Search Results for keywords:"Washoe Tribe of Nevada

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to classify the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. They aim to designate critical habitat areas, particularly in California, to protect these butterflies. Additionally, they plan to allow certain activities, like habitat restoration and conservation efforts, even if they might unintentionally harm some butterflies. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until March 12, 2025, and informational meetings are scheduled to discuss the details further.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for cleanup efforts at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in California, focusing on Area IV and the Northern Buffer Zone. This SEIS will explore new alternatives for soil remediation, as prior efforts have faced challenges like unattainable cleanup standards and false positive results in testing. The DOE seeks public comments on these plans during a 60-day scoping period and will hold two public meetings to gather input and discuss the proposed actions and their potential environmental impacts. The SEIS aims to ensure that the cleanup is thorough and complies with environmental regulations to protect public health and safety.

The Department of Education has announced a notice inviting applications for fiscal year 2025 to establish a National Technical Assistance Center on Transition for Students and Youth with Disabilities. This center aims to help educational and vocational rehabilitation agencies support students with disabilities in successfully transitioning from high school to further education or employment. The goal is to improve graduation rates, reduce dropout rates, and enhance postsecondary outcomes with increased collaboration and resources. Interested parties can apply for funding to help achieve these objectives by following the guidelines and deadlines outlined in the notice.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the US Department of Agriculture has issued a proposed rule recommending changes to pricing in 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs). These proposed amendments update existing formulas for milk composition, surveyed commodity products, and milk pricing categories, among others, to better reflect current market conditions. The changes are aimed at improving the fairness and accuracy of milk pricing across different regions and market classes. The AMS will seek approval from milk producers before implementing any new rules, with the possibility of terminating the order if it doesn't receive enough support.

The Rural Housing Service has issued a final rule to update regulations for the Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program and the SFH Guaranteed Loan Program. This change aims to provide borrowers with more purchase options and enhance the overall experience of these programs. Key updates include allowing the purchase of existing manufactured homes according to safety standards and extending land-lease terms for new energy-efficient homes. The rule also revises definitions and removes some administrative requirements, reflecting public feedback to improve access to affordable housing in rural areas.

The National Park Service (NPS) has revised the rules for right-of-way (ROW) permits, which allow the use of lands and waters they manage for infrastructure like power lines and cell towers. These updates make the NPS's process more similar to other Department of the Interior bureaus, introduce pre-application meetings, and require standardized application forms. The new rules also broaden the ways to determine fair market value and highlight the need for construction permitting, address advances in technology, and align with recent laws. These changes aim to protect park resources while making the process clearer for applicants.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service under the USDA has issued a notice inviting applications for grants under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program for the fiscal year 2021. These grants aim to promote economic development and job creation in rural areas by funding business opportunity and enterprise projects. Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2021, to the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office. Eligibility is limited to public bodies, government entities, Indian Tribes, or nonprofit entities primarily serving rural areas, with strict requirements and a competitive selection process based on specific criteria.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has introduced new rules for evaluating water resources projects, offering specific procedures to implement principles from federal guidelines established for such investments. This rule aims to maximize public benefits by balancing economic, environmental, and social considerations while prioritizing collaboration and public engagement, including with Tribal Nations. The rule will apply to new and significant projects and does not impose new mandates on small entities or Tribal governments. It emphasizes transparency, public participation, and the consideration of climate change and environmental justice in decision-making processes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule to reduce the dust-lead clearance levels in order to lower childhood lead exposure. These levels indicate the acceptable amount of lead residue following lead abatement activities. The new standards lower the clearance levels from 40 micrograms per square foot to 10 micrograms for floors, and from 250 to 100 micrograms for window sills. This change is made to align with updated science and aims to improve children's health by minimizing lead exposure. This rule is effective from March 8, 2021.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is proposing new procedures to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including the addition of new categorical exclusions (CEs). These CEs are actions usually not expected to impact the environment significantly. NIST seeks public input on these draft procedures and the justification for the new CEs by January 10, 2025. The proposal is part of a larger effort to streamline and ensure consistency with environmental regulations.