Other Considerations A. Changes to an Approved Scope of Work: The Recipient shall notify FEMA and shall require a sub-recipient to notify it immediately when a sub-recipient proposes changes to an approved scope of work for an Undertaking.
1. If FEMA determines the change meets a Programmatic Allowance or has no effect on the property, FEMA shall approve the change.
2. If the change can be modified to meet a Programmatic Allowance, or conform to any applicable SOI Standards, FEMA shall conclude its Section 106 review responsibilities.
3. If FEMA determines that the change does not meet an Allowance, FEMA shall initiate consultation pursuant to Stipulation II.C, Standard Project Review.
B. Unexpected Discoveries, Previously Unidentified Properties, or Unexpected Effects:
1. Upon notification by a sub-recipient of an unexpected discovery, or if it appears that a Undertaking has affected a previously unidentified property or affected a known historic property in an unanticipated manner, in accordance with Stipulation I.B.3(e), Recipient Roles and Responsibilities, the Recipient shall immediately notify FEMA and require the sub-recipient to:
a. Stop construction activities in the vicinity of the discovery.
b. Take all reasonable measures to avoid or minimize harm to the property until FEMA has completed consultation with the SHPO, and any other consulting parties. Upon notification by the Recipient of a discovery, FEMA shall immediately notify the SHPO, and other consulting parties that may have an interest in the discovery, previously unidentified property or unexpected effects, and consult to evaluate the discovery for National Register eligibility and/or the effects of the Undertaking on historic properties.
c. If human remains are discovered, notify the local law enforcement office and coroner/medical examiner in accordance with applicable Commonwealth statute(s), and protect the remains from any harm. Notify the SHPO within twenty- four (24) hours of identifying human remains.
d. Assist FEMA in completing the following actions, as required:
i. FEMA shall consult with the SHPO and other consulting parties in accordance with the consultation process outlined in Stipulation II, Project Review, to develop a mutually agreeable action plan with timeframes to identify the discovery or previously unidentified property, take into account the effect(s) of the Undertaking, resolve adverse effect(s) if necessary, and ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local statutes.
ii. FEMA shall coordinate with the Recipient and the sub-recipient regarding any needed modification to the scope of work for the Undertaking necessary to implement recommendations of the consultation and facilitate proceeding with the Undertaking.
iii. In cases where discovered human remains are determined to be native to Puerto Rico, FEMA shall follow the guidelines outlined in the ACHP’s Policy Statement Regarding the Treatment of Burial Sites, Human Remains, and Funerary Objects (2007) and any state-specific policies that may be in force.
C. Curation
1. FEMA and the Recipient shall ensure that recovered artifacts and related documentation are curated in a suitable repository as agreed to by FEMA and SHPO, following applicable federal guidelines (36 CFR Part 79).
2. When an Undertaking will adversely affect a National Register listed or eligible archaeological site, FEMA may treat the adverse effect by providing for the recovery of significant information through archaeological data recovery. FEMA shall consult with the SHPO and other consulting parties to prepare a research design (data recovery plan), including a specific plan for curation. This plan will incorporate any relevant curation provisions contained in ACHP’s “Recommended Approach for Consultation on Recovery of Significant Information from Archaeological Sites” published in the Federal Register (64 Federal Register 27085-27087 (May 18, 1999)), or other provisions agreed to by the consulting parties. No excavation should be initiated before FEMA acceptance and approval of the curation plan.
a. As stipulated in the curation plan, artifacts, as well as field and laboratory records sufficient to document the collection, shall be curated at a facility that meets the standards of, and in accordance with the provisions of 36 CFR Part 79, “Curation of Federally Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections,” and applicable State requirements.
D. Review of Undertakings Initiated Before Initiation or Completion of Section 106 Review
1. In accordance with Section 110(k) of the NHPA, FEMA shall not grant assistance to a sub-recipient who, with intent to avoid the requirements of this Agreement or Section 106 of the NHPA, has intentionally significantly and adversely affected a historic property to which the assistance would relate, or having legal power to prevent it, allowed an adverse effect to occur. However, if after consultation with the SHPO and ACHP, FEMA determines that extraordinary circumstances justify granting assistance despite the adverse effect created or permitted by the sub-recipient, FEMA shall complete consultation for the Undertaking pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
2. FEMA shall specifically advise the Recipient and shall require that the Recipient advise its sub-recipient in writing that they may jeopardize Federal funding if work is performed without all required local, State, and Federal licenses, permits, and/or approvals, including the completion of the Section 106 process. FEMA also shall document this requirement in its Record of Environmental Consideration, as applicable, as well as all project approval documents specifying the project scope and limits, and containing all conditions and caveats.
3. In circumstances where FEMA determines a sub-recipient has initiated an Undertaking without willful intent to avoid the requirements of this Agreement or Section 106 of NHPA, FEMA shall proceed as follows:
a. Determine if the Undertaking is of a type for which FEMA has no further Section 106 responsibilities, namely:
i. An Undertaking listed in Stipulation I.A.7; or
ii. An immediate rescue and salvage operation in accordance with 36 CFR § 800.12(d); or
iii. A Programmatic Allowance as described under Stipulation II.A.
b. In any such cases listed in Stipulation III.D.3.a., above, FEMA shall document this determination in the project files, and consider the Undertaking Section 106 compliant.
c. If FEMA determines the Undertaking would have required Section 106 review, FEMA shall coordinate with the SHPO to determine if consultation is feasible.
i. If after coordination with the SHPO, FEMA determines that consultation is feasible, FEMA shall review the Undertaking in accordance with Stipulation II.C, Standard Project Review.
ii. If after coordination with the SHPO, FEMA determines that review is infeasible, FEMA shall document the outcome to the Section 106 review process, and the applicable FEMA program shall take the outcome into account before making a decision whether to fund the Undertaking. FEMA shall provide written notification of its funding decision to the Recipient, SHPO and ACHP.
4. FEMA shall ensure that all Undertakings considered for after the fact review in accordance with this stipulation are included in the annual report.