Alaska Region Programmatic Agreement

ae.Routine Maintenance – General Guidelins

1. Transportation – General Guidelines

Routine Maintenance related to transportation where there is little or no potential to affect historic properties, or where maintenance is limited to previously disturbed areas, and provided the road, trail, or other constructed feature(s) are not themselves historic.

1. 
   Routine maintenance is limited to road maintenance, including activities such as resurfacing, grading, and snow removal as long as activities are limited to existing road prism which includes the road and the ROW. This includes parking lots, spurs, airstrips and heliports, as well as stockpiling of road materials and temporary speed control devices.
   
2. 
   Culvert replacement is limited to replacing existing culverts in the same location, within the existing road prism as long as the culvert is the same size or smaller. Larger culverts requiring additional ground disturbing activity may be allowed if the area has been surveyed to standards and no historic properties were documented.
   
3. 
   Recurrent brushing activities to control vegetation within existing clearing limits of roads, parking lots, airstrips or heliports.
   
4. 
   Rehabilitation and widening of existing trails, walks, paths, and sidewalks if the area has been surveyed to standards and no historic properties were documented, and the trails, walks, paths and sidewalks are not themselves historic.
   
5. 
   Bridge replacements on roads and trails provided there is no potential to affect historic properties and the bridges themselves are not historic.
   

af.Timber Management – General Guidelines

Under most circumstances, timber management (not including timber harvest) has little or no potential to affect historic properties. Any management that does not include large scale ground disturbing activities may be carried out under the terms of this agreement.

1. 
   Pre-commercial tree thinning.
   
2. 
   Firewood collection.
   
3. 
   Removal of dead and down trees along road and trail corridors, or related to fire management activities near structures.
   
4. 
   Removal of hazard trees.
   

ag.Historic Buildings and Structures – General Guidelines

Routine Maintenance generally has little or no potential to adversely affect historic properties provided that it is carried out in such a manner that allows key character defining features of the historic property, which contribute to its eligibility to the National Register, to be retained.

All undertakings that involve historic buildings or structures shall use the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties as the primary guidance for treatment, and more specifically only the Standards for Preservation and Guidelines for Preserving Historic Buildings shall be used and applied to this appendix.

Any undertakings involving Rehabilitation, Restoration, or Reconstruction are subject to standard Section 106 procedures and this PA does not apply.

Additionally, replacement of entire architectural features such as a door or window, regardless of whether the replacement is in kind, is not allowed under the terms of this PA.

To use this section: Each subsection is ordered by degree of intervention: protection and repair followed by limited replacement.

1. 
   Preservation - General Guidelines
   

Evaluate the existing condition of historic features and determine the least level of intervention needed, keeping in mind that preservation strives to retain existing materials and features while employing as little new material as possible. If the severity of deterioration requires repair or limited replacement of a portion of a distinctive feature, the new material will match the old in composition, design, color, and texture (limited replacement in kind). Only limited replacements are allowed under the preservation standard and only when there are surviving prototypes. The following examples are routine maintenance activities that may apply this PA:

1. 
   Building Exterior Features (including roofs, foundations, porches, trim, and siding)
   

1. 
   Protecting by retaining coatings such as paint that help protect the wood from moisture and ultraviolet light. Paint removal should be considered only where there is paint surface deterioration and as part of an overall maintenance program which involves repainting or applying other appropriate protective coatings. Damaged or deteriorated paint should be removed to the next sound layer using the gentlest method possible including handscraping and handsanding (never use butane torches, sandblasting or waterblasting), then repainting with colors that are appropriate to the historic building.
   
2. 
   Protecting and maintaining a roof by cleaning the gutters and downspouts and replacing deteriorated flashing. Roof sheathing should also be checked for proper venting to prevent moisture condensation and water penetration; and to insure that materials are free from insect infestation.
   
3. 
   Repairing, stabilizing, and conserving exterior features using well-tested consolidants, when appropriate. Repairs should be physically and visually compatible and identifiable only upon close inspection.
   
4. 
   Repairing exterior features by patching, piecing-in, or otherwise reinforcing using recognized preservation methods.
   
5. 
   Replacing in kind extensively deteriorated or missing parts of exterior features is approved when there are surviving prototypes such as brackets, moldings or sections of siding or roofing, and the replacement matches the old in material, design, color and texture.
   

2. 
   Windows and Doors (including frames, sash, trim, molding, and hardware)
   

1. 
   Protecting and maintaining through appropriate surface treatments such as cleaning, rust removal, limited paint removal, and reapplication of protective coating systems (see guidelines under ii.2.a).
   
2. 
   Making weather tight by re-caulking and replacing weatherstripping.
   
3. 
   Repairing by patching, piecing-in, consolidating or otherwise reinforcing using recognized preservation methods.
   
4. 
   Replacing in kind extensively deteriorated or missing parts of windows or doors (such as frames, sash, sills, hardware, and trim) is approved when there are surviving prototypes of the deteriorated or missing parts and the replacement matches the old in material, design, color and texture.
   

3. 
   Structural Systems
   
   1. 
      Repairing the structural system by augmenting or upgrading individual parts or features using recognized preservation methods. For example, weakened structural members such as floor framing can be paired with a new member, braced, or otherwise supplemented and reinforced.
      
   2. 
      Replacing in kind those visible portions or features of the structural system that are either extensively deteriorated or missing is approved when there are surviving prototypes and the replacement matches the old in material, design, color and texture.
      
   3. 
      Using substitute materials may only be considered for unexposed structural elements, such as roof rafters or trusses.
      
