process began in 2021.

 

Additional Information

More Information

In March 2023, a Historic Resource Baseline Report was completed that summarizes the IBR program's previous efforts up to this point, including the various historic buildings in the APE that have been researched to determine potential eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).  

Learn more about Section 106 and NEPA.

Learn more about the Historic Resources Baseline Report

Sources

Area of Potential Effect and Historic Built Environment Resources Map

This map illustrates the IBR program’s Area of Potential Effect and the resources reviewed by the program for the Historic Built Environment report. The preliminary recommendation for whether each resource is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places is also included. Please note that resources located on tax parcels that fall within the APE were surveyed although they may appear to be outside the APE.


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