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Office of History and Archaeology news

Notice: The OHA Education Series presentation originally scheduled for December 12, 2024, titled "OHA Survey Unit 2024 Field Season Results," has been cancelled. However, this presentation will be incorporated into the OHA 2025 Workshop in the spring.

We invite you to join us on February 20, 2025, for our next OHA Education Series webinar, "Alaska and America 250," presented by Alaska State Historian Katie Ringsmuth, PhD.

Alaska Historical Commission
On November 25, 2024, Alaska joined the national effort to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States. Governor Mike Dunleavy, through Administrative Order 357, designated the Alaska Historical Commission, chaired by Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, to coordinate the observance, events, and activities statewide and work with the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission at the national level.

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.: 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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Federal Legislation news

With the current continuing resolution set to expire December 20th, the current thinking is they’ll be another CR of some kind- potentially through January, or perhaps March.

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Department of Interior news

WASHINGTON — At the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit today, Departments of the Interior, Education and Health and Human Services (HHS) released a 10-year National Plan on Native Language Revitalization, which outlines a comprehensive, government-wide strategy to support the revitalization, protection, preservation and reclamation of Native languages. The plan, a joint effort of the agencies, charts a path to help address the United States government’s role in the loss of Native languages across the continental United States, Alaska and Hawai'i.

The National Plan on Native Language Revitalization is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s work to confront the systematic and deliberate campaign by the United States to forcibly assimilate Indigenous peoples and eradicate Native languages and cultures—a campaign extensively documented by Secretary Haaland’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, and formally acknowledged by President Biden in his October 2024 apology to Native communities.  "Indigenous languages are central to our cultures, our life ways, and who we are as people. They connect us to our ancestors, to our homelands, and to our place in the world," said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. "This ambitious plan represents the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to address the wrongs of the past and restore what has been taken from us."

Interior Department Announces $16.45 Billion in Fiscal Year 2024 Energy Revenue
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) announced the disbursement of $16.45 billion in revenues generated in fiscal year 2024 from energy production on federal and Tribal onshore lands, and federal offshore areas.

This year’s overall disbursement is the fourth largest since 1982, with three of the four highest years occurring in the past four years. The disbursements provide funds for states and Tribes to pursue a variety of goals, from the planning, construction, and maintenance of public facilities to conservation goals, including irrigation and hydropower projects, historic preservation initiatives, and efforts to protect public lands.

This year, $1.18 billion was distributed to Tribes and individual Indian mineral owners; $3.09 billion to the Reclamation Fund; $1.01 billion to the Land and Water Conservation Fund; $150 million to the Historic Preservation Fund; $413 million to federal agencies; and $6.32 billion to the U.S. Treasury.

ONRR also disbursed $4.29 billion in fiscal year 2024 funds to 33 states. This revenue was collected from oil, gas, renewable energy, and mineral production on federal lands within the states’ borders and offshore oil and gas tracts in federal waters adjacent to four Gulf of Mexico states’ shores.

The states receiving the highest disbursements based on those activities are: 

New Mexico	$2.88 billion
Wyoming	$590.92 million
Louisiana	$163.47 million
North Dakota	$146.66 million
Texas	$100.74 million
Utah	$93.74 million
Colorado	$89.23 million
Mississippi	$52.60 million
Alabama	$52.14 million
California	$46.46 million
Alaska	$30.58 million
Montana	$22.54 million

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National Park Service news

Historic Preservation article:
Preservation Matters: Disaster-Oil Spills and Cultural Resources, September 2024, is a new article available on the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Program website. This document is a guide for members of the response community responsible for the management and preservation of cultural resources. The information provided is based on research done at the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT).
Preservation Matters: Disasters- Oil Spills and Cultural Resources (U.S. National Park Service)

Grants The National Park Service's Tribal Heritage Grants Program (THG) is now accepting applications for competitive grants. National Park Service’s Tribal Heritage Grants Program focuses on protecting oral histories, traditional cultural practices, sacred and historic places, and enabling the establishment of tribal historic preservation offices. The THG Program is funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and is administered by the NPS. Six-hundred thousand dollars in FY24 funding is available.

