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Office of History and Archaeology news

The Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (OHA) is in the early stages of gathering information for a new Alaska Historic Preservation Plan, Saving our Past: For a Resilient Future, 2025 to 2035. Check out our story map and take the survey on the OHA website Saving Our Past.

Alaska Historic Commission meeting – October 3. In addition to considering CLG grant applications, a National Register nomination, and Geographic Names proposals, the Commission members will engage in two important sessions. At 9:30 a.m., Jennifer Runyon and Matthew O'Donnell, staff to the US Board on Geographic Names, will lead a discussion on "Considering Name Changes." At 1 p.m., U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission Chair Rosie Rios will lead a discussion on Alaska and the America250. Session details will be provided in the coming weeks. Visit. Alaska Historical Commission to learn more.

The Office of History and Archaeology staff are working on a hybrid schedule. We recommend people contact staff by email. If you have a general inquiry, a project for review, or state cultural resources investigation permit application please use one of the following email addresses:

General inquiry, geographic names, Alaska Historical Commission, etc.: [email protected]
Review/compliance, Section 106, project review: [email protected]
State Cultural Resource Investigation Permits: [email protected]
Alaska Heritage Resource Survey access, renewals, or submissions: [email protected]

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NCSHPO - National Conference of State Historic Preservation Offices news

NCSHPO Submits Letter in Response to ACHPs Call for five Program Alternative Comments.

In response to the ACHP’s interest in pursuing five Program Alternative comments, NCSHPO submitted a letter expressing concern with regard to negative impacts surrounding the Section 106 review process. The focus of this effort is based upon two recent policy statements – the Policy Statement on Housing and Historic Preservation and the Policy Statement on Climate Change and Historic Preservation.

Co-signed by NCSHPO President, Ramona Bartos, and NCSHPO Executive Director, Erik Hein, the letter notes:

"one of the most fundamental components of the Section 106 process, and the aim of the National Historic Preservation Act, is to provide citizen input into federal decision-making. In our view, Program Comments, in particular, run contrary to the spirit of that foundational statute, and have instead relied upon inconsistent, inadequate public outreach efforts for their initial development, and then exacerbating the situation, subsequently forego any additional future consultation – even when stakeholders specifically express their desire for it."
Link to full letter:
https://ncshpo.org/2024/06/21/ncshpo-responds-to-achps-pursuit-of-5-program-comments/#:~:text=NCSHPO%20has%20submitted%20a%20letter%20in%20response%20to%20ACHPs%20effort.

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Legislation News

Proposed Historic Preservation Fund budget, FFY25

	FY 2024 Passed	FY2025 Admin	FY2025 House	FY2025 Senate
State Historic Preservation	$62.15	$62.15	$62.15	$63.15
Tribal Historic Preservation	23.0	23.0	23.0	25.0
Underrepresented Communities	1.25	1.25	1.25	1.25
Civil Rights African-American	24.0	24.0	24.0	24.0
History of Equal rights	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Historic Black Colleges	11.0	11.0	11.0	11.0
Save America's Treasures	25.0	10.0	25.0	25.0
Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization	10.0	12.5	10.0	10.0
Semiquincentennial Sites	7.0	0.0	7.0	0.0
Tribal Heritage Grants (new category)	-	2.5	0.0	0.0
Congressionally Directed HPF projects	19.766	0.0	0.0	17.375
TOTALS	$188.166	$151.4	$168.900	$182.275
* Figures are in millions.

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National Park Service news

NPS Grant opportunities:
Underrepresented Communities grant program - $1.25 million is available. Applications are due August 29, 2024.

African American Civil Rights grant program - $24 million is available. Applications are due September 05, 2024.

History of Equal Rights grant program -$5 million available. Applications due August 20, 2024.

The Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for NPS FY2024 competitive programs will be spring through fall 2024. To be notified when this year's opportunities become available, go to Grants.gov and subscribe to a saved search: for CFDA 15.929 for Save America's Treasures (SAT), 15.932 for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and 15.966 for all other competitive programs. You can create a saved search on grants.gov under the "Connect" menu. The application period is 60-90 days from the time the NOFO is posted on Grants.gov. Because the window to apply for funding is limited, we encourage all applicants to plan well ahead of the application deadline. Information on applying to all of NPS' competitive programs is available through their website year-round. Registration in Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and other federal systems can take up to four weeks, so start early. Extensions will not be granted due to incomplete registrations in these systems or applications.