4. 
   Building Interior Features (including floors, ceilings, and staircases)
   
   1. 
      Repairing or refinishing of historic floor covering or other features such as ceilings and staircases, including reapplication of protective coating systems and provided the replacement matches the old in material, design, color, and texture.
      
   2. 
      Replacing in kind only those portions of historic flooring or interior features such as ceilings and staircases that are extensively deteriorated or missing parts and provided the replacement matches the old in material, design, color, and texture.
      
   3. 
      Replacement of modern floor coverings, with historically compatible materials, design, and color as determined to be appropriate by the Heritage Professional.
      
5. 
   Mechanical Systems (including radiators, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical). Historic plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, and heating features should be retained and used if possible, when not possible, the following are allowed:
   
   1. 
      Protecting and maintaining mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems and their features through cyclical cleaning and other appropriate measures.
      
   2. 
      Repairing mechanical systems by augmenting or upgrading system parts, such as installing new pipes and ducts, rewiring, or adding new compressors or boilers, provided that new system parts are not visible to the public or are in keeping with the period of significance for the building or structure in which they are housed.
      
   3. 
      Replacing in kind those visible features of mechanical systems that are extensively deteriorated such as ceiling fans, switchplates, radiators, grilles, light fixtures, or plumbing fixtures as long as they match the historic features or are in keeping with the period of significance for the building or structure in which they are housed.
      
6. 
   Building Site Features (Cultural Landscape)(including driveways, walkways, vegetation, signs, and fencing that are considered contributing elements to the historic property)
   
   1. 
      Protecting and maintaining site and plant features through appropriate cleaning, treatment methods including rust removal, limited paint removal, and reapplication of protective coating systems on fencing; and pruning and vegetation management.
      
   2. 
      Repairing features of the site using recognized preservation methods. The new work should match historic materials, design, workmanship, and colors so that the historic appearance remains unaltered.
      
   3. 
      Replacing in kind extensively deteriorated or missing parts of site features where there are surviving prototypes such as fence balustrades or paving materials. The new work should match historic materials, design, workmanship, and colors so that the historic appearance remains unaltered.
      
7. 
   Structures (including bridges, roads, trails, culverts, and other structures)
   

Where existing materials clearly are not the original and are not in-character with the original, non-historic and out-of-character materials may be removed and replaced with materials that match or are more compatible with original fabric, design, color, etc. of historic structures provided a period of significance for the historic structure has been established, and that the changes are in keeping with that period of significance.

1. 
   Bridges
   
2. 
   Roads and Trails
   
3. 
   Specialized features
   
   1. 
      Log Transfer Facilities
      
   2. 
      Boats (what would we say here? I’m of course thinking of the M/V C.R. )
      

2. 
   Removal - General Guidelines
   

Removal of non-historic features within a historic property are allowed including previously determined ineligible objects and materials (such as abandoned vehicles, dumps, and fences); or removal of objects and materials demonstrably less than 50 years old providing that those objects and materials are not associated with a property that has the potential to be determined eligible for the National Register.

1. 
   Removing toxic building materials (such as radon, asbestos containing materials, and buried oil tanks) only after thorough testing has been conducted and only after less invasive abatement methods have been shown to be inadequate and when such removal will not damage the character defining features of the property.
   
2. 
   Lead paint abatement when it is done through limited scraping and encapsulation.
   
3. 
   Removal of isolated hazard trees, provided that the activity does not include ground disturbance.
   
4. 
   Activities, such as removal of logjams and debris that are carried out entirely within an active streambed, even if the streambed is directly adjacent to a historic property.
   

2. 
   Rendering inoperable - General Guidelines
   

Features within historic properties may be rendered inoperable in order that they continue to be a contributing feature to a historic property.

1. 
   Rendering inoperable, but not removing, historic fixtures (such as gas lights, plumbing fixtures, cannons, etc.).
   

2. 
   Application of Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) – General Guidelines
   

If during the course of routine maintenance activities, elements of the ABA can be met without causing adverse effects to a historic property then this PA may be used. Any significant alterations resulting in a Restoration or Rehabilitation of a historic building or structure will require following standard Section 106 procedures.

2. 
   New Materials- General Guidelines
   

When required for modernization of utility systems (e.g. plumbing, electrical, fuel, and communications), new materials may be used provided that Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties are followed; key historic features such as hand pumps and historic light fixtures, are retained; and modern elements are screened or otherwise rendered 'invisible' so as to protect the visual integrity of the building or structure. Introduction of large antenna, satellite/communication dishes and similar features are disallowed. Default building code is the International Existing Building Code, Chapter 12 – Historic Buildings. Examples include:

1. 
   Installation of dry insulation installed in a manner that does not damage the property’s historic fabric.
   
2. 
   Replacement of metal water tanks with ones of fiberglass, when the color and texture of the existing or historic tank are replicated or when landscaping camouflages the replacement tank. Construction of a structure around a tank to control temperature is allowed when landscaping camouflages the change.
   
3. 
   Replacement of lightning rod wiring with new copper wire.
   
4. 
   Installation of fire or smoke detectors, burglar alarms or other security systems or security devices, such as dead bolts, door locks, window latches, and door peep holes if they are installed in a manner that does not damage any of the property’s historic fabric and are sited in an unobtrusive manner.
   
5. 
   Installations that are temporary for the purposes of security or safety of the site (such as temporary doors and window covers to protect the building or structure and visitors, temporary signage, etc.) provided their installation does not damage historic materials.
   
6. 
   Installation of interpretive signs or exhibit structures which are not attached to historic buildings or structures and do not visually intrude on the historic property. Signs should be constructed of materials and painted colors that harmonize with the historic property and its setting.