Document 6RRO4qOJKQDjomZkeOyx9MpN1

From: "Higgins, Ashley (Lankford)" <Ashley_Higgins@lankford.senate.gov> To: "Whitehead, Cara" <cara_whitehead@ios.doi.gov> Cc: "Dankert, Charles M" <charles_dankert@ios.doi.gov>, "Brandon, Andrea L" <andrea_brandon@ios.doi.gov> Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] NPS Disaster Funding Inquiry Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2025 21:58:48 +0000 Importance: Normal Wonderful! Thank you so much for tracking this down Cara! From: Whitehead, Cara <cara_whitehead@ios.doi.gov> Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 9:45 AM To: Higgins, Ashley (Lankford) <Ashley_Higgins@lankford.senate.gov> Cc: Dankert, Charles M <charles_dankert@ios.doi.gov>; Brandon, Andrea L <andrea_brandon@ios.doi.gov> Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] NPS Disaster Funding Inquiry Good morning, Ashley, I have good news to report to you this morning. The NPS Historic Preservation Fund grant manager is meeting with the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office today and will explain the NOFO process. The legislation, PL 118-158, enacted on 12/21/25, does not specify any particular entities, cities, counties, or states. Instead, it makes disaster funds under the Historic Preservation Fund "available for areas that have received a major disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)." Sulphur, Oklahoma, may be within one of these eligible areas and will need to apply for funding once the NOFO is issued. The Public Law text is provided below for reference. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND For an additional amount for "Historic Preservation Fund", $50,000,000, to remain available until expended, for necessary expenses related to the consequences of natural disasters occurring in and prior to calendar year 2024, including costs to States, Tribes, and territories necessary to complete compliance activities required by section 306108 of title 54, United States Code, and costs needed to administer the program: Provided, That funds appropriated under this heading in this Act shall be used for historic and cultural resource preservation work that meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines as published in the Federal Register (Vol. 48, No. 190, September 29, 1983), to include Reconstruction of National Register listed or eligible sites: Provided further, That grants using funds appropriated under this heading in this Act shall only be available for areas that have received a major disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.): Provided further, That such grants shall not be subject to a non-Federal matching requirement: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Sierra Club v. Dept of Interior - 3:25-cv-05375-PHK 0000204 SC_EVERSPLIT0013170 Deficit Control Act of 1985. Have a wonderful weekend! Best regards, Cara/ WhIteheath Director Office of Grants Management U.S. Department of the Interior b 6 From: Higgins, Ashley (Lankford) <Ashley Higgins@lankford.senate.gov> Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 6:19 PM To: Whitehead, Cara <cara whitehead@ios.doi.gov> Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] NPS Disaster Funding Inquiry Thank you! From: Whitehead, Cara <cara whiteheadPios.doi.gov> Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 6:07 PM To: Higgins, Ashley (Lankford) <Ashley HigginsPlankford.senate.gov> Cc: Dankert, Charles M <charles dankert@ios.doi.gov>; Brandon, Andrea L <andrea Oluwarotimi M <oluwarotimi abimbola@ios.doi.gov> Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] NPS Disaster Funding Inquiry brandon@ios.doi.gov>; Abimbola, Good afternoon, Ashley, Thank you for the additional information. I will double check with NPS and get back to you. Have a good evening! Best regards, Cara/ WhIteheath Director Office of Grants Management U.S. Department of the Interior From: Higgins, Ashley (Lankford) <Ashley HigginsPlankford.senate.gov> Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 5:38 PM To: Whitehead, Cara <cara whitehead@ios.doi.gov> Cc: Dankert, Charles M <charles dankert@ios.doi.gov>; Brandon, Andrea L <andrea Oluwarotimi M <oluwarotimi abimbola@ios.doi.gov> Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] NPS Disaster Funding Inquiry brandon@ios.doi.gov>; Abimbola, Thank you Cara & Charlie! Our state Historic Preservation Office is telling us that some disaster funding was caught up in the 90-day pause for new funding. I guess there was disaster funds earmarked for Sulphur, Oklahoma through the Historic Preservation Fund that was approved in the CR. I'm not sure if the state office is confusing the funds with this future NOFO for disaster declarations? Sierra Club v. Dept of Interior - 3:25-cv-05375-PHK 0000205 SC_EVERSPLIT0013171 From: Whitehead, Cara <cara whiteheadPios.doi.goy> Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2025 1:32 PM To: Higgins, Ashley (Lankford) <Ashley HigginsPlankford.senate.goy> Cc: Dankert, Charles M <charles dankert@ios.doi.gov>; Brandon, Andrea L <andrea Oluwarotimi M <oluwarotimi abimbola@ios.doi.gov> Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] NPS Disaster Funding Inquiry brandon@ios.doi.gov>; Abimbola, Good afternoon, Ashley, Thank you for your inquiry about the disaster funding. Charlie Dankert asked me to respond to you on his behalf regarding your inquiry about the National Park Service (NPS) aid related to a wildfire and tornadoes in Oklahoma. I consulted with the NPS Comptroller's office to obtain the status of the funding below. The funding for Oklahoma is not currently part of the grant funding freeze. No specific amount of grant funding was appropriated for Oklahoma in the American Relief Act, 2025 (P.L. 118-158), rather funding was appropriated "for necessary expenses related to the consequences of natural disasters occurring in and prior to calendar year 2024, including costs to States, Tribes, and territories necessary to complete compliance activities required by section 306108 of title 54, United States Code, and costs needed to administer the program". NPS intends to issue a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to make funds available for projects in areas with major disaster declarations. The NOFO will be submitted for the DOI Senior Leadership review process once the program has finalized the review in the next few weeks. Senator Lankford's constituent will be able to find the NOFO, once published, on Grants.gov. The NPS program is Assistance Listing 15.957 - Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund. For additional information about the program, they can contact the grant program officer, Megan Brown, Chief State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants, NPS Lb 6) Dr megan brown@nps.gov. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. Have a great day! Best regards, Ca.ra./ WhItehect,th Director Office of Grants Management U.S. Department of the Interior b 6 From: Dankert, Charles M <charles dankertPios.doi.goy> Sent: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 10:56 AM To: Brandon, Andrea L <andrea brandon@ios.doi.gov> Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] NPS Disaster Funding Inquiry Hi Andrea -- Can your team please look into this and report back on the status of any impacted funds? Charlie Dankert Senior Advisor to the Secretary, exercising the delegated authority of AS-PMB b 6 Sierra Club v. Dept of Interior - 3:25-cv-05375-PHK 0000206 SC_EVERSPLIT0013172