Compliance Historian​/Historic Preservation Specialist

Job Title

This position is part of the CDOT Region 1 Environmental Unit.

The Region 1 Environmental Unit ensures that the guiding principles of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other federal, state, and local laws are followed in our transportation planning and project development process, as well as maintenance and operations of the Region 1 transportation system. The Environmental Unit works to design, construct, maintain and operate the Region 1 transportation system in a manner which helps preserve the environmental resources present within our Region.

We accomplish this through careful planning: identification, avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of impacts during the project life cycle process.

About the Position

This position ensures compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 4(f) of the US Department of Transportation (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). of 1966 and the Colorado State Register Act for transportation related projects for Region 1. The position coordinates clearances with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), other federal agencies, and consulting parties following a range of specified standards and established practices.

The position provides guidance to local agencies, CDOT personnel and consultants on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) clearance process. The position participates in various meetings and may manage environmental project clearances and/or applied research for environmental streamlining and mitigation for projects.

• Provides guidance regarding the NEPA, specifically regarding Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of the US DOT Act of 1966, and Colorado State Register Act at the regional and/or statewide level.
• Responsible for compliance with Section 106 and Historic Section 4(f), which involves coordination with multiple federal, state and local agencies (e.g. the SHPO, ACHP, FTA, and FHWA).
• Prepares full Section 4(f) evaluation reports with input and direction from an EPS III/IV.
• Defines initial Area of Potential Effect (APE), identifies consulting parties, and establishes survey methodology to support transportation project delivery within cost, scope, and schedule.
• Conducts research and evaluates significance and integrity of the resources for National Register () eligibility. This can include historic or historic archaeological sites, structures, objects, buildings or districts.
• Prepares detailed Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) inventory forms for historic resources, including well referenced and written narrative site-specific historical summaries needed to provide a basis for evaluating the historical significance for individual properties or resources.
• Evaluates and determines project-related effects to historic properties.
• Sends formal determinations, along with supporting documentation, to appropriate state, federal and local governments as well as interested non-governmental organizations for comments or concurrence.
• For assigned projects, develops and implements mitigation and/or minimization for adverse effects applying a specified range of acceptable alternatives. Includes development of agreements (e.g. Memorandum of Agreement) for the satisfactory mitigation of adverse effects.
• For assigned projects, drafts and writes environmental documents [i.e. categorical exclusions (Cat Ex), Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)] and Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) reports for completeness and accuracy, and participates in comment resolution meetings to finalize these studies.
• Advises engineers and project teams on appropriate actions to avoid and minimize impacts to historic resources, or to develop acceptable mitigation to offset negative impacts.
• Explains effects and mitigation at public hearings and meetings concerning transportation projects that impact historic resources.
• Participates in coordination meetings between CDOT, SHPO, FHWA, FTA, local agencies, and other stakeholders as needed;
• Provides guidance in the fieldwork and research required for compliance with Section 106 and Section 4(f).
• Conducts fieldwork taking photographs and uses GPS devices, unmanned aerial vehicles and cameras to gather data in the field and uses a variety of GIS software and satellite imagery to develop and analyze project data
• Assists with special research projects that streamline historic properties identification and regulatory compliance and meet mitigation requirements;
• Assists with larger research projects that focus on specific historic property types and collaborates in presentations of CDOT historic properties research projects and findings at professional conferences;
• Assists with Cat Ex, EA, EIS and PEL NEPA project management ensuring that legal requirements…