NASA Consultation Yields Comprehensive Planning for Historic Properties Nationwide
CASE STUDY
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been engaged in consultation on the development of a nationwide programmatic agreement (NPA) to tailor the Section 106 process for the management of its real property, including routine maintenance, alteration, modification, and demolition. The NPA will include a focus on addressing modifications to highly technical and scientific facilities and identification of built resources less than 50 years old that have not been evaluated for significance based on their potential eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places. NASA proposes to utilize a dynamic and innovative approach to establish criteria for more efficiently and consistently evaluating undertakings affecting highly technical scientific facilities that builds off existing NASA agreements developed for individual
NASA Research Centers. Concurrently, NASA initiated the development of historic contexts for programs and themes over the last 50 years, modeled after those done for the Shuttle Program, with the goal of identifying significant historical themes in NASA’s recent history, and then identifying specific resources or resource types associated with those themes that might be eligible for the National Register under Criterion Consideration G for properties that have achieved significance within the last 50 years. Both efforts leverage NASA’s existing real property tools and its mission to educate and inform the public. Moreover, NASA proposes to incorporate an additional management layer through the form of “Heritage Zones” within applicable “Centers.” These zones would emphasize early involvement of consulting
parties and require NASA to undertake further consideration of alternatives and modifications to avoid and minimize adverse effects. These initiatives combined will inform the process proposed in the NPA, which will then be utilized at NASA Centers and component facilities across the country. NASA’s NPA also proposes to include programmatic solutions to mitigate adverse effects that may occur during certain types of undertakings and to specific categories of historic properties. This will take the form of a virtual map and tour of NASA facilities utilizing various forms of multimedia to provide the public with access to a current and historic view of NASA facilities.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, NASA has engaged in an extensive consultation effort including several workshop sessions and individual meetings. The NPA will also include an initial monitoring period seen in other recent nationwide agreements as well as an expansive training program for agency personnel. NASA released its draft final version of the NPA in late 2023 with the aim to conclude consultation in early 2024.
Artemis I launch from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launchpad 39B on November 16, 2022 (NASA)
Map of NASA Centers and Component Facilities (NASA)
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IN A SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP: A Report on Federal Historic Properties • 2024 | 13
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