3300-01-m
DENALI COMMISSION
Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2025 Draft Work Plan
AGENCY: Denali Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Denali Commission (Commission) is an independent Federal agency
based on an innovative federal-state partnership designed to provide critical utilities,
infrastructure and support for economic development and training in Alaska by delivering
federal services in the most cost-effective manner possible. The Commission is required
to develop an annual work plan for future spending which will be published in the
Federal Register, providing an opportunity for a 30-day period of public review and
written comment. This Federal Register notice serves to announce the 30-day opportunity
for public comment on the Denali Commission Draft Work Plan for Federal Fiscal Year
2025 (FY 2025).
DATES: Comments and related material to be received by, July 26, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Denali Commission, Attention: Elinda Hetemi,
550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1230, Anchorage, AK 99501.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elinda Hetemi, Denali Commission,
550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1230, Anchorage, AK 99501. Telephone:907-271-3415. Email:
ehetemi@denali.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Denali Commission’s mission is to partner with tribal, federal, state,
and local governments and collaborate with all Alaskans to improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of government services, to build and ensure the operation and maintenance of
Alaska’s basic infrastructure, and to develop a well-trained labor force employed in a
diversified and sustainable economy.

By creating the Commission, Congress mandated that all parties involved partner
together to find new and innovative solutions to the unique infrastructure and economic
development challenges in America’s most remote communities. Pursuant to the Denali
Commission Act, the Commission determines its own basic operating principles and
funding criteria on an annual federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30) basis. The
Commission outlines these priorities and funding recommendations in an annual work
plan. The FY 2025 Work Plan was developed in the following manner.
ï‚·

At a meeting of the Denali Commissioners the Commissioners voted to adopt the FY
2025 Workplan.

ï‚·

The work plan was published on Denali.gov for review by the public in advance of
public testimony.

ï‚·

A public hearing was held to record public comments and recommendations on the
preliminary draft work plan.

ï‚·

No public comments were received.

ï‚·

he Federal Co-Chair prepared the draft work plan for publication in the Federal
Register providing a 30-day period for public review and written comment. During
this time, the draft work plan will also be disseminated to Commission program
partners including, but not limited to, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the
Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Agriculture – Rural
Utilities Service (USDA/RUS), and the State of Alaska.

ï‚·

At the conclusion of the Federal Register Public comment period Commission staff
will provide the Federal Co-Chair with a summary of public comments and
recommendations, if any, on the draft work plan.

ï‚·

If no revisions are made to the draft, the Federal Co-Chair will provide notice of
approval of the work plan to the Commissioners, and forwards the work plan to the
Secretary of Commerce for approval; or, if there are revisions the Federal Co-Chair

provides notice of modifications to the Commissioners for their consideration and
approval, and upon receipt of approval from Commissioners, forwards the work plan
to the Secretary of Commerce for approval.
ï‚·

The Secretary of Commerce approves the work plan.

ï‚·

The Federal Co-Chair then approves grants and contracts based upon the approved
work plan.

FY 2025 Appropriations Summary
The Commission has historically received federal funding from several sources. The two
primary sources at this time include the Energy & Water Appropriation Bill (“base” or
“discretionary” funds), Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and an
annual allocation from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability (TAPL) fund. The proposed
FY 2025 Work Plan assumes the Commission will receive $15,000,000 of base funds,
which is the amount referenced in the reauthorization of the Commission passed by
Congress in 2016 (ref: Public Law 114-322), $18,000,000 from THUD, less
administrative expenses, and a $2,917,000 TAPL allocation based on discussions with the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Approximately $4,000,000 of the base funds
will be used for administrative expenses and non-project program support. The total base
funding shown in the Work Plan also includes an amount typically available from project
closeouts and other de-obligations that occur in any given year. Approximately $117,000
of the TAPL funds will be utilized for administrative expenses and non-project program
support, leaving $2,800,000 available for program activities. Absent any new specific
direction or limitations provided by Congress these funding sources are governed by the
following general principles, either by statute or by language in the Work Plan itself:
ï‚·

Funds from the Energy & Water Appropriation are eligible for use in all programs.

ï‚·

TAPL funds can only be used for bulk fuel related projects and activities while
THUD funds can only be used for Transportation.

ï‚·

Appropriated funds may be reduced due to Congressional action, rescissions by
OMB, and other federal agency actions.

ï‚·

All investment amounts identified in the work plan, are “up to” amounts, and may be
reassigned to other programs included in the current year work plan, if they are not
fully expended in a program component area or a specific project.

ï‚·

Funds set aside for administrative expenses that subsequently become available, may
be used for program activities included in the current year work plan.

DENALI COMMISSION FY 2025 FUNDING SUMMARY
Source
Available for Program Activities
Energy and Water Funds
$13,000,000
TAPL Funds
$2,800,000
THUD Funds
$17,800,000
Grand Total
$33,600,000
Notes:
1. If the final appropriation is less than indicated the Federal Co-Chair shall reduce investments to balance
the FY 2025 Work Plan.

Energy
Reliability and
Security
Diesel Power
Plants and
Interties
Wind, Hydro,
Biomass, Other
Proven
Renewables and
Emerging
Technologies
Audits, TA, &
Community
Energy
Efficiency
Improvements
RPSU
Maintenance and
Improvement
Projects
Subtotal
Bulk Fuel
Safety and
Security

Base

TAPL

THUD

Total

$3,700,000

$3,700,000

$800,000

$800,000

$400,000

$400,000

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$5,900,000

$5,900,000

New/Refurbished
Facilities
Maintenance and
Improvement
Projects
Subtotal
Village
Infrastructure
Protection
Transportation
Surface
Transportation
Waterfront
Improvements
Subtotal
Sanitation
Village Water,
Wastewater and
Solid Waste
Subtotal
Community
Facilities
Housing
Health and
Wellness
Subtotal
Broadband
Workforce
Development
Energy and Bulk
Fuel
Other
Subtotal
Flexible
Funding
TOTALS

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

$700,000

$700,000

$2,200,000

$2,200,000
$1,500,000

$1,500,000

$13,300,000

$13,300,000

$4,500,000

$4,500,000

$17,800,000

$17,800,000

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

$1,000,000
$500,000

$1,000,000
$500,000

$1,500,000
$250,000

$1,500,000
$250,000

$300,000

$600,000

$900,000

$1,000,000
$1,300,000
$1,050,000

$600,000

1,000,000
$1,900,000
$1,050,000

$13,000,000

$2,800,000

$17,800,000

Authority: Pub. L. 105-277 section 304(b)(1)

Anne Stanislowski,
Administrative Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-13735 Filed: 6/21/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/24/2024]

$33,600,000