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South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Grants -

Compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act


Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and associated regulations require that projects funded by the federal government respect local history and heritage. Because Heritage Corridor grants are federal funds administered by the National Park Service (NPS), the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (SCPRT) must verify that all projects comply with Section 106.

The State Historic Preservation Office at the S.C. Department of Archives and History advises grant recipients and SCPRT to ensure that Heritage Corridor projects do not adversely impact the significant characteristics of historic buildings, structures, and districts and prehistoric and historic sites. Plans for projects that have the potential to affect historic or prehistoric properties must be reviewed and approved by the Department of Archives and History before SCPRT will release funds to grant recipients. Any changes to approved plans must also be approved by Archives and History.

A. Projects Not Requiring Review of Plans
Each funding cycle, SCPRT and Archives and History will review all projects and determine which projects Archives and History must review. If a project is limited to the Marketing and Visitor Services grant category or Planning Grants under the Planning and Implementation grant category, it will not require Archives and History’s review.

B. Projects Requiring Review of Plans
The Department of Archives and History must review plans for all construction projects that have the potential to affect historic and prehistoric properties. Clearly, rehabilitation projects involving historic buildings and structures can have an impact and must be reviewed. But, other projects involving new construction have the potential to affect structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places such as a historic district. After SCPRT and Archives and History review all funded projects, grant recipients who need to consult with Archives and History will receive a letter. Grant recipients are responsible for providing plans and other materials requested by Archives and History to facilitate review of the project.

1. Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings and Structures
If a project involves rehabilitation of a historic building or structure, Archives and History must review plans for the project. The goal of the review is to ensure that the proposed changes do not take away from the historic building or structure and its setting. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation are used to evaluate plans.

To review your project Archives and History will need to understand the historic materials and features that make the historic building unique. The following lists are intended to help grant recipients prepare material for submission to Archives and History for review. Call Caroline Wilson (803-896-6169) at Archives and History if you have any questions. In some cases, the staff will need to make a site visit before completing their review.

Design Issues to Consider

  • What are the significant historic features on the exterior and interior (exterior: wall material, windows, doors, porches, roof, chimneys, dormers; interior: circulation pattern, doors, transoms, trim, mantels, stairs, etc.) of this historic building?
  • What changes are proposed? Will the historic features be retained? If not, please explain.
  • Will new features be introduced? If so, what are they and what is the basis for their design? Further, how will they impact any of the significant features noted above?
  • Will there be any changes in the site or other work that may physically impact significant archaeological features?

Documentation Needed by Archives and History Review

  • A completed Project Review Form. If a project involves rehabilitation of a historic building, then a completed Historic Building Supplement Form will be needed.
  • Historic Photographs: Provide clear copies of historic photographs that are available. Please provide this information even if the features are missing or if they are not the basis for the new design.
  • Current Photographs: Provide photographs of the existing conditions of the building. These should include interior as well as exterior features. When taking photographs, include several images of the overall building as well as some detail shots where changes are proposed.
  • Plans and Specifications: Provide plans and specifications that fully document the proposed work.
  • New Construction: Provide a complete description of any new construction on the site. If the new work is an addition to the existing building, then include it on the floor plans for the building and include elevation drawings showing the existing building and the proposed addition. If the new construction is not connected to the historic building, but is on the site, then include a site plan showing the existing and the proposed as well as elevations of the proposed design.
  • Ground Disturbance: Provide specific and detailed information about any work that will have a physical impact on the site around any historic buildings.

Tips for Successful Heritage Corridor Historic Rehabilitation Projects

  • Contact Archives and History early in the planning process to discuss the concept of your project and keep in touch with staff throughout the process. Do not begin any work before plans are approved.
  • Become familiar with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, which you can read on-line at http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/tax/rehabstandards.htm or call Deborah Jackson at 803-896-6178 to request a paper copy. Hire architects, engineers, and contractors who have experience with historic preservation projects. Archives and History maintains a partial list of Historic Architecture Consultants. To request a paper copy contact Deborah Jackson at 803-896-6178 or via e-mail at jackson@scdah.state.sc.us.
  • Build time for review of plans by Archives and History into your project schedule. Because Archives and History reviews over 1,000 projects each year, this can take up to 30 days from when plans are received.

2. Projects That May Affect Archaeological Sites
Heritage Corridor projects that involve new construction and/or ground disturbance have the potential to affect archaeological sites. For example, historic wells and cisterns could be uncovered in historic districts and historic urban areas. Depending on the size and scale of the project, some type of archaeological review may be required. For instance, if your project involves a significant amount of ground disturbance within a historic area or near a known archaeological site, then archaeological monitoring may be required to ensure no significant archaeological sites or features are disturbed by construction. Early consultation with the SCPRT and the Department of Archives and History will help determine whether archaeological work will be necessary for your project.

Note: In any project, if unanticipated cultural materials (e.g., large, intact artifacts or animal bones; large clusters of artifacts or animal bones; large soil stains or patterns of soil stains; buried brick or stone structures; clusters of brick or stone) or human skeletal remains are discovered on the property during land altering or construction activities, then the grant recipient must temporarily halt those activities and immediately notify SCPRT and Archives and History of the late discoveries.

A reasonable 50 to 100 foot buffer must be immediately established around the cultural materials by the construction project manager. The buffer must be flagged by appropriate personnel, and all project personnel notified by the grant recipient. No land altering activities will be allowed within this buffer zone until the course of action described above has been established. The halt will afford SCPRT and Archives and History the opportunity to assess the situation and recommend a course of action within two business days of notification.