Leaders of the Coeur d’Alene Historic Preservation Commission are warning that proposed federal rule changes could strip local communities of their voice in major infrastructure decisions. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation voted in July to reduce public consultation requirements, a move that now sits before the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for final review.
Threat to Section 106 Protections
The regulatory shift targets Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Currently, this statute obligates federal agencies to consult with local stakeholders and fund mitigation measures when projects threaten historic properties. Commission member Shannon Sardell cautioned that weakening these rules would jeopardize grant funding essential for offsetting damage to cultural resources.
Sardell noted that while eliminating consultation requirements might speed up project readiness by removing delays lasting more than 30 days, the trade-off is significant. Walter Burns, chair of the commission, expressed deep concern about the potential loss of oversight. “It would be a huge setback for historic preservation; I almost want to use the word disastrous,” Burns said.
Local Infrastructure and Funding at Stake
Federal mitigation funds have historically supported local improvements in Kootenai County. For instance, when the deteriorating Springston Bridge over the Coeur d’Alene River near Harrison was scheduled for removal, the Section 106 process generated $260,000 in federal funds. Those dollars helped support the North Idaho Centennial Trail and the Rails to Trails program.
The Idaho Transportation Department is currently widening a five-mile stretch of Interstate 90 to four lanes in each direction. The project runs from State Highway 41 in Post Falls to U.S. Highway 95 in Coeur d’Alene and is slated for completion by 2029. Such large-scale developments typically trigger Section 106 reviews, making the proposed changes directly relevant to ongoing work in North Idaho.
City Council Response Planned
Burns intends to reach out to Mayor Dan Gookin and the Coeur d’Alene City Council to draft a formal resolution or letter opposing the regulatory changes. He argued that without current safeguards, federal entities “could just plow through anything they want and not tell anybody.” The Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission and other local bodies are also monitoring the situation as it moves through federal review channels.