Nalemp - native village of atka

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), administering the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) under the Department of Defense Appropriation Act of 2003 (CFDA 12.116), awarded $550,292.71 to the Atka IRA Council on September 26, 2025. This cooperative agreement supports environmental mitigation and restoration activities on Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act-conveyed properties and Indian lands affected by past Department of Defense operations in Atka, Alaska. The award funds the development of environmental prioritization systems, comprehensive environmental impact assessments, and cost estimation for mitigation work addressing environmental remnants such as abandoned structures, debris, and contaminated sites resulting from historical military activities.

The cooperative agreement, with a performance period through September 25, 2026, enables the Atka IRA Council to implement restoration projects and strengthen tribal environmental management capabilities through technical assistance and capacity-building support. These activities specifically address environmental impacts affecting traditional cultures and subsistence activities critical to the Native Village of Atka community. The program recognizes that remote Alaska Native locations often receive lower priority under standard federal cleanup systems, and NALEMP funding ensures that these communities can systematically document, assess, and remediate environmental degradation attributable to past DoD operations.