Interior and National Park Service Announce $3.2 Million in Historic Preservation Grants to U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service this week announced $3,241,210 million in historic preservation grants specifically for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and  the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands.

"The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service are committed to preserving U.S., island, and tribal history heritage," said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. "Fees collected from drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf help fund important conservation tools like these grants. Through valuable partnerships we are able to assist communities across the U.S., tribes, and the U.S.-affiliated islands in the Pacific and Caribbean in ensuring the diverse historic places, culture and traditions that make our country unique are protected for future generations."

“The U.S. territories and the freely associated states are rich in historical sites of both cultural and natural significance such as the Columbus Landing site in the Virgin Islands; the House of Taga in the Northern Mariana Islands; Latte Stone Park in Hagåtña, Guam; Papaloa Petroglyphs, in American Samoa; the Nan Madol Ruins in Pohnpei; Peleliu in Palau; the historic DeBrum Estate on Likiep in the Marshall Islands, and more,” said Doug Domenech, Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs.  “The preservation and protection of historical and cultural resources is vital for our island communities to thrive.”

Administered by the National Park Service, these funds are appropriated annually by Congress from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). Since its inception in 1977, the HPF has provided more than $1.8 billion in grants to states, tribes, local governments, the U.S. insular areas, and non-profit organizations to mitigate the loss of a non-renewable resource and benefit the preservation of other irreplaceable resources.

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees Federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. OIA supports the Secretary's mission of Fulfilling Trust and Insular Responsibilities through balancing efforts and limited resources towards stronger economic and health capacities, and fiscal accountability in the U.S. insular areas.