Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Office of History and Archaeology

March 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

♢ Office of History and Archaeology and Alaska Historical Commission
♢ Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums
♢ Alaska Humanities Forum
♢ National Park Service
♢ Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
♢ Department of Interior
♢ National Trust Preservation Funds Grant Program
♢ National Preservation Institute
♢ Public project alerts
♢ Heritage subscription information
♢ Preservation calendar

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Office of History and Archaeology news

The Office of History and Archaeology is recruiting for two positions. The State of Alaska hires through Workplace Alaska.

Historian (Historian II, PCN 10-5275). The position will work in the Review/Compliance Unit to review federal or state licensed, funded, or permitted projects for impacts to historic properties under state and federal laws, regulation and guidelines. The position description and application are at https://agency.governmentjobs.com/alaska/job_bulletin.cfm?jobID=3023715&sharedWindow=0

The Archaeologist Flex I/II, PCN 10-5105. The position will work in the Archaeology Survey Unit. Duties include field work, technical research, laboratory analysis and processing, Alaska Heritage Resource Survey data entry, and report writing. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/jobs/3028417/archaeologist-i-ii-pcn-10-5105

It is with great sadness that we recognize the recent passing (March 4, 2021) of Robert (Bob) Mitchell, who was the historical architect with the Alaska State Historic Preservation Office in the 1980s. He generously shared his expertise and passion for historic preservation throughout his life and career. He will be greatly missed.

The next meeting of the Alaska Historical Commission will be by WebEx on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. The agenda includes review of applications for grant projects from Certified Local Governments, geographic name proposals, National Register nominations, and updates on Office of History and Archaeology programs. The tentative agenda will be posted at http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/.

Office of History and Archaeology (OHA) will host an education series in 2021 to provide a continuing education opportunity to Tribes, cultural resource management professionals, and our local, state, and federal agency partners to strengthen partnerships with the goal to preserve, protect, educate, and advocate for Alaska's cultural resources. Each one-to-two hour long session will focus on a topic relevant to history, archaeology, historic preservation, and/or cultural resource management.

OHA's online Education Series launches April 22, 2021 with a presentation on State Permitting and Survey Strategies by State Archaeologist Richard Vanderhoek. This pilot session will be offered through Webex to accommodate social distancing. If you are interested in attending, please contact dnr.oha@alaska.gov to receive a meeting invite.

OHA Education Series

Date

Time

Topic

April 22, 2021

1:30 pm AKST

State Archaeologist – State Permitting and Survey Strategies

July 22, 2021

1:30 pm AKST

AHRS – Introduction and Site Records

October 28, 2021

1:30 pm AKST

Review and Compliance – Section 106 Consultation Panel

Our office is interested in your feedback and requests your input on future topics. For more information go to: https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/publiceducation/training.htm. Send suggestions and recommendations to dnr.oha@alaska.gov.

COVID 19 Adjustments
OHA employees continue to work remotely. 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

Section 106 COVID 19 guidance from the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer is available at the following link: https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/shpo/shpocovid19.pdf
The Alaska SHPO has invoked tolling effective March 19, 2020 regarding the timelines outlined in 36 CFR 800. With tolling, the 30-day regulatory clock that would allow agencies to proceed with their undertaking following non-response after 30 days does not apply. SHPO will be allowed to comment beyond the 30 days.

Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums news

The Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums is recruiting participants for a new training program. Preparing Alaska's Cultural Organizations for Emergencies (PACO) is open to staff or volunteers from institutions with original humanities materials. Participants will enroll in an online course geared at developing institutional emergency preparedness and disaster plans, receive coaching support, and take part in a hands-on workshop once we are safe to travel. The application is now open. Learn more here: https://lam.alaska.gov/pacoinfo.

Alaska Humanities Forum news

Tell Your Story: Alaska Voting Stories
AKHF is collecting Alaskan voting stories! AKHF is inviting Alaskans of all ages to submit a brief video, written story, or piece of art that expresses a memorable voting experience they've had in Alaska. Whether it's about your first time voting, a time you chose not to vote, or a time when voting was difficult, all stories are welcome. Its mission is to reinvigorate trust in our democratic processes through story-telling and create space for meaningful conversation about the diversity of voting experiences within our state.

Submit your story here, at https://bit.ly/3r0hSMn, and view the growing online gallery of Alaskan voting stories at votingstories.akhf.org. Submissions will be highlighted on the AKHF social media, displayed on its online gallery for one year, and then transferred to the University of Alaska's Archives and Special Collections for future preservation. As a thanks for submission, a voting-themed package with custom vinyl stickers and conversation cards on representation will be sent your way! Share your voice, and pass this along to anyone else who'd like to add in as well. The deadline for submissions is by the end of April, 2021.

