December 6, 2016

Ms. Katherine Andrus

Environmental Protection Specialist
Office of Environment & Energy (AEE-400)
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue
Washington DC 20591
Ref:

Kansas City International Airport Projects

Kansas City, Missouri

Dear Ms. Andrus:

On October 3, 2016, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) received a letter from the
Watkins Foundation of Kansas City (Watkins Foundation) requesting that the ACHP investigate a series
of Section 106 compliance issues that have occurred at the Kansas City International (KCI) Airport in
Kansas City, Missouri (see enclosed). The ACHP has researched this matter in our database of previous
and ongoing Section 106 cases and found a notification of an adverse effect finding and the execution of a
Memorandum of Agreement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2008. The undertaking
affected the Miller Plantation archaeological site, a property eligible for listing in the National Register of
Historic Places.
Since we only have limited information regarding the land development project at the KCI Airport, we are
unable to respond to Watkin Foundation's letter. We, therefore, are requesting that the FAA provide the
ACHP with a summary of FAA's findings and determinations for Section 106 reviews that have occurred
at the KCI Airport. Specifically, we would like FAA's determinations of eligibility, findings of effect and
resolutions of adverse effects, and any supporting documentation that could inform the development of
the ACHPs response to the Watkins Foundation.
The Watkins Foundation also has advised us that another undertaking is proposed at KCI Airport in the
near future. Given that limited information on this undertaking was provided, we request that the FAA
provide us with an update on any Section 106 reviews recently initiated by the airport sponsor at the KCI
Airport. Finally, it would be helpful if you could clarify if the airport sponsor has consulted with the State
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and other consulting parties regarding this undertaking.

We look forward to receiving a response from FAA soon so that we can advise the Watkins Foundation
about how the ACHP can assist in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Najah K. Gabriel
of our staff at (202) 517- 0210 or via email at ngabriel@achp.gov. We appreciate your attention to this
matter.
Sincerely,

Charlene Dwin Vaughn, AICP

Assistant Director
Federal Permitting, Licensing and Assistance Section
Office of Federal Agency Programs
Enclosure