National Programmatic Agreement for Phasing Section 106 for Large-Scale Multi-Year Projects
The National Programmatic Agreement for Phasing Section 106 for Large-Scale Multi-Year Projects (Phasing NPA) was developed under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) in response to the increasing need to phase the Section 106 process for long-term wildfire prevention, forest health improvement, and other large-scale projects undertaken by the Forest Service.
To assist moving forward such projects, the Phasing NPA emphasizes early consultation so that historic properties are considered when designing long-term projects and enables a phased approach for compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA. This allows consulting parties to support beneficial heritage outcomes and allow important forest health and safety improvement projects to move forward more quickly.
Informational Resources
The Forest Service has committed to providing informational resources to support the implementation of the Phasing NPA. This website will be updated as new resources are developed.
Executed Copy of Phasing NPA (December 6, 2021) (PDF, 373 KB)
Notification of Availability National Programmatic Agreement for Phasing Section 106 for Large-Scale Multi-Year Projects (PDF, 619 KB)
Info Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 492 KB)
Info Sheet for State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) (PDF, 179 KB)
Info Sheet for Tribes or Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) (PDF, 190.45 KB)
Flowchart (PDF, 271 KB)
HIP Invitation Template (DOCX, 21.24 KB)
HIP Sample (DOCX, 67 KB)
HIP Annual Report Template (XLXS, 12.74 KB)
Two Training Modules - This link takes you to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation eLearning portal, where you may register to take two free courses required for Forest Service staff using the Phasing NPA. The two training modules are free and explain what the Forest Service expects of its staff in Section 106 reviews under the agreement. Please follow the instructions to register.
Programmatic Agreements under Section 106 of the NHPA allow agencies to establish a different procedure to complete Section 106 in a way that mutually benefits the agency and its partners. Section 106 requires agencies to identify and address effects that proposed projects may have on historic properties; defined as any district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The process of identifying historic properties and resolving potential effects is done in consultation with Tribes, State Historic Preservation Officers, and other interested parties before the project begins. Section 106 helps the Forest Service preserve historic properties for present and future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under the Phasing NPA, consulting parties are invited to provide input in planning the phased Section 106 process for a large-scale multi-year project including the consideration of other potential cultural resource stewardship opportunities that may be integrated into the long-term project. The phased process is documented in a Heritage Implementation Plan (HIP) for each project. The HIP must be completed before or at the same time as the project decision.
The standard Section 106 process is completed before a project decision. For the purposes of this NPA, "phasing Section 106" means allowing Section 106 to be completed after a project decision, but before implementing the project in an area where historic properties may be affected.
No, the Phasing NPA is optional. It will not invalidate other Section 106 agreements that are in place.
Monitoring & Annual Reporting
The Forest Service has committed to monitoring the use of the Phasing NPA for the first two years after its execution. The Forest Service invites consulting parties to comment on how the agency is implementing the Phasing NPA. The Forest Service will review comments received and coordinate with other Signatories to consider whether any improvements can be made to the Phasing NPA.
In addition to the two-year monitoring period, the Forest Service must provide an annual report on the use of the Phasing NPA.
Access monitoring and annual reports below.
| CRSOs | Cultural Resource Stewardship Opportunities |
|---|---|
| Section 106 | Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act |
| HIP | Heritage Implementation Plan |
| Project | Defined in the Phasing NPA as an undertaking per 54 U.S.C. 300320 “a project, activity, or program funded in whole or in part under the direct or indirect jurisdiction of a Federal agency, including those carried out by or on behalf of a Federal agency; those carried out with Federal financial assistance; those requiring a Federal permit, license or approval; and those subject to State or local regulation administered pursuant to a delegation or approval by a Federal Agency.” |
| Phasing NPA | National Programmatic Agreement among the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers for Phasing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for Large-Scale Multi-Year Undertakings |
| WUI | Wildland Urban Interface |
2021-2022 Monitoring Report (PDF, 280 KB)
Annual Reports
| Project Name, Forest, State | Project Type | CRSOs adopted | Disputes | HIP development status; HIP commitments initiated or completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adin Pass Vegetation Project, Modoc National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk and to increase the ability to control wildfires within the WUI through standard forest harvesting operations, mechanical treatments, and prescribed fire activities. The project area includes 4,847 acres. | 0 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 0 |
| Aerial Application of Herbicide on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada | The project aims to control rapidly expanding invasive plant populations that outcompete native plant populations and carry fire across the landscape and into rural and urban communities. Project activities consist of aircraft use for herbicide application. The project area includes 5.6 million acres. | 0 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 3 |
| Bitterroot Front Project, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana | The project aims to reduce the risk of large-scale wildfires within the WUI, improve forest conditions, and to provide commercial timber products through a variety of fuel reduction treatment options including but not limited to prescribed burning and commercial thinning. Additionally, the project will include transportation management and recreation improvement activities. The project area includes 150,000 acres. | 4 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 1 |
