Search Results for keywords:"Bureau of Reclamation"

The Bureau of Reclamation, part of the Interior Department, is seeking to renew approval for collecting information from people visiting their recreational areas. This effort aims to gather up-to-date data on visitor use to improve recreation programs. The agency is inviting public comments on this proposed information collection, which involves a survey conducted twice a year across various sites. The feedback collected will help the Bureau to address visitor needs and ensure the recreation facilities meet current demands.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation has announced the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These remains and objects are culturally affiliated with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice, specifically noting a connection to the Modoc Nation and the Klamath Tribes. The repatriation of these remains may occur on or after April 17, 2025. Reclamation invites written requests for repatriation from the tribes, organizations, or any lineal descendant who has evidence of cultural affiliation with the remains.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has received an application from Freeport Minerals for a survival permit supported by the Eagle Creek Multi-Species Conservation Benefit Agreement in Greenlee and Graham Counties, Arizona. This plan aims to protect endangered species such as the spikedace, loach minnow, and Gila chub, and the threatened narrow-headed gartersnake by constructing a fish barrier on Eagle Creek to prevent invasion by non-native species. The public is invited to comment on this proposal by February 3, 2025, and the documents are available online for review. The project is a collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation, which will help with the barrier's design and maintenance.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, has identified a cultural connection between certain funerary objects and the Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation, as part of its responsibilities under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The inventory consists of a cedar wood stake and a vial of wood fibers from site 45ST118 on federal land within the Spokane Indian Reservation. These objects, housed at Washington State University, are available for repatriation starting January 17, 2025. If multiple requests for repatriation are received, the Bureau's Region 9 will determine the most appropriate requestor.

The Interior Department has issued a Public Land Order that revokes a previous withdrawal of certain lands near Walker Lake in Nevada, which were reserved for the Bureau of Reclamation's Truckee-Carson Project. Since 109.60 acres of these lands are no longer needed for the project, they have been returned to the public domain. Additionally, the order permanently withdraws and transfers 173.25 acres of land, which includes part of the previously released lands and additional public lands, into trust as an addition to the Walker River Indian Reservation for the Walker River Paiute Tribe. This action is authorized by federal laws, including Public Law 74-748 from 1936.

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation has completed an inventory of Native American human remains and determined a cultural connection with the Mescalero Apache Tribe from New Mexico. Under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, these remains, discovered in Texas, may be repatriated starting April 18, 2025. Any interested Native tribes or direct descendants can request repatriation, and if multiple requests are made, the department will decide the right requestor. The notice ensures compliance with legal and respectful handling of Native American ancestral remains.

The Bureau of Reclamation has announced a new interest rate of 3.00% for fiscal year 2025, to be used by federal agencies in planning and evaluating water and land resources. This rate, which is higher than the previous year's rate of 2.75%, reflects changes based on the average yield of long-term U.S. Treasury securities. All government agencies must apply this rate for calculating future benefits and costs in such planning efforts. This change ensures consistency with federal rules that set limits on rate changes from year to year.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, as Co-Lead Agencies, have announced an extension of the scoping period for the Columbia River System Operations environmental review. This period will now end on May 9, 2025, instead of the original March date. In addition, virtual public meetings have been rescheduled for the week of April 7, 2025, to engage with federal and state agencies, Native American Tribes, local governments, and the public about the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement process. Comments and input can be submitted via mail or email and will be made publicly available.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office (OTAO) has completed its inventory of human remains as required by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). They have determined a cultural affiliation between these remains and certain Indian Tribes, specifically the Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, among others. Requests for repatriation of these remains can be made by tribes mentioned in the notice or others with evidence of cultural affiliation. The repatriation process may begin on or after April 17, 2025, following evaluation of any competing claims.

The Bureau of Land Management, part of the Interior Department, has issued a public land order that partially revokes two withdrawals from 1928, which were initially set aside for the Avalon Reservoir Carlsbad Project in New Mexico. These lands, covering 335.25 acres, are no longer needed for their original purpose. As a result, the lands will be open for new uses under public land laws, while still respecting existing rights. This order will take effect on January 7, 2025, allowing the lands to potentially be sold or transferred out of federal control.