NPS Nationwide PA for Cultural Resources Grants/Financial Assistance

Description

Consultation Meeting

Thank you for the continued consultation on the development of a Nationwide PA for the NPS Cultural Resources Grants/Financial Assistance Programs. We have finalized a draft of the agreement to share for a second round of consultation meetings; attached you will find the proposed draft agreement for your review and comment. Key concepts in the draft agreement that incorporate feedback received during the first round of consultation include: 

1. We have added 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. We further clarified certain activities in Appendices B and C and adjusted the proposed process to evaluate a programmatic allowance based on comments received during the initial consultation period.  
3. In Stipulation III, we aim 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).  

NPS will host three virtual consultation meetings on the draft agreement to provide additional background and an opportunity for discussion.  

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 

NPS requests written comments on the proposed draft Nationwide PA are received by February 23, 2024. Comments can be sent by electronic mail to: financial_assistance_pa_comments@nps.gov or via the project website at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/NPACulturalResourcesFA 

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments on this draft or the proposed consultation process, and thanks for your continued engagement.