National Alliance of Preservation Commissions

10/15/2026

As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), it is important to recognize the challenges facing one of its key protections: Section 106.

This past summer, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) began revising the regulations implementing Section 106. The proposed revisions could mean fewer projects reviewed, less meaningful consultation, fewer negotiated mitigation measures, and fewer opportunities for communities to shape decisions affecting their historic and cultural resources.

The draft revisions are currently under interagency review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). They are not yet final, and the formal public comment process will begin after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.

Separately, on September 30, the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources and Environment and Public Works Committees introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. The bill aims to accelerate federal permitting for energy and infrastructure projects but would significantly change the Section 106 process, expanding federal agencies’ discretion over reviews, historic impacts, and consultation timelines. NAPC is deeply concerned that, if enacted, these statutory changes to the NHPA would be difficult to reverse.

For 60 years, the NHPA has provided a framework for governments at all levels to work together to protect our nation’s historic and cultural resources. This framework works best when local voices are heard, not silenced.

📣 Visit https://www.napcommissions.org/advocacy to learn more about these issues and explore resources to help protect the NHPA and the Section 106 review process.

10/14/2026

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), we celebrate the local leaders, commissioners, staff, and volunteers who help tell their communities’ stories through preservation.

The NHPA provides a framework for historic preservation in the United States, recognizing the importance of partnerships among federal, state, and local governments. Preservation takes local leadership, community knowledge, and people committed to protecting the places that make their communities special.

The 1980 amendments to the NHPA strengthened this grassroots approach by establishing the Certified Local Government (CLG) program, a partnership connecting local governments with state and federal preservation efforts. Through this program, local preservation commissions and the public have opportunities to help identify historic resources, guide preservation efforts, and shape the future of their communities.

Did you know the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) was founded in 1983 in response to the 1980 amendments to the NHPA? NAPC’s work is rooted in the belief that strong local preservation programs are essential to a thriving national preservation movement.

10/13/2026

This week, NAPC is celebrating 60 Years of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)! On October 15, 1966, the NHPA was signed into law, establishing a framework for protecting the historic and cultural resources that tell our nation’s story.

The NHPA established or strengthened several key preservation programs and processes, including:
✔ The National Register of Historic Places
✔ State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs)
✔ The Section 106 Review Process
✔ The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program

Six decades later, the NHPA’s legacy continues in the historic buildings, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, and community places that connect us to our shared and diverse histories.

Learn more about the NHPA and the programs that continue to shape historic preservation today: https://tinyurl.com/m8p9s3dn

10/08/2026

Last month, NAPC’s Commission Assistance & Mentoring Program (CAMP) brought preservation commissioners, staff, and community leaders from across Nevada together for a day of learning, networking, and exploring historic places.

With more than 60 participants from Nevada’s Certified Local Governments (CLGs), it was a great opportunity to connect with preservation colleagues from all over the state!

A special thank you to our CAMP trainers, Kate Singleton, Rory Hays, and Michael Houser, for sharing their knowledge and expertise with Nevada’s preservation community.

And a huge thank you to the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for helping make the day such a success! The Nevada SHPO team planned wonderful networking opportunities and tours to complement the training and even treated our trainers to dinner afterward. We’re grateful for their hospitality, collaboration, and commitment to strengthening local preservation programs across Nevada.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Carson City! We loved spending the day with you and look forward to seeing where your preservation work takes you next.

Are you ready to plan a CAMP in your community, region, or state? Start by visiting https://www.napcommissions.org/camp

10/01/2026

Is your community prepared to protect historic and cultural resources before, during, and after a natural disaster?

NAPC has launched the Disaster Planning & Recovery CAMP Training Special Call, an opportunity for communities to strengthen disaster planning, risk management, communication, and recovery efforts.

Selected communities will receive a customized in-person or virtual CAMP training at NO COST!

Trainings include disaster planning and recovery topics as well as other traditional CAMP subjects tailored to your community/region.

