Departments

Environmental Review

LPC’s Environmental Review department assists federal, state, and city agencies whose projects are subject to the environmental review process. The department offers guidance and information about impacts those projects may have on the city’s archaeological and architectural resources. Architectural resources generally include historically important buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts. Archaeological resources are physical remains that are found beneath the surface, such as burials, foundations, artifacts, wells and privies.

As part of the review process, the Environmental Review department combines findings from LPC’s Research and Archaeology departments into its final comments. Both departments identify properties, districts, or sites that may be eligible for landmark designation, are already landmarked, or are eligible for or listed on the state and national registers of historic places.

Not all projects require archaeology reviews. In cases where no in-ground construction or excavation is proposed or will result from the project, an archaeological review may not be necessary.

The Environmental Review department’s comments provide information regarding significant properties or sites and findings of potential impacts uncovered during the review process, if any. If the proposed project significantly impacts these properties or sites, the Environmental Review department works with the lead agency to mitigate or reduce the impact as much as possible.

LPC environmental review may sometimes involve projects affecting landmarked properties and require an LPC permit, or require a review only from state and federal agencies. For example, if a City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) project affects a landmarked property that’s under review for an LPC work permit, there is no need to complete the LPC permit process prior to completing the environmental review. The Environmental Review department’s comments will indicate that the LPC permit process is under way.

If a project involves only state and federal funding or permitting and does not involve any city permits or funding, the Environmental Review department must be contacted to determine whether the project affects an existing landmark or a property that’s eligible for landmark status.

If you’re a city, state, or federal agency, you can ask the Environmental Review department to determine a project’s compliance with city, state, and federal environmental standards.

Download the submission requirements to request an environmental review/pre-review

NYC Energy Conservation Code, Local Law 85 Exemptions

The Environmental Review department issues written determinations by email for applicants to submit to the Department of Buildings for New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) exemptions. In addition, for LPC designated buildings, the Preservation department can incorporate an exemption for qualified buildings into an LPC permit. What follows are updated instructions (as of May 1, 2018) for applying for an exemption (click here to see a PDF with instructions and a sample submission).

The following categories of historic properties are exempt from NYCECC as per the 2016 update to the Code that became effective on October 3, 2016: (see: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/codes/2016-energy-conservation-code.page).

Any building that is:

a) Listed on the National Register of Historic Places or on the State Register of Historic Places,
b) Determined by the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to be eligible for listing on the State Register of Historic Places to be a contributing building to an historic district that is listed or eligible for listing on the State or National Registers of Historic Places, or
c) Otherwise defined as an historic building in regulations adopted by the State fire prevention and building code council.

Buildings that are designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission as individual landmarks or located within New York City historic districts are not exempt from the NYCEEC unless they also meet at least one of the above criteria (i.e., listed or determined eligible for the National Register).

To apply for a NYCECC determination, see instructions below.

NYCECC Determination Letter Instructions

Email NYCECCER@lpc.nyc.gov with the all of the information listed below. A response will be issued within 7-10 business days by email. A sample submission follows these instructions. Please note, if you are applying for an LPC permit, the NYCECC request can be incorporated into your LPC permit application at the time of filing, and you do not need to file for a separate determination.

Submissions must include the address, borough, block and lot (BBL), and whether the property is residential or commercial according to the NYCECC code definition. The BBL should be submitted in 10 digit code as per the PLUTO format as in this example: 1001210001 (borough code, 5 digit block code, 4 digit lot code).
For each property request, you must attach an image file, screen shot of PDF of the following (see sample below):
a.    From NY SHPO Cultural Resource Information system (https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Login.aspx? ReturnUrl=%2f): an image of the building footprint (with pop up), showing that it is in a National Register Historic District or listed individually.
b.    From NYCity Map (http://maps.nyc.gov/doitt/nycitymap/) show footprint of building and building and property profile.
c.    If the building is also LPC designated, include an image of the building from LPC’s Discover NYC Landmarks web map https://www1.nyc.gov/site/lpc/designations/maps.page, showing the pop-up with building information.
d.    A current image of the building (can be from google maps, bing or other current image).
Email all of the information listed above to NYCECCER@lpc.nyc.gov

Incomplete requests will not be processed.

A response will be issued within 7-10 business days by email.

Please note: All requests and inquiries should be emailed to NYCECCER@lpc.nyc.gov, and the agency will only provide responses by email. No faxes or phone call requests will be accepted.

Helpful links:

New York City
Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination
NYCityMap

New York State
Environmental Impact Assessment in New York State
New York State Historic Preservation Office

Federal Government
Advisory Council for Historic Preservation
Links to the Past: National Park Service Cultural Resources
National Preservation Institute
National Register of Historic Places