National Park Service news

NPS grant opportunities. Apply via grants.gov.
Underrepresented Community Grant Program – applications due March 31, 2021
The URC grant projects include surveys and inventories of historic properties associated with communities underrepresented in the National Register, as well as the development of nominations to the National Register for specific sites. For more information on the URC grant program go to: www.nps.gov/preservation-grants/community-grants.html

Tribal Heritage Grants – applications accepted through May 5, 2021.
The State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division (STLPG) is currently accepting applications through May 5, 2021 for Tribal Heritage Grants from the Historic Preservation Fund. Eligible applicants are Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages/Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. Tribal Heritage Grants (nps.gov)

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation news

The ACHP announced that effective March 5, 2021, Reid J. Nelson became the acting executive director of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Nelson has been the Council's Office of Federal Agency Programs (OFAP) Director since 2009. He will serve as both OFAP director and acting executive director until a new executive director is recruited and hired. After his retirement January 2, 2021, former ACHP executive director John Fowler served part time as executive director until Reid Nelson was appointed full time acting executive director. ACHP Vice Chairman Rick Gonzales will carry out the functions of the chairman while the position of chairman is vacant.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are seeking nominations for the ACHP/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. The award was created to encourage agencies, developers, and organizations to nominate projects or activities that advance the goals of historic preservation while providing affordable housing and/or expanded economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income families and individuals. The deadline for nominations is April 16, 2021. For more information go to: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/HUD-Sec-Award-excellence-historic-preservation-2021.pdf

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is offering digital classrooms for their Section 106 courses: The Section 106 Essentials and Section 106 Agreements Seminar. They will use Zoomgov.com. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom.

On April 3, 2020, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation issued a blanket extension regarding the review under 36 CFR 800.12 of undertakings responding to COVID-19 emergency and disaster declarations. Considering the likelihood of such declarations remaining in place into the foreseeable near future, and the ongoing need for federal agency responses to them, that extension is now set to expire on March 31, 2021.

Department of the Interior news

Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM was confirmed as Secretary of the Interior by the U.S. Senate on March 15, 2021. Rep. Haaland is the first Native American to hold that position. She is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe and the former chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

National Trust for Historic Preservation news

The National Trust is offering, as part of their Preservation Leadership Forum, free "Preservation and Public Spaces" webinars. The webinars are a series of conversations about the changing nature of public space and the complexities of its preservation. For more information go to: forum.savingplaces.org

National Preservation Institute news

NPI provides online training that complements their in-person seminar curriculum. NPI offers the option of online customized training with interested organizations. Look for training options at www.npi.org. On-demand modules available include GIS, NAGPRA, Finding New Sources of Funding, Historic Wood Windows, Corridor Development, New Sources of Funding, Native America 101, Streetscapes, Cultural Landscapes, and Section 106 compliance. For further information contact Jere Gibber, Executive Director, NPI, 703.765.0100, info@npi.org.

Public Projects Alert

Section 106 large project consultation in progress:

Long Lake Rehabilitation, Glenn Highway
Alaska to Alberta Railroad
Decommission the Fort Greely Nuclear Power Plant

Review and compliance agreement development for large projects in progress:

U. S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak

Programmatic Agreement and ICRMP

Kensignton Mine

Programmatic Agreement amendment.

Greens Creek

Programmatic Agreement

Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center Rehabilitation

Programmatic agreement

Formerly Used Defense Sites Program

Programmatic Agreement

AK LNG

Cultural Resources Management Plan

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

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, sarah.meitl@alaska.gov.

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 judy.bittner@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.

Preservation Calendar

2021

APRIL

MAY

JULY

AUGUST

  • August 3, 4, 10, and 11 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Section 106 Practitioners Workshop. Each of the four days sessions 12:30-4:30 pm EST. Participants must attend all four sessions to complete the course. Registration fee $500. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom

September

  • September 14-15 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: Section 106 Essentials. Session 12:30pm-4:30pm EST. Registration $400. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom

  • September 16 Section 106 Agreements Seminar. Session 12:30 – 4:30PM EST. Registration fee $350. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

  • November 2, 3, 9, and 10 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Section 106 Practitioners Workshop. Each of the four days sessions 12:30-4:30 pm EST. Participants must attend all four sessions to complete the course. Registration fee $500. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom

  • November 2-6 National Trust for Historic Preservation, PastForward, the Virtual National Preservation Conference. conference@savingplaces.org.