Nalemp

The Native Village of Gambell, doing business as the I R A Council, received a $743,108.50 cooperative agreement award from the Department of Defense (Defense Or Civilian: Defense) under the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP), authorized by the Department of Defense Appropriation Act of 2003 (CFDA 12.116). The award, dated September 26, 2025, with a completion date of September 24, 2027, supports environmental mitigation and restoration activities addressing past and present Department of Defense operations on Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act-conveyed properties in Gambell, Alaska.

Under this cooperative agreement, the awardee will develop prioritization systems for environmental remediation, conduct comprehensive environmental impact assessments, estimate costs for mitigation work, and implement restoration projects on tribal lands affected by historical Defense Department activities. The program emphasizes addressing environmental impacts to traditional cultures and subsistence activities, with technical assistance and capacity-building components to strengthen the tribe's environmental management capabilities. These activities align with NALEMP's core mission of remediating environmental remnants such as abandoned structures, debris, and contaminated sites that may otherwise receive lower priority under standard federal cleanup systems due to remote location and low population density.