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Abstract
Section 106 of the National Historic Places Act requires Federal agencies to consider the impacts, including visual impacts, of their undertakings on the ability of certain historic properties to convey their historic significance. Visual impacts of Federal agency undertakings must also be considered under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for their potential to affect historic properties, scenic resources present in the landscape, and the scenic experiences of people who view the landscape. This paper discusses important differences between visual impact analysis (VIA) under Section 106 and under NEPA. In essence, VIA under Section 106 looks at impacts on places, while a NEPA VIA includes impacts on the people at those places and on the larger landscape. Where there are potential visual impacts on both scenic values and historic properties, both NEPA and Section 106 VIAs must be conducted.
Parent Publication
Citation
Sullivan, Robert G.; Meyer, Mark E.; O'Rourke, Daniel. J. 2018. Comparison of Visual Impact Analysis Under the National Environmental Policy Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. In: Gobster, Paul H.; Smardon, Richard C., eds. Visual resource stewardship conference proceedings: landscape and seascape management in a time of change. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-183. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 201-212.