| Castle Fire Ecological Restoration Project, Sequoia National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce fuel load and conduct reforestation, wildlife habitat improvement, and hydrologic improvement activities, addressing the effects of the 2020 Castle Fire. The Sequoia National Forest proposes to use a combination of mechanical and hand treatments to remove fuels. The project will also include prescribed burns. The Project area includes 39,335 acres. | 4 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 7 |
| Community Protection & Forest Recovery Project, Plumas National Forest, California | The project aims to use prescribed fire, manual, and mechanized treatments to reduce fuel loads, modify future fire behavior, and reduce future impacts of wildfire. The project area includes 1 million acres. | 0 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 20 |
| Deschutes National Forest Fuels Maintenance Treatment Project, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon | The project aims to reduce fuels through mechanized and non-mechanized thinning, prescribed fire, and necessary associated fire line construction and road maintenance to bring previously treated areas to the Forest’s desired condition. The project area includes 275,000 acres. | 0 | 0 | HIP Issued, 0 |
| Forest-wide Prescribed Fire, Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest, Montana | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk through fuels reduction across the entire Forest. The project area includes 2.3 million acres. | 0 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 2 |
| Forest-Wide Stream Crossing Categorial Exclusion, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan | The project aims to improve stream crossings across the forest over the next several decades. This work is being done to improve forest health. Projects will involve replacing old and degraded culverts, dams, bridges, and fords. The project area includes 894,836 acres. | 0 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 4 |
| Hazardous Fuels & Fuels Management, Six Rivers National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk across the entire forest. The forest will use prescribed burning and associated fuels-reduction management tools on up to 20,000 acres per year. The project will last approximately 10 years. The project area includes 1,272,952 acres. | 3 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 3 |
| Huron-Manistee Kirtland Warbler Project, Huron-Manistee National Forest, Michigan | The project aims to improve Kirtland’s Warbler habitat through vegetation management activities such as timber harvest and replanting and will also include road improvements (but not new roads) to facilitate access to treatment areas. The area of potential effect is 15,888 acres within the broader 72,868-acre project boundary. | 5 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 0 |
| Klamath and Shasta-Trinity Forest Wide Prescribed Fire, Klamath and Shasta-Trinity National Forests, California and Oregon | The project aims to reduce the risk of large-scale wildfire across both forests spanning two states. Overall, the desired condition would be the restoration of more natural fire regimes while protecting critical social, economic, and ecological values. The project area includes 2 million acres. | NA | 0 | HIP under development, NA |
| Mendocino Fire & Fuels Management Strategy Project, Mendocino National Forest, California | The project aims to use prescribed fire, manual and mechanized treatments to reduce fuel loads, modify future fire behavior, and reduce future impacts of wildfire within and adjacent to the forest. This project addresses lands within the forest administrative boundaries. The project area includes 688,700 acres. | 11 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 0 |
| Mendocino Forest Wide Invasive Plant Species Project, Mendocino National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce the extent and spread of invasive plant infestations that threaten forest resources in a timely and cost-effective manner, while protecting human health. The project is expected to last at least 20 years. The project area includes 974,260 acres. | NA | 0 | HIP under development, NA |
| Modoc West Plantation Fuels Reduction Project, Modoc National Forest, California | The project aims to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk by removing excess fuels from conifer plantations. Activities include thinning, mechanical thinning, mastication and prescribed fire. The project area includes 31,000 acres. | 7 | 0 | HIP Issued, 0 |
| Sequoia Sierra National Forests Prescribed Fire Project, Sierra and Sequoia National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk, protect communities, and restore forest health through the strategic use of prescribed fire as an active management tool. The project area includes 2.4 million acres across both forests, including the Giant Sequoia National Monument. | 0 | 0 | HIP issued, 0 |
| Shawnee National Forest Prescribed Fire Environmental Assessment, Shawnee National Forest, Illinois | The project aims to restore and maintain fire-adapted ecosystems and reduce wildfire risk by applying prescribed fire at a landscape level throughout the entire forest. The project area includes 289,000 acres. | NA | 0 | HIP under development, NA |
| Windy Fire Ecological Restoration Project, Sequoia National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk through fuels reduction, reforestation and to improve wildlife habitat and hydrologic conditions, addressing the effects of the 2021 Windy Fire through a combination of mechanical and hand treatments to remove fuels. The project encompasses lands administered by the forest adjacent to the Tule River Indian Tribe of California reservation. The project area includes 16,977 acres. | 4 | 0 | HIP issued and being implemented, 2 |
| Project Name, Forest, State | Project Type | CRSOs adopted | Disputes | HIP development status; HIP commitments initiated or completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adin Pass Vegetation Project, Modoc National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk and to increase the ability to control wildfires within the WUI through standard forest harvesting operations, mechanical treatments, and prescribed fire activities. The proposed project may include up to 4,847 acres. | 0 | 0 | HIP issued and began initial implementation of HIP |
