Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Office of History and Archaeology

September 2025

IN THIS ISSUE

◇ Office of History and Archaeology
    Staff Updates
    Contact Updates
    America250 Program
◇ Federal Legislation
◇ Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
◇ National Trust for Historic Preservation
◇ Public project alerts
    Draft Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Guidebook Public Comment Period
◇ Heritage subscription information
◇ Preservation calendar

Previous Issues

2025
January
February
Mar-Apr
May-June
July
August

2024
January
Feb-Mar
April
May-June
July
August
September
October
Nov-Dec

2023
Jan-Apr
May-June
July
August
Nov-Dec

Office of History and Archaeology news

Staff Updates: The State of Alaska currently has a hiring freeze in place and as of August 29, OHA has five vacancies. Until hiring waivers are approved and positions are backfilled, Nick Schmuck will serve as Acting State Archaeologist and Sarah Meitl will serve as Acting Chief. Effective June 30, 2025, Governor Dunleavy appointed DNR Commissioner John Boyle to serve as Alaska’s Interim SHPO following Judy Bittner’s well-earned retirement after over forty years of state service.

Contact Information: OHA encourages sending inquiries and requests to the email addresses listed below.

To send by email:

Section 106: oha.revcomp@alaska.gov
State Permits: oha.permits@alaska
AHRS: oha.ibs@alaska.gov
Grants: ohagrants@alaska.gov
Surveys and Research: adam.brinkman@alaska.gov
General Inquiries: dnr.oha@alaska.gov

To send by USPS or other courier:

Alaska State Historic Preservation Office
c/o Office of History and Archaeology
550 W 7th Ave, Suite 1310
Anchorage, AK 99501

America250 Program: The America250-Alaska planning team has accomplished the following tasks to encourage broad, statewide participation:

America250 Traveling Exhibit: The Alaska Office of History and Archaeology has created a traveling exhibit, Alaska's Fields of Dreams: America's Pastime in the 49th State, for the America250 Alaska project. The exhibit consists of nine free-standing, 80" x 33.5" banners. The banners tell the history of Alaska Baseball, from the Indigenous version of the game to the Alaska Baseball League. Reserving the exhibit is free, except for shipping. To learn more, contact OHA's exhibit coordinator, Rachel Carraway, at rachel.carraway@alaska.gov.

The America250-Alaska coalition is growing. If you have questions, would like to learn more, or are interested in getting involved, please contact Katie Ringsmuth at katie.ringsmuth@alaska.gov.



Federal Legislation news

On 07/14/25, the U.S. House released its FY26 House Interior Appropriations Bill, and the appropriations subcommittee held their markup on 07/15/25. The bill was favorably reported by a vote of 8-5 along party lines and moved to the full committee. The House bill proposes an overall HPF funding level of $168.9 million, situating it level to FY25. It also includes a 1-year reauthorization of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) – through Sept. 30, 2026, as well as $30 million for the Semisequincentennial Commission to commemorate the 250th.

On 07/24/25, the Senate held their appropriations full committee mark up of their proposed bill, which passed the committee with a vote of 26-2. The Senate proposes an overall HPF funding level of $168.246 million, $654,000 below FY25.

Congress is set to return to DC on September 2nd, following their August recess. They have a deadline of September 30th to avoid a partial government shutdown.

PROPOSED FY26 Appropriations from House and Senate Bills:
(numbers via NCSHPO, 07/25/25)

FY26 HPF

House Interior Appropriations

Senate Interior Appropriations

SHPO

$62.15 million

$62.15 million

SAT

$25.5 million

$25.2 million

THPO

$23 million

$23.75 million

AA Civil Rights

$24 million

$24 million

Paul Bruhn

$10 million

$0

HBCU

$11 million

$11 million

250th

$7 million

$0

Equal Rights

$5 million

$5 million

URC

$1.25 million

$1.25 million

CDS

$0

15.59 million


Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

The ACHP has been directed to reduce staff and office space. Layoff notices to ACHP staff went out this month (July), which will ultimately reduce their staff from 39 to 16. This reduction in staffing is anticipated to align with the currently proposed budget of $5.7 million, down from $9.5 million. The agency is also reducing their current office space by 40%, which will be completed by mid-September.

eLearning
ACHP announces that three of their eLearning courses are now back online! These include "What is Section 106?"; "What Now? Protecting Historic Properties During Disaster Response"; and "Section 304 and Confidentiality". Visit the eLearning course webpage (e-Learning Courses | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation) to check out these updated courses.

Alaska training:
These trainings are pending a move to Zoom. Please check the event calendar on ACHP for up-to-date information: Event Calendar | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

October 8 - ACHP Section 106 Essentials Training, in-person, Atwood Conference Center, 550 W 7The Ave, Suite 1940, Anchorage, Alaska.
https://www.achp.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/InfoSheet-AnchorageEssentials-8Oct2025_0.pdf

October 9 - ACHP Section 106 Agreements Seminar, in-person, Atwood Conference Center, Anchorage, Alaska
https://www.achp.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/InfoSheet-AnchorageAgreements-9Oct2025_0.pdf



National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF)
The National Trust Preservation Funds grant program has dedicated funding to award to Alaska with a deadline to apply by October 1, 2025. NTPF are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. Applicants must be either a public agency, 501(c) (3), or other nonprofit organization to be considered eligible. More information can be found here: National Trust Preservation Funds: Guidelines & Eligibility | National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Public Projects Alert

Draft Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Guidebook Available for Public Comment
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities’ new guidebook draft for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is available for review and public comment. The guidebook focuses on simplifying the application process for local governments, tribes, transit agencies, non-profits, and schools applying for funding smaller-scale transportation projects. Projects for historical transportation facility preservation and rehabilitation are listed as eligible for this funding source as well. Public review and comment is open until Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. The draft and more information about providing comments is available here: dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/cip/stip/projects/TAP.shtml Comments may be emailed to TAP.dot@alaska.gov.

Section 106 large project consultation in progress:

Graphite One Mine near Nome, USACE

Safer Seward Highway, MP 98.5-118, DOT&PF

Seward to Glenn Connection PEL, DOT&PF

Chilkoot National Historic Trail Comprehensive Trail Plan, NPS

Iditarod National Historic Trail Comprehensive Trail Plan Revision, BLM

Cook Inlet LNG, FERC

Review and compliance agreement development for large projects in progress:

West Susitna Access Road, DOT&PF

Programmatic Agreement

USFS Heritage Program

Amendment 4, Region 10 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, 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 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.

Much like the OHA office, the Heritage Newsletter is entering a stage of transition. We are working on updating our mailing list and delivery system. We will have more information on the future of the newsletter and its delivery soon.

Preservation Calendar

2025

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

2027

MARCH

  • March 3-7 – Sharing Our Knowledge conference, Ketchikan. For more information and volunteer opportunities, contact Joaqlin Estus at jmestus50@gmail.com