Governor's Management Scorecard

Environmental and Historic Stewardship Criteria

Historic resources

The mission of the Department of Historic Resources (DHR) is to foster, encourage, and support the stewardship of Virginia's significant historic, architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources. The DHR manages a variety of programs to accomplish this mission that include administering the Virginia Landmarks Register, state and federal rehabilitation tax credit programs, maintaining historic preservation easements, providing technical assistance to historic property owners, and conducting numerous community education programs on historic preservation and archaeology topics.

Some of the most important historic properties in Virginia are owned and operated by the Commonwealth. These properties are public assets that the citizens of Virginia assign great economic and emotional value. State agencies that own, manage or occupy historic properties have an affirmative responsibility to exercise conscientious stewardship over these assets as a matter of good public policy. The Governor has directed state agencies, as part of the Governor's Management Scorecard, to exercise responsible stewardship for historic properties under their management. The DHR is here to assist state agencies to realize this goal.

An important component of historic property stewardship by state entities is compliance with existing laws and regulations dealing with the treatment and consideration of significant resources controlled by the Commonwealth. The role of DHR in these directives is one of technical services, review, and comment. The DHR is not a regulatory agency in the sense that it does not "approve" state-sponsored undertakings. However, through early and meaningful consultation with DHR, state agencies will fulfill their legally mandated requirements, ensure timely project completion, and may also retain public value by limiting or avoiding damage to architectural and archaeological resources important to our shared heritage.

State agencies are required to consult with DHR under the following review authorities:

• The Appropriations Act Section 4-4.01(s): To guarantee that the historic and/or architectural integrity of any state-owned property listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the knowledge to be gained from archaeological sites will not be adversely affected because of inappropriate changes, the heads of those agencies in charge of such properties are directed to submit all plans for significant alterations, remodeling, redecoration, restoration or repairs that may alter the appearance of the building, structure, object, or landscape to the Department of Historic Resources. DHR shall review such plans within thirty days and submit its comments to the Governor through the Department of General Services for use in making a final determination.
• Section V.2 of Division of Engineering and Buildings Directive #1, Revised 1984 (§ 2.2-2402, Code of Virginia): The regulation provides that no building or appurtenant structure shall be removed from state-owned property unless approved by the Governor upon the advice of the Art and Architecture Review Board. The Governor further conditions approval upon the recommendation of the Department of Historic Resources and the Department of General Services.
• Virginia Environmental Impacts Report Act (§ 10.1-1188, Code of Virginia): The Department of Environmental Quality provides comments on the environmental impacts of all major state projects (state facility construction, or acquisition of land interests for purposes of construction costing more than $100,000 with exceptions specified by law). These comments go to the Governor through department secretaries as well as to the project proponent agency and reviewing agencies. The comments represent the findings of all state agencies with applicable responsibilities or interests. Comments are provided to the sponsoring agency in time to permit modifications necessary because of environmental impact. The Department of Historic Resources is invited to submit comments to the Department of Environmental Quality when an environmental impact report describes a project that might affect historic properties or archaeological sites. The Secretary of Administration has approval authority as delegated by the Governor through Executive Order.
• Sale or Lease of Surplus State Property (§ 2.2-1156, Code of Virginia): The Department of General Services shall request the written opinion of the Secretary of Natural Resources regarding whether the sale of a state-owned property is a significant component of the Commonwealth's natural or historic resources, and if so how to protect the resource in the event of its sale. The Department of Historic Resources, through the Secretary of Natural Resources, shall provide comments regarding the affect that the transfer of state-owned property will have on historic and archaeological resources significant to the Commonwealth. The Department of General Services shall make the comments of the Secretary of Natural Resources known to the Governor who shall provide prior written approval before the Department may proceed to sell the property.
• Virginia Antiquities Act, [§ 10.1-2300 et seq., Code of Virginia]: The Act prohibits damage to or removal of objects of antiquity on all state-controlled land. Objects of antiquity include, but are not limited to, Native American stone and ceramic artifacts, pre-Colonial and Colonial era artifacts, and war-related artifacts of any type. This Act also prohibits archaeological investigations on state-controlled land without a permit issued by the Director of DHR. This Act does not restrict a state agency from construction or other land disturbing activities on its own land; however, any archaeological work conducted as part of the environmental review of a project must be coordinated with DHR. Additionally, the Act provides a permit process for archaeological field investigations involving the removal of human remains and artifacts from graves. These permits are issued through DHR.

Description of Measures: The DHR considers a state agency successfully demonstrating its responsible stewardship of state-owned, managed or occupied historic properties by the following measures.

• Assess the condition of buildings or archaeological sites owned by the agency [DHR has inspection checklists available for buildings and archaeological sites for agencies to use]
• Survey properties fifty years old or older owned by the agency [Should use DHR Reconnaissance Level Survey Inventory forms]
• Conduct archaeological survey on land owned by the agency [DHR will review reports]
• Develop and implement management plan based on comprehensive inventory and needs assessment of cultural resources located on property owned by the agency.
• Request determinations of eligibility to the Virginia Landmarks Register from the Department of Historic Properties for properties owned by the agency that are fifty years old or older [Should use DHR Intensive Level Survey forms]
• List to the Virginia Landmarks Register properties owned by the agency determined eligible by DHR
• Designate contact person(s) trained in state and applicable federal environmental and cultural resource protection laws and regulations responsible for coordinating agency projects with appropriate state agencies. [DHR can provide training]
• Conduct (or ensures) early project coordination with DHR pursuant to applicable state and federal environmental and cultural resource protection laws in such a manner that would allow for meaningful consideration and incorporation of agency comments into the project design if appropriate [DHR would have to certify to get credit]
• Repair or rehabilitate historic property owned by the agency according to the guidance found in The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation [DHR can make the Standards available and provide agencies with technical assistance in interpreting the Standards]

Scorecard Data Sources

• DHR Data Sharing System (DSS): GIS-based inventory of all surveyed historic, architectural, and archaeological properties in Virginia. Available by subscription.
• DHR project review data base: Electronic list of projects reviewed by DHR staff pursuant to applicable state and federal law.& Not available to the public but can be accessed by DHR staff upon request.
• DHR archive: Collection of hardcopy survey forms, maps, photographs, and other materials related to historic properties throughout the Commonwealth. Accessible Tuesday through Friday, except for state holidays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• DHR website: www.dhr.virginia.gov. Provides further information on the DHR mission, programs, contacts, and archive.
• National Park Service (NPS) website:  www.nps.gov for information on The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and other NPS publications on the treatment of historic properties.

Contact Information

• Ethel R. Eaton, Ph.D., Manager, Office of Review and Compliance
  (804) 367-2323, Ext. 112
  ethel.eaton@dhr.virginia.gov
  
  
• Marc Holma, Architectural Historian, Office of Review and Compliance
  (804) 367-2323, Ext. 114
  marc.holma@dhr.virginia.gov  (For issues related to VDOT)
  
  
• Joanna Wilson, Archaeologist, Office of Review and Compliance
  (804) 367-2323, Ext. 140
  joanna.wilson@dhr.virginia.gov (For issues related to DMME, VMRC, and human remains)
  
  
• Roger Kirchen, Archaeologist, Office of Review and Compliance
  (804) 367-2323, Ext. 153
  roger.kirchen@dhr.virginia.gov (For issues related to DCR, DGIF, SCC, archaeological permits on state lands)
  
  
• Tonia Horton, Ph.D., Architectural Historian, Office of Review and Compliance
  (804) 367-2323, Ext. 137
  tonia.horton@dhr.virginia.gov (For issues related to all other state agencies)