| Bitterroot Front Project, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana | The project aims to reduce the risk of large-scale wildfires within the WUI, improve forest conditions, and provide commercial timber products through a variety of fuel reduction treatment options including but not limited to prescribed burning and commercial thinning. Additionally, the project will include transportation management and recreation improvement activities. The project will include approximately 150,000 acres of forest lands within the WUI. | 0 | 0 | HIP not issued |
| Castle Fire Ecological Restoration Project, Sequoia National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce fuel load and conduct reforestation, wildlife habitat improvement, and hydrologic improvement activities, addressing the effects of the 2020 Castle Fire. The Sequoia National Forest proposes to use a combination of mechanical and hand treatments to remove fuels. The project will also include prescribed burns. The project will treat approximately 39,335 acres. | 4 | 0 | HIP issued and began initial implementation of HIP |
| Community Protection & Forest Recovery Project, Plumas National Forest, California | The project aims to use prescribed fire, manual, and mechanized treatments to reduce fuel loads, modify future fire behavior, and reduce future impacts of wildfire. The project will address approximately one million acres within the forest administrative boundaries. | NA | 0 | HIP issued and began initial implementation of HIP |
| Deschutes National Forest Fuels Maintenance Treatment Project, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon | The project aims to reduce fuels through mechanized and nonmechanized thinning, prescribed fire, and necessary associated fire line construction and road maintenance to bring previously treated areas to the forest’s desired condition. The project’s initial estimated acreage extends across 275,000 acres. | 0 | 0 | HIP Issued |
| Forest-wide Prescribed Fire, Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest, Montana | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk through fuels reduction across the entire forest. | 0 | 0 | HIP under development |
| Forest-Wide Stream Crossing CE, Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan | The project aims to improve stream crossings across the Forest over the next several decades. This work is being done to improve forest health. Projects will involve replacing old and degraded culverts, dams, bridges, and fords. | NA | 0 | HIP under development |
| Hazardous Fuels & Fuels Management, Six Rivers National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk across the forest. The forest will use prescribed burning and associated fuels-reduction management tools on up to 20,000 acres per year. The Project’s area of potential effect includes the 1,272,952 acres administered by the forest. The project will last approximately 10 years. | 3 | 0 | HIP issued and initiated implementation of one phase |
| HuronManistee Kirtland Warbler (KW) Project, Huron-Manistee National Forest, Michigan | The project aims to improve Kirtland’s Warbler (KW) habitat through vegetation management activities such as timber harvest and replanting and will also include road improvements (but not new roads) to facilitate access to treatment areas. The area of potential effect is 15,888 acres within the broader 72,868-acre project boundary. | 5 | 0 | HIP under development |
| Klamath and ShastaTrinity Forest Wide Prescribed Fire (aka KSTRx Fire), Klamath and Shasta-Trinity National Forests, California & Oregon | The project aims to reduce the risk of large-scale wildfire across both forests spanning two states. Overall, the desired condition would be the restoration of more natural fire regimes while protecting critical social, economic, and ecological values. The project encompasses 2 million acres within the forest’s administrative boundaries. | HIP under development | ||
| Mendocino Fire & Fuels Management Strategy Project, Mendocino National Forest, California | The project aims to use prescribed fire, manual and mechanized treatments to reduce fuel loads, modify future fire behavior, and reduce future impacts of wildfire within and adjacent to the forest. This forest-wide project covers about 688,700 acres within the forest administrative boundaries. | 11 | 0 | HIP issued and began initial implementation of HIP |
| Mendocino Forest Wide Invasive Plant Species Project, Mendocino National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce the extent and spread of invasive plant infestations that threaten forest resources in a timely and costeffective manner, while protecting human health. The total acres of the forest-wide project are expected to cover approximately 974,260 acres (including areas located out of the forest’s boundary) and the project is expected to last at least 20 years. | 4 | 0 | HIP under development |
| Windy Fire Ecological Restoration Project, Sequoia National Forest, California | The project aims to reduce wildfire risk through fuels reduction, reforestation and to improve wildlife habitat and hydrologic conditions, addressing the effects of the 2021 Windy Fire through a combination of mechanical and hand treatments to remove fuels. The project encompasses 16,977-acres of lands administered by the forest adjacent to the Tule River Indian Tribe of California reservation. | 4 | 0 | HIP issued and began initial implementation of HIP |
2022-2023 Annual Report (PDF, 1.25 MB)
2021-2022 Annual Report (PDF, 731 KB)
To provide comments, please email SM.FS.HeritAgrmnt2@usda.gov
Summary of Past Consultation
To develop the Phasing NPA, the Forest Service initiated consultation with signatories, Tribes, and consulting parties first from late 2019 to Spring 2020; held an additional consultation period in Fall 2020; and shared an updated version of the Phasing NPA in Fall 2021 before moving to execution.
To view the documents that supported the consultation process during the development of the Phasing NPA, see below.
Past Consultation Documents
Phasing Programmatic Agreement Updated Version (PDF, 343 KB)
Summary of comment and responses (PDF, 1.76 MB)
Consultation History (PDF, 433 KB)
Phasing Programmatic Agreement Draft (PDF, 549 KB)
Summary of comments and responses (PDF, 442 KB)
Tribal consultation resources (PDF, 116 KB)
Phasing Programmatic Agreement InfoSheet and Outline (PDF, 833 KB)
Tribal consultation resources (PDF, 122 KB)