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Office of History and Archaeology news

OHA staff wants to thank all their colleagues who attended the OHA/SHPO April 5th workshop and the April 18th webinar. On April 5, over 50 people attended in-person at the BP Energy Center in Anchorage and 70 individuals participated for at least a portion of the workshop online. As our first in-person workshop since 2019, the workshop provided a forum to learn about and discuss state and federal updates to guidance on best practices for cultural resource management in Alaska. The April 18th Webinar, "OHA Historic Preservation Series: Archaeological Guidance – An Update" presented by Nick Schmuck, engaged almost 50 people. Nick facilitated an active discussion among cultural resource practitioners about the current state of and future directions for CRM field methods.

The Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (OHA) is in the early stages of updating the Alaska Historic Preservation Plan for 2025 to 2035. We are launching our planning efforts in Southeast Alaska. To ensure success, we seek as many perspectives, insights, and guidance from local communities as possible. Judy Bittner (SHPO), and Maria Lewis (Certified Local Government Coordinator) will be in Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan for in-person meetings (dates below). We encourage folks in those communities to join them and local historic preservationists to share ideas on how to preserve our shared history for the future. These are free events, and the public is welcome.

• April 24 from 12-2 pm at the Andrew P. Kashevaroff (APK) Building in Juneau
• April 27 from 1-3 pm at the Harrigan Centennial Hall in Sitka
• April 30 from 6-8 pm at the Tongass Historical Museum in Ketchikan

Contact Us
OHA employees are working a hybrid schedule. This means that correspondence, phone calls, and the processing of invoices/payments may be delayed.

While the Office of History and Archaeology staff are working remotely, 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.: dnr.oha@alaska.gov
Review/compliance, Section 106, project review: oha.revcomp@alaska.gov
State Cultural Resource Investigation Permits: oha.permits@alaska.gov
Alaska Heritage Resource Survey access, renewals, or submissions: oha.ibs@alaska.gov

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White House

President's FY25 Budget Proposal

The President's FY 2025 budget proposal calls for a decrease to the appropriation of funds for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). It proposes $151.4 million for the HPF in FY25 – down from $188.666 million, which was enacted for FY24. The Semiquincentennial grant program is eliminated entirely and the Save America's Treasures grant program is cut by $15.5 million. No Congressionally Directed Spending (which is subject to the determination of Congress) is in the President's budget. The proposal calls for additional funding in the amount of $2.5 million to be available under HPF for the purpose of Tribal Heritage Grants. There is no decrease in SHPO or THPO funding from FY24.

A detailed look at the President's FY25 budget request for HPF totaling $151.4 million is as follows:

$62.15 million for State Historic Preservation Offices (equal to FY24)
$24 million for the African American Civil Rights grant program (equal to FY24)
$23 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (equal to FY24)
$12.5 million for Paul Bruhn grants (equal to FY24)
$11 million for HBCU preservation grants (equal to FY24)
$10 million for Save America's Treasures ($15.5m below FY24)
$5 million for the History of Equal Rights Grants (equal to FY24)
$2.5 million for Tribal Heritage Grants (newly categorized under HPF)
$1.25 million for Underrepresented Communities Grants (equal to FY24)

Other funding sources of interest (outside the HPF) is $18.09 million for the Heritage Partnership Program, which supports National Heritage Areas.

Additionally, the President's 2025 Budget request proposes an extension of the now lapsed program authorization for the HPF to be extended until September 30, 2026 (a year beyond the extension provided in the recently passed FY24 consolidated appropriations act). This short-term extension paves the way for work to continue on a longer term HPF reauthorization.

Read more in the National Park Service Greenbook.

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National Park Service news

NPS HPF Report Highlights Increase to SHPO Workloads

The uptick in SHPO workloads – a likely result of federal infrastructure investment is documented in the recently released NPS Historic Preservation FY23 Annual Report (which reports out the prior year's data). The long-running thesis that increases to infrastructure spending would logically result in increased workload for SHPOs has now been proven. The report highlights that SHPOs reviewed and consulted on 177,400 Federal undertakings – which is a 42.7% increase over the prior report of 106, 300 undertakings.

Also of interest is the decrease from the prior report of national register opinions given and acres of cultural resources surveyed. It is possible that, nationwide, the increase in federal undertakings has a negative impact on the ability of SHPO offices to fulfill their various additional responsibilities, due to this uptick in federal reviews.