Grants are awarded through a competitive process and do not require non-Federal match. Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, Native Alaska Villages/Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations (as defined by 54 U.S.C. § 300309, 54 U.S.C. 300313, and 54 U.S.C. 300314) are eligible to receive THGs for cultural and historic preservation projects. More information and applications for the THG Program via grants.gov P24AS00549.
Applications are due February 27, 2025.

The Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for NPS FY2024 competitive programs will be from 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 when 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

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) recently released a revised draft of the Program Comment on Certain Housing, Building, and Transportation Activities. The proposed Program Comment aims to accelerate historic preservation reviews by providing an alternative path for federal agencies to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) on a broad range of federal projects including housing, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, and climate friendly transportation projects. The ACHP released the first draft of the proposed Program Comment in August and invited public participation. This 2nd round of consultation will run through December15th.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is currently accepting nominations for two separate preservations awards. The Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation is a joint award between the National for Historic Preservation and the ACHP, honoring outstanding federal partnerships that advance the preservation of important historic resources. It celebrates a project or program in which a federal agency and one or more non-federal partners have achieved an exemplary preservation outcome.

Nominations are due by Jan. 10, 2025. Learn more about award eligibility and criteria for this prestigious award and submit your nomination. Apply today!

Additionally, the ACHP and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are now accepting nominations for the 2025 Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. The joint award between the ACHP and HUD recognizes developers, organizations and agencies for projects that successfully advance the goals of historic preservation, while also providing affordable housing, and supporting community revitalization and expanded economic opportunity.

The deadline for nominations is Jan. 22, 2025. Learn more about submitting a nomination and past award winners of the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award. Apply today!

Training
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's annual Preserve the Past, Build for the Future webinar series is back, starting in January 2025. The ACHP sessions, kick off with a comprehensive introduction to the field of historic preservation and conclude with underwater archaeology.

These once a month,75-minute Zoom sessions are perfect for anyone interested in learning more about the preservation field, with expert speakers and engaging content.
Starting January 22, 2025.
Register now.

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Federal Highway Administration news

2024 Byways Grants - Due December 16
The National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) 2024 Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now available!
NSBP 2024 Grants NOFO
Applications for the NSBP 2024 Grants NOFO must be submitted electronically through grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, December 16, 2024.
Opportunity Number: 693JJ324NF00029
Opportunity Name: National Scenic Byways Program-2024
Assistance Listing Number: 20.205

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National Trust for Historic Preservation news

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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American Association for State and Local History

AASLH Now Accepting 2025 Annual Conference Session Proposals: The AASLH 2025 Annual Conference will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 10-13. Session proposals are now being accepted and are due on December 13. The theme of the conference is The American Experiment. As we approach America 250, we history practitioners can help the public at large explore the origins of our civic institutions, think critically about how they’ve changed, and how they will actively shape our nation for the next 250 years. Learn more about the conference.

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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, DOT&PF

Graphite One Mine near Nome

Safer Seward Highway, MP 98.5-118

Review and compliance agreement development for large projects in progress:

Johnson Tract Access

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, 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

2025

FEBRUARY

• February 20 - OHA Education Series Webinar, American’s Pastime in Alaska, State Historian Katie Ringsmuth.
  
  

MARCH

• March 3 - 6 - NCSHPIO Annual Meeting and historic preservation advocacy week, Washington, D.C.
  
  

APRIL

• April 10 - OHA Cultural Resources Workshop. BP Energy Center. Hybrid – in-person and MS Teams. Details to come later.
  
  

MAY

• May 14-17 - The Vernacular Architecture Forum. Annual Meeting, Wilmington, Delaware
  
  

SEPTEMBER

• September 10 - 13 - AASLH annual conference, theme The American Experiment, Cincinnati, OH. Session proposals are now being accepted and are due on December 13. Learn more about the conference.
  
  

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