About ICF

Richard Starzak

Vice President, Historic Preservation Specialist
Americas
Richard is an expert in historic preservation with more than 35 years of experience.

Richard Starzak is an architectural historian and project manager who specializes in consulting on behalf of public agencies for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. As of 2020, he has conducted Section 106 studies or State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) consultation in 45 states for a variety of federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

His career highlights include serving federal agencies as the primary consultant author for studies to streamline Section 106 and Section 4(f) compliance for major transportation infrastructure, including the guidance and criteria for significant historic elements of the Interstate Highway System and the resulting list in 18 states; a congressional study on streamlining Sections 106/4(f) compliance for federally funded railroad infrastructure repair and improvement projects. In 2015, three of its four recommendations became law in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act); and the early development and agency outreach resulting in the “Program Comment to Exempt Consideration of Effects to Rail Properties within Rail Rights-of-Way” issued by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in 2019.

For economic and natural disasters, Richard has conducted Section 106 compliance for agencies seeking HUD or FEMA funding, including Puerto Rico’s Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resiliency for Hurricane Maria recovery; New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection for Superstorm Sandy environmental and historic preservation reviews; and Michigan’s State Housing Development Authority for HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2.

Publications
  • Starzak, Richard and others. (2013). Report to Congress Streamlining Compliance with Section 4(f) of The Department of Transportation Act and Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act for Federally Funded Railroad Infrastructure Repair and Improvement Projects. Mandated by: The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (P.L. 110–432) Section 407. Federal Railroad Administration.

Insights

Article
Understanding the FEMA Public Assistance Simplified Procedures Policy for small projects
E863CFDC-E4F9-44F8-A33B-EC91C168E6EA Created with sketchtool.
Article
Environmental and historic preservation challenges facing FEMA applicants
E863CFDC-E4F9-44F8-A33B-EC91C168E6EA Created with sketchtool.
Article
Another path for streamlining environmental review
E863CFDC-E4F9-44F8-A33B-EC91C168E6EA Created with sketchtool.
Paper
Historic preservation laws and disaster recovery: 7 approaches for streamlining compliance
E863CFDC-E4F9-44F8-A33B-EC91C168E6EA Created with sketchtool.
Article
A new exemption could help streamline historic reviews for rail transit
E863CFDC-E4F9-44F8-A33B-EC91C168E6EA Created with sketchtool.