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Environmental Review:
Policies & Procedures
Environmental laws and review processes at the federal, state, and local level require consideration be given to protecting significant historic, archaeological, and traditional cultural sites from damage or loss during development. The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) works with agencies, tribes, private citizens, and developers to identify and develop protection strategies to assure that Washington’s cultural heritage is not lost.
Environmental laws such as the National Historic Preservation Act and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) require that impacts to cultural resources be considered during the public environmental review process.
The National Historic Preservation Act requires that all federal agencies consider cultural resources as part of all licensing, permitting, and funding decisions. As part of that process, each agency must consult with DAHP to assure that cultural resources are identified, and to obtain the formal opinion of the Office on each site’s significance and the impact of its action upon the site.
Under SEPA, the Department is the sole agency with technical expertise in regard to cultural resources and provides formal opinions to local governments and other state agencies on a site’s significance and the impact of proposed projects upon such sites.
Each year DAHP reviews more than 7,000 federal, state and local government projects for effects on cultural resources. As a result, significant archaeological, historic and cultural properties are protected for Washington’s citizens and future generations.
Contact Rob Whitlam, State Archaeologist, at (360) 586-3080 or e-mail at: Rob.Whitlam@dahp.wa.gov or Greg Griffith, Comprehensive Planning Specialist, at (360) 586-3073 or e-mail at: Greg.Griffith@dahp.wa.gov
Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation
1063 South Capitol Way, Suite 106
Olympia WA 98501
Phone: 360-586-3065
Fax: 360-586-3067