COVID News

May 26

The ACHP has extended to July 31, 2020, the normal 30-day period in which the special procedures in 36 C.F.R. 800.12 can be used for implementation of COVID-19-related emergency undertakings. This authorization applies to all federal agencies.

On April 3, the ACHP authorized an extension to May 29 for all federal agencies to use the emergency procedures to implement COVID-19-related emergency undertakings. These procedures expedite the Section 106 review process for any federal agency that proposes to carry out, license, approve, or fund undertakings that respond to a disaster or emergency declared by the President, a tribal government, or the governor of a state, or which respond to other immediate threats to life or property. Considering the likelihood such declarations will remain in place into the foreseeable near future, the ACHP today extended the use of these provisions until July 31 to allow for the ongoing needs of federal agency response.

Please note the section 800.12 emergency procedures can only be used for undertakings that will be implemented in response to a disaster or emergency or that respond to other immediate threats to life or property. Examples of such undertakings for COVID-19 response include but are not limited to new construction or adaptation of existing buildings for testing, treatment, or quarantining; creation of COVID-19 temporary facilities; and development of infrastructure specifically built to serve COVID-19 facilities and services. The expedited procedures in section 800.12 do not apply to non-emergency response or recovery undertakings. It is also important to note that the tolling (pausing) of Section 106 reviews by a State or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Indian tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization does not apply to consultation under these emergency procedures.

Please share any questions you have about this extension with Reid Nelson, Director, Office of Federal Agency Programs at rnelson@achp.gov.

John M. Fowler, Executive Director, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

May 9

IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries support museums and libraries in addressing their communities’ immediate and future needs caused by the pandemic. Projects may focus on preserving jobs, training staff, addressing the digital divide, planning for reopening, or providing technical support and capacity building for digital inclusion and engagement. Applicants are encouraged to prioritize services for high-need communities.

IMLS CARES Act Grants for Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum and Library Services assist tribes and organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians in responding to the urgent and future needs of their communities. Applications focused on digital inclusion, technical support, rehiring or retraining staff, reopening planning, and other pandemic-related priorities are welcomed.

The deadline for submitting applications to either funding opportunity is June 12, 2020, with award announcements anticipated in August.

The official news release can be found at https://www.imls.gov/news/15-million-imls-cares-act-grants-now-available-museum-and-library-services.

May 8

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertain health, financial, and travel forecasts for the fall and winter of 2021, the SHA Board of Directors has decided to postpone the planned SHA 2021 Conference in Lisbon, Portugal to 2023. We are very grateful to Tania Manuel Casimiro and the Lisbon Conference team for all of their work and for their willingness to reschedule.

We will move online in 2021. The SHA 2021 Virtual Conference will be an opportunity to innovate and reimagine the conference format in a time of crisis while still providing members with a chance to share their approaches to research and practice, and to network and learn. While we won’t be able to meet up at the bar and share a drink, the 2021 Conference will offer many of the same valuable experiences that have made our annual gatherings so successful for many years.

Work on a virtual conference has begun, and we’re looking for your input! Members will receive an email shortly with a link to a brief survey that will help us with our planning efforts. Please take a minute to complete the survey.

Information on the SHA 2021 Conference will be sent out as soon as it is available, including the Call for Papers. All information will be posted to the SHA website, so be sure to check the website often.

April 22

ACHP

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) recognizes that many of our partners working remotely are better positioned to engage in remote learning and is therefore pleased to remind you that we offer a variety of distance learning opportunities that may meet your needs.

The ACHP has seven courses available for FREE on the eLearning portal and has just added a 60-minute course, “What Now? Protecting Historic Properties in Disaster Recovery.” It also recently posted an overview of Section 106 highlighting opportunities for Native Hawaiians and Native Hawaiian Organizations to participate in the process. Go to https://www.achp.gov/training/elearning to learn how to access the eLearning courses. Or, if you’ve already created an account, go directly to https://achp.golearnportal.org/ to begin learning today!

In May 2020, we’re offering a FREE Stay-at-Home Webinar Series of four webinars to introduce decision makers, project managers, consulting parties, and others with limited experience to the principle requirements of Section 106 review. The schedule for the series is as follows:

May 7 – 3 pm Eastern time – What is Section 106? A blended learning Q&A
May 14 – 3 pm Eastern time – Defining the Area of Potential Effect
May 21 – 3 pm Eastern time – e106 and Section 106 Documentation
May 28 – 3 pm Eastern time – Planning for Successful Section 106 Agreements

Find out more and register for one or all four of the webinars at https://www.achp.gov/training/webinars.

The ACHP is always working to improve its Section 106 training offerings. If you have any questions or suggestions, please send an email to training@achp.gov. We look forward to you taking advantage of these opportunities.

NEH

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is accepting applications for the NEH CARES: Cultural Organizations program. The purpose of this emergency relief program is to assist institutions and organizations working in the humanities that have been affected by the coronavirus. In keeping with Congress’s intent in enacting the CARES Act, proposals for short-term activities should emphasize retaining or hiring humanities staff. Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, public and 501(c)(3) accredited institutions of higher education, state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. For more information, visit https://www.neh.gov/news/neh-offers-emergency-relief-funding-cultural-institutions-affected-coronavirus. The deadline to apply is May 11, 2020, so do not delay!

April 1

Information on Payroll Protection Program (also available to 501c3 nonprofits).
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) INFORMATION SHEET: BORROWERS
Paycheck Protection Program: Application Form

March 31 Speaker Pelosi’s Toolkit outlining recent legislation aimed to reduce the economic effects of COVID-19
https://www.speaker.gov/sites/speaker.house.gov/files/COVID%20TOOLKIT%203.30.20.pdf

Preservation News

April 3

Advisory Council for Historic Preservation issues extension for use of emergency Section 106 procedures

https://www.achp.gov/index.php/news/achp-issues-extension-use-emergency-section-106-procedures-undertakings-responding-coronavirus

April 2

ACHP letter extending time period when HUD can use the emergency provisons of Section 106 for the review of projects directly responding to emergency and disaster declarations on the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

https://www.achp.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/HUD%20800.12%20extension%20letter%2003272020.pdf