Meaningful Mitigation for Cultural Resources Affected by Offshore Wind Energy Projects

Presentation Description: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires that federal agencies, such as the BOEM, consider the potential effects of their projects on historic properties. Historic properties include underwater archaeological sites and submerged paleo-landform features, terrestrial archaeological sites, traditional cultural properties, and aboveground historic properties, such as historic buildings, landscapes, and historic districts. Developers in coordination with BOEM develop measures to avoid and minimize potential impacts to historic properties; however, not all adverse effects can be avoided. Substantive, long-term engagement and consultation with stakeholders is the critical path to finding successful resolution of potential impacts to cultural resources. There is a wide range of potential mitigation approaches and measures, and this poster will discuss best practices and current trends in mitigating adverse effects to historic properties.