New regulations for NAGPRA
New regulations for the reforms to the law enacted in January 2024 to more expeditiously enable remains and objects to leave museums.

Federal Register :: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Systematic Processes for Disposition or Repatriation of Native American Human Remains, Funerary Objects, Sacred Objects, and Objects of Cultural Patrimony

Interior Department Announces Final Rule for Implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act - Office of Communications (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

final_nagpra_rule_fact_sheet_revised-(1).pdf (saa.org)

Unplanned Road Removal and Restoration, Katmai National Park and Preserve.
On August 1, 2024, Katmai National Park and Preserve will begin removing a 200-foot-long gravel road near Lake Brooks. The road was improperly constructed by the park in 2014 and will be restored to its natural state. The park subsequently consulted with affiliated Tribes and Alaska Native organizations and completed a resource damage assessment. A Tribal monitor alongside park archaeologists are overseeing the restoration work to prevent disturbance to sensitive resources

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Advisory Council on Historic Preservation news

ACHP July 18 meeting
ACHP members met July 18 in Washington, DC, for their summer business meeting. Chair Sara Bronin welcomed the three newest appointed members: Erica Avrami, Amelia Marshand, and Jane Woodfin to the meeting. It was also the first meeting attended by governor member Gov. John Carney of Delaware and newly appointed Architect of the Capitol Thomas Austin.
Members voted to send letters to Congress in support of an increase in appropriations and reauthorization of the Historic Preservation Fund (support of Historic Preservation Fund appropriations in the amount of $225 million for FY25, and at least a 2 year reauthorization of the program); support for the HTC-GO Act involving housing and climate-related tax credits; and offering modified language to the National Defense Authorization Act. They also voted to re-convene a digital information task force.

Training: The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) announces September, 2024 Section 106 training opportunities, presented online via Zoom, including one free webinar. Staff in the Office of Federal Agency Programs will present four timely webinars and a Section 106 Essentials course on the following dates in September: Webinar Series:
Defining the Area of Potential Effects (APE)
Wednesday, September 4, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT
Section 106 Program Alternatives
Thursday, September 12, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT
Implementing Section 106 Program Comments
Thursday, September 19, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT
Section 106 Documentation & e106 (Register early before this free course fills!)
Thursday, September 26, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT
Section 106 Essentials
Tuesday & Wednesday, September 24 & 25, 12:30-4:30 pm EDT

For course content information and registration instructions, visit https://www.achp.gov/training/
Contact Tanya Devonish with any questions at [email protected].

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National Trust for Historic Preservation news

Together with American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the 2024 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program’s 50 recipients. The Alaska recipient is New York Café, Ketchikan, AK. Each small restaurant across the United States will each receive a $50,000 grant. These funds will help them rejuvenate, innovate, and expand their businesses, ensuring their cherished legacies endure.

National Preservation Law Conference in DC/Online
Preservation Law conference in DC or online on September 12 will provide an in-depth look into preservation law, highlighting the most recent and influential developments and attendees with the knowledge and skills to effectively advocate and champion key preservation issues. Register at: https://savingplaces.org/law-conference

National Trust Preservation Funds Grant Program:
National Trust grants are announced throughout the year. Sign up for the grants interest list. For more information, visit https://savingplaces.org/grants .

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National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers news

NATHPO invites tribes and native organizations to stay current on important happenings using their new Calendar of Events. They have job listings, Community Job Board, and listing of relevant Grant Opportunities.

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Public Projects Alert

Section 106 large project consultation in progress:

West Susitna Access Road

Graphite One Mine near Nome

Safer Seward Highway, MP 98.5-118

Review and compliance agreement development for large projects in progress:

Johnson Tract

Programmatic Agreement

Alaska Highway WWII Bridges

Programmatic Agreement

Glenn Highway Corridor

Programmatic Agreement

USFS Sustainable Cabins

Programmatic Agreement

NPS Kennecott Maintenance and Operations

Programmatic Agreement Amendment

NPS Dyea and the Chilkoot Trail

Programmatic Agreement

For information on how to participate in the process, or on how to review and comment on the above projects, contact Sarah Meitl, [email protected].

