Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to the listing and management of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. They intend to redefine the grizzly bear's geographic boundaries as a distinct population segment (DPS) and retain its threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal aims to promote conservation by clarifying areas suitable for grizzly bears, including revisions to protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act. Public comments on the proposed changes will be accepted until March 17, 2025, along with multiple public informational meetings and hearings scheduled in early 2025.

The National Park Service has announced that the National Park System Advisory Board will hold a virtual meeting on March 19, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. The meeting's purpose is to discuss final recommendations regarding Executive Order 14121, which focuses on recognizing and honoring women's history, along with other relevant topics. The public is invited to attend and may submit written comments or request to speak during the meeting. People needing special accommodations, like sign language interpreters, should contact the designated officer in advance.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, plans to return human remains and funeral items from Federal or Tribal lands to their rightful Native American or Hawaiian organizations, as per the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). If no ownership claims for these items are made by January 20, 2026, they will be considered unclaimed. The Kaw Nation in Oklahoma is given priority for receiving these items. Disposition can start after February 18, 2025, and any competing claims will be assessed by the Tulsa District to determine the rightful recipient.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is seeking public comments on a study about predicting how well oil from a wellhead will burn using a detailed computer model. This study, known as OSRR 1063, assesses the efficiency of burning oil in specific situations, and BSEE is conducting a peer review to ensure the study's scientific and technical accuracy. They invite responses to specific questions about the study's assumptions, methods, and findings. Comments can be submitted electronically or by mail until February 8, 2021, and should focus on the study's scientific content rather than policy issues.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the U.S. Department of the Interior announced a public meeting for the Alaska Resource Advisory Council (RAC) set for February 12 and 13, 2025. The meeting, which will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, and offer virtual participation, will cover topics such as land use planning, strategic planning, and tribal relations. The public is welcome to attend and offer comments, and a period for public feedback is scheduled on both days. Comments may include personal information, which might be made public, though commenters can request their information be withheld.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to designate critical habitats for four species of freshwater mussels: the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox, and spectaclecase. These designations spread across 17 states in the United States, covering approximately 3,974 river miles. The critical habitats are aimed at protecting key environmental features essential for the mussels' survival, such as suitable water flow, quality, and host fish presence. The agency is inviting comments on this proposal until February 11, 2025, and has also released an economic analysis regarding the designations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has updated its procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to include a new categorical exclusion (CX) for certain geothermal resource confirmation activities. This exclusion applies to activities like drilling to confirm a geothermal resource, provided they do not involve resource extraction and meet specific conditions, such as limiting surface disturbance to 20 acres and adhering to reclamation guidelines. This update aims to streamline approval processes while still protecting environmental resources, but it does not apply to geothermal power plant operations, which will undergo further review. Public feedback was considered, and changes were made to clarify the scope and requirements of the CX.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a new information collection related to their concessions program, as part of their efforts to reduce paperwork and gather comments from the public. This program involves private businesses and nonprofits managing recreation facilities within National Wildlife Refuges. They aim to collect information to ensure operations minimize wildlife disturbance, offer high-quality visitor experiences, and comply with financial and management requirements. Comments are invited from the public until February 3, 2021, focusing on the necessity, accuracy, and ways to improve the information collection process.

This notice from the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management announces a Public Land Order that withdraws 39.6 acres of National Forest System lands in Siskiyou County, California, from mining under U.S. mining laws for 20 years. This is done to protect cultural and historic resources at the Schwartz and Leff Administrative Site along the North Fork of the Salmon River in the Klamath National Forest. The withdrawal does not affect leasing under other mineral or geothermal leasing laws and will expire in 20 years unless extended.

The Shelburne Museum in Vermont plans to return seven cultural items to Native American tribes, as stated in a notice following the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These include items like moccasins and ceremonial objects that have ties to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma. The museum's decisions are based on consultations and evidence, and they have provided contact information for others who may want to reclaim these items. Repatriation could happen after May 19, 2025.