10/15/2026
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. In response to large public calls, this law was enacted to preserve historically and culturally significant sites across the United States. Amongst the many important processes this act enacts is the Section 106 process. Section 106 is a historic resource identification and mitigation review process that is one of the backbones of historic preservation in the United States. It requires undertakings to identify historic resources in the project area, research how they might adversely affect these resources, and with parties familiar with the affected resources create a plan forward that carries out the needed undertaking and preserves historic resources for future generations. Section 106 is not about stopping construction, but producing a mutually beneficial outcome. In many cases demonstrated over the past 60 years, the Section 106 process creates a better and more supported undertaking that moves forward.
Currently, there are proposed changes to Section 106 that would be damaging to the process and its success, damaging to public and stakeholder involvement in the long-term preservation of historic resources in their communities, and inconsistent with historic preservation best practices and the National Historic Preservation Act itself. The Waterford Foundation is proud to stand in support with our fellow historic preservation organizations across Loudoun County and beyond in sharing how Section 106 works and its importance, and helping to protect this process that has done much to preserve the resources around all of us. We thank the National Trust for Historic Preservation in leading us all in the work to protect this integral tool to historic preservation in the United States. To learn more about Section 106 and its importance, proposed changes to the process, and how to get involved- please check out the growing list of resources linked on our website here: waterfordfoundation.org/nhpa-anniversary-section106/ or directly from the National Trust for Historic Preservation here savingplaces.org/section106
