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Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is hosting a Tribal consultation on its Draft Exemption for Historic Preservation Review of Electronic Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE). This Draft Exemption proposes to allow all federal agencies to forego the historic preservation review process required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Sec. 106 NHPA) when installing EVSE. This proposal is being pursued in an effort to expedite the nationwide installation of EVSE infrastructure for the federal fleet.
The proposed Draft Exemption will not apply to federal undertakings for EVSE installation that are proposed to occur on or affect historic properties located on Tribal Lands. An exemption for historic preservation review may be authorized on Tribal Lands only if a Tribal Nation provides written notification to ACHP agreeing with use of the exemption on its Tribal Lands. However, the Draft Exemption does not address the potential EVSE installation impacts on historic properties of significance to Tribal Nations that are located outside of our jurisdictional boundaries.
Details regarding the upcoming Tribal consultation are as follows—
- Date/Time: Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm ET
- Click Here to Register
- *Note: Consultation meeting access information will be emailed following registration.
USET SPF submitted comments to ACHP in response to the EVSE Draft Exemption on Friday, June 3, 2022. Our comments expressed concern with the potential harmful effects of federal undertakings for EVSE deployment on properties of historic and cultural significance located on lands outside of our current Tribal Nation jurisdictional boundaries. USET SPF also urged ACHP to consult with Tribal Nations regarding the deployment of EVSE infrastructure on lands outside of our jurisdictional boundaries and to identify and advocate for increased funding for Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and other Tribal Nation officials to assist with conducting Sec. 106 NHPA reviews.
The full text of the Draft Exemption can be viewed in Section IV of the Federal Register Notice publication, which can be viewed by clicking here. Copies of materials presented during the Tribal consultation can be requested by emailing program_alternatives@achp.gov. Although the Federal Register Notice states that comments on the Draft Exemption were due on June 4, 2022, ACHP will be accepting comments on a rolling basis and can be submitted to jloichinger@achp.gov. Questions on this issue can be directed to Ms. Jaime Loichinger, Assistant Director, Office of Federal Agency Programs, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, at (202) 517-0219 or at jloichinger@achp.gov.
For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.
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