NPS has new website on Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, Resilience, and Historic Buildings

Current NPS guidance and information are collected and presented in a new webpage for easy access to explore these topics. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/sustainability-energy-efficiency-resilience-historic-buildings.htm

New guidance on resilience to natural hazards.

The new guidance is adapted from the "Resilience to Natural Hazards" section in the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings (2017) and from the Guidelines on Flood Adaption for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (2021).
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/resilience-to-natural-hazards-historic-buildings.htm

NPS Grant opportunities:
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.

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Advisory Council on Historic Preservation news

Updated Policy
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has approved the Amended Program Comment for Federal Communications Projects. The amendment was requested by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to the Administration's Broadband initiative.

At its March meeting, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation members unanimously approved a Policy Statement on Indigenous Knowledge and Historic Preservation.

Training:
Learn how you can participate in Section 106 reviews of undertakings with the potential to affect historic properties. Choose from classroom, webinar, and e-learning options taught by experienced ACHP staff involved in such reviews daily nationwide. For the full schedule, course content information, and registration instructions, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom.

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National Trust for Historic Preservation news

National Trust Preservation Funds Grant Program: Accepting Applications

The next round of the National Preservation Fund is now open. Enhance your efforts to save the historic places within our community—participate in the National Trust Preservation Funds grant program. This annual program supports local preservation organizations' efforts to preserve and protect important places in their communities.

Funding ranges from $2,500 to $5,000 and supports preservation planning and educational projects. The next deadline is June 3.
For more information, visit https://savingplaces.org/grants or contact Grants@savingplaces.org.

Hart Family Fund for Small Towns. Grants range from $2,500 to $5,000. Deadline May 1, 2024.

National Trust grants are announced throughout the year. Sign up for the grants interest list.

Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund grants (up to $2,500) for travel costs and mentor honoraria are available for Organization Level Forum or Main Street America members of the National Trust. The purpose of these grants is to support the leadership and effectiveness of staff and board members of preservation organizations through individualized mentoring and the sharing of expertise. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. For more information go to forum@savingplaces.org

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National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers

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

Review and compliance agreement development for large projects in progress:

Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center Rehabilitation

Programmatic Agreement

Glenn Highway Corridor

Programmatic Agreement

Sterling Highway MP 45-60

Data Recovery Plan Amendment

USFS Sustainable Cabins

Programmatic Agreement

NPS Kennecott Maintenance and Operations

Programmatic Agreement Amendment

NPS Climate Change at Dyea

Programmatic Agreement

Ambler Industrial Access Road

Programmatic Agreement Amendment

For information on how to participate in the process, or on how to review and comment on the above projects, contact Sarah Meitl, sarah.meitl@alaska.gov.

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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 dnr.oha@alaska.gov, 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 dnr.oha@alaska.gov with "Heritage, subscribe" in the subject line.

If you do not wish to continue to receive Heritage, please send an e-mail to dnr.oha@alaska.gov with "Heritage, unsubscribe" in the subject line.

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Preservation Calendar

2024

APRIL

• April 24 - Alaska Historic Preservation Plan Meeting - Juneau. For more information contact Maria Lewis (maria.lewis@alaska.gov).
  
  

• April 27 - Alaska Historic Preservation Plan Meeting - Sitka. For more information contact Maria Lewis (maria.lewis@alaska.gov)
  
  

• April 30 - Alaska Historic Preservation Plan Meeting - Ketchikan. For more information contact Maria Lewis (maria.lewis@alaska.gov).
  
  

MAY

• May 15 - Alaska Historic Preservation Plan Meeting - Unalaska. For more information contact Maria Lewis (maria.lewis@alaska.gov).
  
  

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 3 - Alaska Historic Preservation Plan Meeting. Agenda under development. For more information contact Maria Lewis (maria.lewis@alaska.gov)
  
  

• September 11-15 - Sharing Our Knowledge., Sitka, AK
  
  

• September 25-28 - Museums Alaska Conference, theme Building Community, Fairbanks, AK. For more information email director@museumsalaska.org
  
  

OCTOBER

• October 3 - Alaska Historic Commission meeting. Agenda under development. For more information contact dnr.oha@alaska.gov.
  
  

• 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, info@npi.org.
  
  

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

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, info@npi.org