State Review Board
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| State Review Board | |
|---|---|
| Name | State Review Board |
| Formation | varies by state |
| Type | advisory board |
| Jurisdiction | U.S. states |
| Headquarters | state capitals |
| Parent organization | State Historic Preservation Office (state-level agencies) |
State Review Board
The State Review Board is a statutory advisory body that evaluates nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, advises State Historic Preservation Officers, and guides decisions on heritage preservation across U.S. jurisdictions. Typically constituted under state law and tied to federal programs such as the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, these boards bring together scholars, architects, archaeologists, and community representatives to assess cultural resources, reconcile stakeholder interests, and interpret preservation standards. Their recommendations influence site listings, grant allocations, and regulatory compliance involving landmark properties, archaeological sites, and historic districts.
Overview and Purpose
State Review Boards serve as an intermediary between local advocates, municipal agencies, and federal programs including the National Park Service. They review nominations for the National Register of Historic Places, evaluate determinations of eligibility, and advise on nominations for state registers such as the California Register of Historical Resources or the New York State Register of Historic Places. Boards also recommend priorities for surveys and inventories that feed into programs like the Historic Preservation Fund. By convening subject-matter experts—often drawn from institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, and state universities—boards aim to ensure that listings meet criteria established by the Secretary of the Interior and conform to guidelines issued by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Legal Authority and Composition
Statutory authority for State Review Boards originates in the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is implemented through state statutes, administrative codes, and programmatic agreements with the National Park Service. Composition typically includes professionals qualified in architecture, archaeology, history, and related fields, with membership examples reflected in panels convened by departments such as the California Office of Historic Preservation or the Texas Historical Commission. Appointments are often made by the governor or the State Historic Preservation Officer subject to state legislative frameworks. Board procedures may be governed by open meeting laws like the Sunshine Laws of various states and by records requirements analogous to the Freedom of Information Act at the federal level.
Responsibilities and Procedures
Primary responsibilities include reviewing National Register nominations, advising on determinations of eligibility, evaluating integrity and significance under Criteria A–D promulgated by the National Park Service, and recommending priorities for the distribution of federal grants such as those from the Historic Preservation Fund. Procedures generally require submission of nomination forms prepared according to guidelines of the National Register of Historic Places, public notification of hearings, and documentation of findings that cite comparative contexts and statements of significance referencing local histories like those preserved by the American Antiquarian Society or state historical societies. Boards may also review adverse effect agreements under Section 106 consultation processes involving agencies listed in the National Environmental Policy Act process.
Interaction with State Historic Preservation Offices
State Review Boards operate in close partnership with State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs). The SHPO prepares staff reports, coordinates outreach with local governments and organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and state historical societies, and forwards board recommendations to the National Park Service for final action. Boards bring independent professional judgment to SHPO decisions, often affecting determinations tied to state tax incentives, rehabilitation standards under programs like the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program, and compliance with state-level preservation statutes such as the Massachusetts Antiquities Act or specific state historic preservation codes.
Notable Decisions and Controversies
Notable board actions have shaped high-profile listings and disputes, for example contentious reviews of properties linked to events like the Civil Rights Movement, sites associated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ensembles of modernist architecture by architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright. Controversies have arisen over the treatment of indigenous sites where boards navigated competing claims involving tribes represented through entities like the National Congress of American Indians and federal trust responsibilities. Debates also flare when economic development proponents challenge nominations, illustrated by cases involving highway projects reviewed alongside the Section 106 process or when nominations intersect with environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Impact on Preservation Policy and Practice
State Review Boards influence preservation policy by shaping the inventory of listed properties that inform planning, grantmaking, and tax credit certifications. Their determinations affect research agendas at institutions such as the American Institute of Architects, archaeological stewardship practices endorsed by the Society for American Archaeology, and public history programming undertaken by entities like the National Endowment for the Humanities. By applying professional standards and public deliberation, boards help integrate historic places into state planning frameworks, inform legislative initiatives affecting preservation financing, and catalyze local conservation efforts led by organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and regional historical commissions.