Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) in Florida and South Carolina. This involves revising maps to add and remove certain areas based on their development status and suitability to be coastal barriers. The proposed changes will impact several counties, including the addition of new units and the adjustment of existing boundaries, and the public is invited to review and comment on these proposed modifications. Final recommendations will be submitted to Congress after considering public input and further evaluations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to sell 11 parcels of public land, totaling 89.35 acres, in the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, through a modified competitive sale process. Each parcel will be sold for at least its fair market value, and interested parties must register and participate in an online auction via the EnergyNet website starting March 18, 2025. The sale is governed by multiple federal laws and regulations, and buyers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and securing necessary approvals for land use. The sale integrates environmental considerations to ensure compliance with relevant environmental laws.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has approved changes to Wyoming's regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. These changes allow for the disposal of decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers as backfill in surface coal mining operations. The amendment aims to address the disposal challenges posed by the large number of wind turbine components while ensuring compliance with existing environmental standards. The rule will become effective on February 12, 2025, and does not impact air or water quality standards, so no further Environmental Protection Agency concurrence was needed.

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.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing new hunting regulations for migratory game birds for the 2025-26 season. These regulations are part of an annual process where they set general guidelines, called frameworks, within which individual states can decide specifics like hunting season dates. The proposal includes various regulatory alternatives, particularly for duck hunting, and potential changes to the system of zones and split seasons. The Service is also exploring a new administrative process to streamline regulation, aiming to increase efficiency and save costs while maintaining conservation goals. Public comments are encouraged on all aspects of the proposal.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is asking for public comments on its plan to renew an information collection related to State regulatory authority on coal mining inspections. This is part of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which aims to minimize the burden of reporting by the public. They are gathering feedback on whether the information collection is necessary, if it will be processed timely, and ways to improve its quality and clarity. Comments are due by February 4, 2025, and the information gathered will help ensure compliance with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

The notice publishes an amendment to the Liquor Ordinance of the Chippewa Cree Tribe on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation in Montana. The amendment arises from an agreement between the Tribe and the State of Montana to have a consistent tax level for alcoholic beverage sales both inside and outside the reservation. This aims to minimize legal disputes and share tax revenue effectively between the Tribe and the State. The ordinance mandates the Tribe to impose taxes matching Montana's liquor excise and license taxes for alcoholic beverages sold within the reservation's boundaries.

The final rule from the United States Department of the Interior updates how the Federal government acknowledges Indian Tribes by allowing previously denied petitioners a chance to re-petition. This change responds to court decisions that found the prior re-petition ban to be arbitrary. Under the new rule, petitioners have five years to show new evidence or changes in regulations that could alter previous denial outcomes, though re-petitioning is still limited by certain conditions to balance fairness and finality interests. The rule aims to enhance fairness in recognizing Tribes while maintaining efficient administrative processes.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has published a notice about amendments to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's Liquor Ordinance. These changes, effective from March 21, 2025, update the rules for selling alcohol within the community, covering both on-sale and off-sale transactions. The amendments provide regulations on licensing, operation, and management of liquor sales on Tribally-owned property, including compliance with state and federal laws. The Community's Business Council plays a key role in overseeing on-sale and off-sale liquor operations and reporting to the General Council.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing changes to streamline the process for granting rights-of-way on FWS-managed lands. The proposed rule aims to align FWS's processes with other bureaus by requiring a standard application form, allowing electronic submissions, introducing pre-application meetings, and offering flexible methods to determine fair market value. These changes are intended to reduce the time and costs for both applicants and FWS while ensuring compatibility with land management objectives and compliance with applicable laws.