Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing a new rule to allow bicycles on approximately 79.8 miles of multi-use trails in the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. This proposal is part of a comprehensive trail management plan aimed at improving access, accommodating the needs of the growing nearby city of Redding, and reopening trails impacted by the Carr Fire in 2018. The NPS plans to designate these trails for bicycles in a way that balances recreational use with the conservation of natural and cultural resources. Public comments on the proposed rule are being accepted until February 28, 2025.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) of the Interior Department is requesting public comments on renewing a collection of information regarding coal exploration activities. This request aims to gather input on the necessity, timeliness, accuracy, and potential improvements of this information collection. The process affects state governments and mine permittees, requiring them to comply with federal environmental protection standards in coal exploration. Public comments are invited by March 16, 2021, and those submitted will be part of the public record.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is asking for public comments on renewing a paperwork requirement related to coal mining. This requirement involves collecting information from state and tribal governments to ensure compliance with an exemption under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Specifically, it covers cases where a small percentage of coal is extracted alongside other minerals. Public comments on this proposal can be submitted until February 10, 2025.

The National Indian Gaming Commission is updating its rules to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as required by a 2015 federal law. This adjustment aims to keep penalties effective and ensure they still act as a deterrent. The new penalty amount of $65,655 will apply starting January 15, 2025. The adjustments are routine, and the rule change won't significantly impact small businesses or other major aspects of the economy or government operations.

The National Park Service is proposing new rules for using powered micromobility devices, like electric scooters, hoverboards, and Segways, in national parks. These devices will be classified separately from motor vehicles and bikes, and specific regions within parks can be designated for their use. The proposal ensures that these devices aren't allowed in wilderness areas and provides clear guidelines for where and how they can be used, giving park superintendents the flexibility to manage their use. Public comments on this proposed rule are invited until March 17, 2025.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized rules regarding salamanders to protect U.S. ecosystems from the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). These rules affirm the 2016 interim rule that listed 20 genera of salamanders as injurious and add 16 more genera to the list. The regulation prohibits the import and transport of these genera among certain U.S. jurisdictions, with exceptions for purposes like scientific research. This action aims to prevent the introduction and spread of Bsal, which can have devastating effects on native salamander populations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking to renew its information collection process for the Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp contests without any changes. These programs, which began in the 1930s and 1990s respectively, help preserve habitats and promote conservation education through art contests that allow participants to submit duck-themed artwork. The Federal Duck Stamp Contest is open to adults, while the Junior Duck Stamp Contest is for students in kindergarten to grade 12, and both programs have contributed significantly to wildlife habitat conservation efforts. The Service is requesting public comments on the collection process to ensure it minimizes burdens and serves its intended purpose.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced a final rule to adjust civil penalties for inflation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. These adjustments are required annually by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and are intended to maintain the effectiveness of penalties. The rule updates specific penalty amounts and applies to violations of Federal civil statutes. No public comment period or prior notice was required for this adjustment.