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Federal Legislation

The federal fiscal year 2020 ended on September 30th.. Congress passed and President Trump signed a Continuing Resolution that funds the government at current levels through December 11th. The House passed a FY21 Department of Interior appropriations bill which provided $136 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, a nearly $18 million increase for the Historic Preservation Fund. The Senate has not taken up appropriation bills.

Historic Preservation Fund:	FY 2020	FY 2021 Admin	FY2021 House	FY2021 Senate
States	$52.675*	$26.9	$55.675	Awaiting
Tribes	13.735	5.7	15.0	action
Underrepresented Communities	.75	-0-	1.0
Civil Rights Movement Grants	15.50	-0-	18.0
Civil Rights - All Americans	2.50	-0-	4.25
Historic Black Colleges	10.00	8.0	10.0
Save America's Treasures Grants	16.00	-0-	25.0
Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization	7.50	-0-	7.5
TOTALS	$118.67	$40.6	$136.425
* Figures are in millions.

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Office of History and Archaeology and Alaska Historical Commission news

COVID 19 Adjustments
OHA employees continue to work remotely. This means that correspondence, phone calls, and the processing of invoices/payments may be delayed.

Please join me in welcoming a new staff member of the Office of History and Archaeology, Rachel Carraway, Natural Resource Technician III, who will start work with the Alaska Heritage Resource Survey in early November. Rachel has two Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Alaska Anchorage, one in geology and one in anthropology.

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: http://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.

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National Park Service

Updates about the overall NPS response to COVID-19, including safety information, are posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

The National Park Service’s proposed rule that changes the National Register process has been submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), virtually unchanged from the 2019 proposed rule. The OIRA step gives federal agencies 90 days to review and comment. Under Executive Order 12866 (a 1993 order covering the regulatory process) OIRA is supposed to meet with any interested party to hear their views on rulemaking, but the importance of listening to the views of “state, local, and tribal governments” is emphasized.

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Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

On August 24, 2020, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) received a request from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue a Program Comment for collocations on "twilight towers." In accordance with Section 800.14(e) of the regulations implementing Section 106, “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR Part 800), FCC would like to develop a tailored process for considering the effects of collocations on towers that were built between March 16, 2001 and March 7, 2005. Currently, telecommunications companies do not use these towers for collocations because FCC cannot confirm that the Section 106 process was completed for the original tower construction. On October 5th, the ACHP members voted to decline to comment on the FCC’s request, but did commit to working with the FCC, should it choose, to develop a revised program comment that better addresses deficiencies in the FCC’s request. Chairman Jorjani’s letter to FCC can be found at https://www.achp.gov/news/achp-commits-working-fcc-solution-twilight-towers.

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.

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National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s PastForward Online 2020, October 27-30, has several sessions free and open to the public. Registration is required. Learn more at SavingPlaces.org/conference. #pastforward20 #preservation #preservationforum

The NTHP recently released a new report entitled “Preserving African American Places: Growing Preservation’s Potential as a Path for Equity” as an initiative of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (AACHAF). The NHTP sees to engage the preservation movement in further conversation and a call to action around a key question: how can preservation be a force for equity and social justice in African American neighborhoods and other communities of color?

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National Preservation Institute news

As a precautionary measure during COVID-19, NPI has temporarily suspended in-person training. The online training initiative 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. Modules available or under development include GIS, Historic Wood Windows, Section 106: The Meaning of Effects, Corridor Development, New Sources of Funding, Native America, Streetscapes, Cultural Landscapes, and additional Section 106 modules.

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Public Projects Alert

Section 106 large project consultation in progress:

USDA Forest Service Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility Improvements: Constructing facility improvements to accommodate visitor growth.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=53780

Estimated comment period October 2020.

USDA Forest Service Nationwide Phasing Programmatic Agreement
Comments due November 20, 2020. Web Link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/heritage/programmatic-agreement

Estimated comment period October 2020.

Pebble Project
The Corps of Engineers released the Final EIS. For more information visit https://pebbleprojecteis.com

Review and compliance agreement development for large projects in progress:

Pebble Project

Programmatic agreement and CRMP

Formerly Used Defense Sites Program

Programmatic agreement

U. S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak

Programmatic Agreement and ICRMP

Kensignton Mine

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 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.

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Preservation Calendar

2020

OCTOBER

• October 28-30 National Trust for Historic Preservation, PastForward, the National Preservation Conference, Miami, FL (NTHP, 202.588.6000 / info@savingplaces.org)
  
  

NOVEMBER

• November 5 Alaska Association for Historic Preservation annual meeting. For more information call 907 929-9870 or email AKPreservation@gmail.com.
  
  

• November 10-11 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Section 106 Essentials. Digital Classroom. Two four-hour sessions on consecutive days. Class size limit – 30 participants. 12:30-4:30pm EST. Registration Fee $350.00. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom.
  
  

• November 12 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Section 106 Agreements Seminar. Digital Classroom. One four-hour session. Class size limit – 30 participants. 12:30-4:30pm EST. Registration Fee $300.00. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom.
  
  

DECEMBER

• December 8-9 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Section 106 Essentials. Digital Classroom. Two four-hour sessions on consecutive days. Class size limit – 30 participants. 12:30-4:30pm EST. Registration Fee $350.00. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom.
  
  

• December 10 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Section 106 Agreements Seminar. Digital Classroom. One four-hour session. Class size limit – 30 participants. 12:30-4:30pm EST. Registration Fee $300.00. To learn more and register, go to www.achp.gov/training/classroom.
  
  

2021

September

• September 22-25 American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) annual meeting. Little Rock. Arkansas. Virtual components and onsite sessions planned. Theme centered around justice. Call for papers deadline Dec 18, 2020. To learn more visit https://aaslh.org/2021-call-for-proposals-now-open/.