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Heritage Subscription Information

Heritage is produced by the Office of History and Archaeology, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Please send your comments, suggestions, and information by e-mail to [email protected], mail to 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1310, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3565, or telephone 907.269.8700.

All issues are posted to our web site at dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha and distributed to subscribers by e-mail. A paper copy can be sent to individuals and organizations that specifically request it.

To be added to the subscription list, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with "Heritage, subscribe" in the subject line.

If you do not wish to continue to receive Heritage, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with "Heritage, unsubscribe" in the subject line.

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Preservation Calendar

2024

JULY

• July 31- August 4 - National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC), NAPC FORUM 2024, West Palm Beach, FL., Save the Date. National conference focused on issues facing local historic preservation commissions. NAPC FORUM
  
  

AUGUST

• August 12-16 - The 24th Annual NATHPO Conference will take place at the Ho-Chunk Gaming Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. Register here and take advantage of early bird rates through April 30.
  
  

SEPTEMBER

• September 4 - Defining the Area of Potential Effects (APE), ACHP Section 106 Webinar Wednesday, September 4, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT
  
  

• September 11-14 - AASLH 2024 Annual Conference, Doing History, Mobile, Alabama, 2024 Annual Conference – AASLH
  
  

• September 11-15 - Sharing Our Knowledge., Sitka Fine Arts campus (formerly Sheldon Jackson School), begins with "Warming Our Hands," a welcome by local clans on Wednesday evening, September 11, Sitka, AK. Website for more information: https://www.sharingourknowledge.org
  
  

• September 12 - Section 106 Program Alternatives, ACHP Section 106 Webinar, Thursday, September 12, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT, For course content information and registration instructions, visit https://www.achp.gov/training/
  
  

• September 12 - Preservation Law conference in DC or online, National Trust for Historic Preservation. Register at: https://savingplaces.org/law-conference
  
  

• September 19 - Implementing Section 106 Program Comments, ACHP Section 106 Webinar, Thursday, September 19, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT For course content information and registration instructions, visit https://www.achp.gov/training/
  
  

• September 24 - Section 106 Essentials, ACHP Section 106 Webinar, Tuesday, September 24, 12:30-4:30 pm EDT For course content information and registration instructions, visit https://www.achp.gov/training/
  
  

• September 25 - Section 106 Essentials, ACHP Section 106 Webinar, Wednesday, September 25, 12:30-4:30 pm EDT For course content information and registration instructions, visit https://www.achp.gov/training/
  
  

• September 25-28 - Museums Alaska Conference, theme Building Community, Fairbanks, AK. For more information email [email protected]
  
  

• September 26 - Section 106 Documentation & e106, AHCP Section 106 Webinar, Thursday, September 26, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT. (Register early before this free course fills!) For course content information and registration instructions, visit https://www.achp.gov/training/
  
  

OCTOBER

• October 3 - Alaska Historic Commission meeting. Agenda under development. For more information contact [email protected].
  
  

• October 9-12 - Alaska Historical Society annual meeting, Cordova. SavingPlaces.org
  
  

• October 28-30 - PastForward, National Trust for Historic Preservation annual conference, New Orleans. Conference programing proposals and nominations for National Preservation Awards due January 12, 2024. SavingPlaces.org
  
  

NOVEMBER

• November 13-14 - Cultural Landscapes: An Introduction, National Preservation Institute Workshop. Learn more at npi.org or contact Jere Gibber, Executive Director, [email protected].
  
  

• November 15 - Cultural Landscapes: Advanced Tools for Managing Change, National Preservation Institute Workshop. Learn more at npi.org or contact Jere Gibber, Executive Director, [email protected].
  
  

DECEMBER

• December 12 - OHA Education Series Webinar, Survey Unit Results 2024.
  
  

National Preservation Institute provides continuing education and professional training in historic preservation and cultural resource management throughout the year. For training options go to: www.npi.org For information contact Jere Gibber, Executive Director, [email protected]