Who is eligible?
• State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs)
• Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs)
• Certified Local Governments (CLGs)
• Nonprofits partnering with SHPOs or CLGs

👉Applicants must be located in or represent a community within a declared disaster area in 2023 and/or 2024.

📅 Applications are due Monday, November 16, 2026.

Learn more and apply: https://www.napcommissions.org/camp-special-call

Questions? Contact [email protected].

09/28/2026

Tell your mayors and local government officials about the proposed changes to Section 106 .

We’ve prepared resources to help:

📄 Open Letter to City Mayors and Local Government Leaders
Share the letter with your local elected officials to help them understand what the proposed changes could mean for local communities.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/cbjtbnkw

✏️ Working Letter Template
Customize the letter for your community by adding local priorities, concerns, and a Section 106 success story that demonstrates the value of the review process.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/3bup9krz

📧 Email Template
Draft an email to introduce the issue and encourage local government leaders to learn more and engage.
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/2nhxess6

Use these resources and have a conversation with your mayor, city council, county commissioners, or other local government leaders about Section 106. It is important to bring local perspectives into the conversation.

Learn more and access the all Section 106 resources through NAPC’s Advocacy Page. 🔗https://www.napcommissions.org/advocacy

09/24/2026

Come learn with us during our October webinar!

Zoning Reform Isn't Coming--It's Here: What Preservationists Need to Know.

This session will explore how zoning reforms can impact local historic preservation programs and how preservationists can meaningfully participate in discussions about zoning, housing, and other community goals.

Thursday, October 22 | 1PM EST
CE Credits and Certificates of Completion Available
Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/5n7ut7s7
FREE for Current NAPC Members | $15 for Non-Members

Join NAPC today and start enjoying regular webinars like this one for free. Sign up here: https://www.napcommissions.org/membership

09/23/2026

Congress is paying attention to what is happening with Section 106. Please ask your representatives in Congress to sign onto this letter.

Learn more and read the letter here: https://ncshpo.org/2026/09/17/across-the-aisle-across-chambers-congress-weighs-in-on-section-106/

Across the aisle. Across chambers. Congress is weighing in on Section 106.

A bipartisan, bicameral group of Congressmembers is urging ACHP to reconsider its proposed overhaul of the Section 106 regulations, emphasizing that reforms should improve efficiency and predictability without dismantling the collaborative consultation framework Congress established.

Read the letter, link in comments.

09/22/2026

It is a busy season for NAPC's Commission Assistance & Mentoring Program (CAMP) with seven stops across the country, including several statewide trainings.

📍 Check Out These Upcoming CAMPs

🛣 September 25 | Carson City, NV (Statewide)
🛣 September 25 | Mandeville, LA
🛣 September 29 | Cincinnati, OH (2026 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference)
🛣 September 29 | Franklin, IN (Preserving Historic Places Conference)
🛣 October 2 | Portsmouth, NH
🛣 October 21 | Hot Springs, AR (Arkansas Preservation Conference)
🛣 November 10 | Louisiana (Virtual Statewide CAMP)

From statewide to single-community trainings, CAMP is bringing preservation training, collaboration, and a little fun along for the ride.

Where will CAMP go next? Start planning a CAMP for your community by visiting www.napcommissions.org/camp

09/18/2026

If you’re visiting your representatives’ offices in Washington, DC next week as part of National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Summit, NAPC has a resource to help you communicate your concerns about the proposed changes to Section 106.

NAPC’s Open Letter to Members of Congress outlines the proposed changes, how local preservation programs would be impacted, and key requests for Congress.

We encourage you to share the letter with your congressional representatives and use it as a resource during meetings with congressional offices.

If you're not planning to be on the Hill next week, still consider sharing this letter with your representatives in Congress by email or meetings in your district.

Access the letter here: https://tinyurl.com/ytbfmx3a

For more Section 106 resources, please visit https://www.napcommissions.org/advocacy