Volume 2: Cultural Resources

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This section of the SER is designed for cultural resource specialists. It contains more detailed information than Chapter 28 of Volume 1.

NOTICE: In October 2013, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) assigned to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) all its responsibilities for compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Caltrans' participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program, pursuant to, 23 USC 327, as amended by Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This includes FHWA's Section 106 responsibilities. Under NEPA assignment, the Caltrans Division of Environmental Analysis Cultural Studies Office (DEA-CSO) was assigned FHWA's Section 106 responsibilities. Therefore, wherever FHWA is mentioned in the Caltrans Standard Environmental Reference Volume 2 – Cultural Resources (SER Vol. 2), it refers to DEA-CSO. Using the process outlined in Volume 2, the appropriate Caltrans district environmental staff will continue to process Section 106 compliance documentation for Caltrans projects and for FHWA-funded local agency projects. Consultants will continue to submit their Section 106 documents to the appropriate district Heritage Resources Coordinator for processing.

For more information on NEPA delegation, please refer to Chapter 38 of the SER. Questions regarding DEA-CSO's FHWA Section 106 responsibilities, should be directed to the appropriate District Heritage Resources Coordinator.

Overview

The consideration of cultural resources is a critical part of all phases of project development, construction, permitting, right of way, and maintenance activities. Caltrans must comply with federal and state environmental laws and regulations designed to protect cultural resources significant in American archaeology, architecture, history, culture, and engineering.

To meet legal requirements for cultural resources management, Caltrans personnel must follow the guidelines outlined in the SER Volume 2. Following is a synopsis of this handbook. Each chapter has supplemental material in a series of exhibits (e.g., Chapter 1, Exhibit 1.1, 1.2; Chapter 2, Exhibit 2.1, 2.2, and so on).

Caltrans has developed templates for cultural resources documents described in the chapters and exhibits.  Links to these templates are below and also can be found on the Cultural Templates page.

The following information is in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). Please be aware that some of the files are large and may take considerable time to download depending upon your Internet connection.

2024 Section 106 PA and PRC 5024 MOU

Caltrans executed a renewed Section 106 PA (Exhibit 1.1) and a renewed PRC 5024 MOU (Exhibit 1.2) effective December 6, 2024, which as of that date replace the 2014 106 PA and the 2015 5024 MOU. CSO is in the process of updating the SER Volume 2 to reflect changes to the 2024 agreements and they will be posted below as soon as they are available. The posted date will indicate if the document has been updated per the new agreement documents. In the meantime, Caltrans documents should cite the 2024 106 PA and 5024 MOU and where provisions of those agreements differ from guidance in SER Vol II, procedures in the agreements takes precedence.    

Cultural Resources Compliance Templates

Cultural resources documents used for Section 106 and PRC 5024 compliance.

Chapter 1 – General Information (PDF) (Posted 12/16/24)

The first chapter introduces Volume 2. It summarizes federal and state historic preservation laws and provides general background information on cultural resources management. This chapter identifies Caltrans' cultural resources policies and directs all units of the Department to follow these policies. Chapter 1 also describes the organization, roles and responsibilities, and staffing requirements that Caltrans uses to manage cultural resources.

Chapter 2 – Cultural Resources Procedures (PDF) (Posted 12/20/24)

The chapter discusses in detail the Section 106 Programmatic Agreement that governs Caltrans cultural resources actions on federally-assisted state and local projects: the First Amended Programmatic Agreement Among the Federal Highway Administration, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the California State Historic Preservation Officer, and the California Department of Transportation Regarding Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as it Pertains to the Administration of the Federal-Aid Highway Program in California (Section 106 PA). This agreement is included as Exhibit 1.1 (PDF) of the handbook. All actions taken under the Section 106 PA must be conducted by or under the supervision of Caltrans Professionally Qualified Staff (PQS).

Chapter 2 contains instructions for processing cultural resources documents in compliance with federal and state laws. It specifically discusses compliance requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its relationship to Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, and at the state level, the California Environmental Quality Act and the Public Resources Code. Parallel segments for federal projects and for state-only projects describe pertinent legislation and compliance procedures, including identification, evaluation, and mitigation. The chapter discusses the types of reports required to document that cultural resources have been considered in Caltrans project planning.

Chapter 3 – Native American Consultation (PDF) (Revised 10/29/21)

Chapter 3 presents the department’s policies, procedures, and best practices for coordination and consultation with California Native American Tribes about potential effects to tribal cultural sites and landscapes during transportation project delivery, maintenance, and other activities.  It describes pertinent legislation, regulations, policies, and guidance that serve as the basis for the department’s consultation procedures. The chapter also sets forth the department’s broader tribal government diplomatic responsibilities and provides guidance on carrying out early tribal coordination and engagement during transportation planning and scoping phases to help support the department’s tribal government relations.

Chapter 4 – Archaeological Collections Management and Repatriation (content in development) (PDF) (Revised)

Chapter 4

Chapter 5 – Archaeological Resources Identification, Evaluation, Effects and Treatment (PDF) (Posted 12/20/24)

Caltrans’ methods and procedures for the evaluation and treatment of prehistoric and historical archaeological resources are discussed in Chapter 5. There are sections that summarize Caltrans archaeological policies and describe Caltrans procedures to define and evaluate archaeological sites, conduct data recovery, and prepare the pertinent technical reports. Guidance is offered for field safety, preparing Archaeological Survey Reports (ASR), Excavation Proposals, Extended Phase I reports, Archaeological Evaluation Reports (AER), Historic Resources Evaluation Report (HRER), Phase III proposals and reports, and Data Recovery Plans. The chapter provides information on construction monitoring, environmentally sensitive areas, archaeological permits, and archaeological procedures to follow in the event of post-review discoveries or for activities not related to projects.

Chapter 6 – Built-Environment Resources Evaluation and Treatment (PDF) (Revised 7/5/20)

Chapter 6 outlines Caltrans' methods and procedures for recording, evaluating, and treating buildings, bridges, structures, objects, non-archaeological sites, and districts composed of such structural features. There are sections that summarize Caltrans history and architectural history policies and that describe Caltrans procedures to evaluate built cultural resources, the relationship between research and evaluation, and step-by-step procedures for processing HRERs. Chapter 6 offers mitigation options to be considered when historic properties may be affected by proposed transportation projects. Lastly, the chapter also explains Caltrans' legal responsibility for maintaining its historic buildings and structures.

Exhibits