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Development of a Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Cultural Resources Financial Assistance
National Park Service - Washington Office » Development of a Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Cultural Resources Financial Assistance » Document List
The National Park Service (NPS) Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Directorate provides Federal financial assistance to advance its mission in the protection and interpretation of the nation's heritage. Congress authorized NPS to provide Federal financial assistance to States, Tribes, local governments, and other partners to advance the purposes of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) among other similar purposes. Projects, activities, or programs that are carried out with Federal financial assistance are considered undertakings (36 CFR § 800.16(y)) requiring compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 306108).
NPS proposes to develop a Nationwide Programmatic Agreement (Nationwide PA) that creates an efficient and consistent Section 106 process for its cultural resources financial assistance undertakings. The proposed Nationwide PA will include cultural resources activities that are considered undertakings under Section 106 within its grant programs and cooperative agreements. NPS is hosting virtual consultation meetings with federally recognized Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and consulting parties as part of the Nationwide PA development process.
DECEMBER 2023 UPDATE: DRAFT AGREEMENT
NPS initiated consultation on this proposal with a draft outline on May 31, 2023. Initially, NPS hosted five virtual consultation meetings from June 29-July 18, 2023 and requested initial comments by August 17, 2023. Several parties expressed interest in reviewing a full draft of the agreement during consultation meetings and in written correspondences. Accordingly, NPS moved to develop a draft agreement informed by the initial round of consultation and feedback received in both verbal and written correspondences.
The draft agreement is available for download in the "Document List" to the left. Key concepts in the draft agreement that incorporate feedback received during the first round of consultation include:
1. Additional details about the scope of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) related undertakings in Appendix A of the draft agreement. The Nationwide PA would only address NAGPRA undertakings when NPS is providing Federal financial assistance through the National NAGPRA Program's two grants programs.
2. NPS further clarified certain activities in Appendices B and C. Additionally, NPS adjusted the proposed process to evaluate a programmatic allowance based on comments received during the initial consultation period.
3. In Stipulation III, NPS aims to clarify which recipients of these financial assistance programs would be authorized to carry out Section 106 reviews. For all other recipients, NPS would continue to carry out the Section 106 process.
Additionally, the NPS is proposing one additional grant program to be included under the proposed Nationwide PA, the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Development Grant Program (20 U.S.C. § 4441).
CONSULTATION
NPS will host three virtual consultation meetings on the draft agreement to provide additional background and an opportunity for discussion. Please register in advance for any consultation session you plan to attend.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices
2:00 - 3:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/256287ff-0bd6-4b9a-8df8-31aacc4e7147@0693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Tribal Nations, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian organizations
1:45 - 3:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/96c11eef-f653-4d6a-98e7-aec1a40a9ee9@0693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
All Consulting Parties
2:00 - 3:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9d3bbd7-d89e-4c14-9d8c-725c1b166b8c@0693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494
SUBMIT COMMENTS
The NPS invites comments on the proposed agreement. Comments may be submitted online by clicking the "Open for Comment" link on this page and selecting the "Draft Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Cultural Resources Grants and Financial Assistance 2023-1130" file.
This action will open the comment submission screen. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via email at financial_assistance_pa_comments@nps.gov.
The deadline for submitting comments is February 23, 2024.
NPS proposes to develop a Nationwide Programmatic Agreement (Nationwide PA) that creates an efficient and consistent Section 106 process for its cultural resources financial assistance undertakings. The proposed Nationwide PA will include cultural resources activities that are considered undertakings under Section 106 within its grant programs and cooperative agreements. NPS is hosting virtual consultation meetings with federally recognized Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and consulting parties as part of the Nationwide PA development process.
DECEMBER 2023 UPDATE: DRAFT AGREEMENT
NPS initiated consultation on this proposal with a draft outline on May 31, 2023. Initially, NPS hosted five virtual consultation meetings from June 29-July 18, 2023 and requested initial comments by August 17, 2023. Several parties expressed interest in reviewing a full draft of the agreement during consultation meetings and in written correspondences. Accordingly, NPS moved to develop a draft agreement informed by the initial round of consultation and feedback received in both verbal and written correspondences.
The draft agreement is available for download in the "Document List" to the left. Key concepts in the draft agreement that incorporate feedback received during the first round of consultation include:
1. Additional details about the scope of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) related undertakings in Appendix A of the draft agreement. The Nationwide PA would only address NAGPRA undertakings when NPS is providing Federal financial assistance through the National NAGPRA Program's two grants programs.
2. NPS further clarified certain activities in Appendices B and C. Additionally, NPS adjusted the proposed process to evaluate a programmatic allowance based on comments received during the initial consultation period.
3. In Stipulation III, NPS aims to clarify which recipients of these financial assistance programs would be authorized to carry out Section 106 reviews. For all other recipients, NPS would continue to carry out the Section 106 process.
Additionally, the NPS is proposing one additional grant program to be included under the proposed Nationwide PA, the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Development Grant Program (20 U.S.C. § 4441).
CONSULTATION
NPS will host three virtual consultation meetings on the draft agreement to provide additional background and an opportunity for discussion. Please register in advance for any consultation session you plan to attend.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices
2:00 - 3:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/256287ff-0bd6-4b9a-8df8-31aacc4e7147@0693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Tribal Nations, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian organizations
1:45 - 3:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/96c11eef-f653-4d6a-98e7-aec1a40a9ee9@0693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
All Consulting Parties
2:00 - 3:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9d3bbd7-d89e-4c14-9d8c-725c1b166b8c@0693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494
SUBMIT COMMENTS
The NPS invites comments on the proposed agreement. Comments may be submitted online by clicking the "Open for Comment" link on this page and selecting the "Draft Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Cultural Resources Grants and Financial Assistance 2023-1130" file.
This action will open the comment submission screen. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via email at financial_assistance_pa_comments@nps.gov.
The deadline for submitting comments is February 23, 2024.