About Section 106
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires
federal agencies to take into account the effects of their
undertakings on historic properties and afford the Advisory Council
on Historic Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment on such
undertakings. This process includes identification of historic
properties, assessment of adverse effects and resolution of adverse effects.
Text of Section 106 [pdf]
15th Avenue NE Bridge
Seattle DOT proposed rehabilitating a bridge which was
designed by Homer Hadley, the engineer of the I-90 Floating
Bridge. PRA’s research suggested the bridge would be
considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. PRA recommended
formal HABS/HAER documentation early in the project in
anticipation of future federal funding.
NRHP Determinations of Eligibility
PRA evaluated the eligibility of multiple sites in Idaho under
the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. One site
was the ruins of the former home of renowned western author and
artist Mary Hallock Foote (1847-1938). The location of the home
figures prominently in Foote’s work and contributed to her
widely known concept of the “angle of repose”. The site was
recommended as eligible under Criterion B.
Schmid Road Improvements
PRA evaluated a BRAC-funded bridge replacement and road
realignment project in Grays Harbor County. Our staff documented
two resources in the project area: a historic cranberry farm
established by Finnish-American immigrant Otto Jarvela and a
section of Grays Harbor County’s first cranberry irrigation canal
built in 1916.
Capital Project Planning by a State Agency
In response to Executive Order 05-05 requirements, PRA
conducted archaeological monitoring during exploratory
geotechnical work adjacent to the Washington State Historical
Society Research Center in Tacoma’s historic Stadium District.
As a state agency considering a capital project, WSHS complied
with EO 05-05 in the conceptual stages of the project.
SRFB Funded Projects
PRA has assisted a variety of SRFB (Salmon Recovery Funding
Board) funded projects with meeting the requirements of Executive
Order 05-05. EO 05-05 compliance is required as these grant
funds originate with Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO),
a state agency.
About NEPA/SEPA
The National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) and State Environmental Policy Act
(SEPA) are both public environmental review processes. NEPA requires federal
agencies to consider the effects of their proposed actions before proceeding
with those actions. SEPA requires that impacts to cultural resources be
considered during the environmental review process.
East Lake Sammamish Trail
PRA conducted numerous tasks for this 11-mile multi-phase trail development project proposed by King County. We prepared cultural resources sections for the project’s multiple NEPA/SEPA EISs (Environmental Impact Statements) and drafted a Programmatic Agreement (PA) to finalize the Section 106 process for FHWA and WSDOT.
Columbia River Basin Water Management Program (CRWMP)
PRA is part of a multiple-firm team that has been working with the
CRWMP since 2006. We have contributed cultural resources statements
to the first Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and each
subsequent EIS completed by Washington State Department of Ecology.
In addition, PRA has led field investigations for individual elements
of the CRWMP project.
Snoqualmie River Valley Assessments
PRA has provided services for several projects conducted under King
County’s Agricultural and Drainage Assistance Program. These projects
were conducted on private farmlands with County-managed drainages and
are subject to SEPA.
Ocepek-Wigton Farm
In anticipation of development at property purchased by King County,
PRA documented a historic farm near Krain. The project included
photo documentation, floor plan drawings, and a detailed history of
the farm’s founding family, the Ocepeks. The Ocepeks immigrated to the
US from Yugoslavia in 1881. Like many other immigrants, Frank Ocepek worked in
local coal mines until he could start his farm.
Marymoor Park Assessments
PRA has provided expertise on multiple projects within King County’s
640-acre Marymoor Park, including surveying the Marymoor Connector
Trail route, fence installations, plantings, and monitoring construction.
Some projects have been subject to SEPA while others were completed as
a proactive due diligence effort on the part of King County Parks.
Proposed Salmon Habitat Restoration on the Duwamish River
At the request of King County, PRA evaluated a proposed salmon habitat location along
the Duwamish River for restoration. The location was
in close proximity to known archaeological resources. PRA provided the
County with estimates of the potential amount of archaeological
mitigation work that might be required if the County purchased this land to implement the project.
