Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The National Park Service, under the Interior Department, has issued a notice about the Ohio History Connection finishing its inventory of human remains and related funerary objects as required by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). This notice determines cultural affiliations between the remains and a specific list of Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. The human remains, representing a minimum of 1,399 individuals and over 4,600 associated objects, originate from various archaeological sites in Wood County, Ohio. Repatriation of these remains and objects to the affiliated tribes may begin on or after April 16, 2025, pending any written requests from descendant communities.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District (USACE Tulsa) plans to handle human remains and funerary objects uncovered from Federal or Tribal lands according to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The Chickasaw Nation has the first claim to these remains and objects, which were discovered at the old Willis Cemetery site. If no additional claims are received by January 20, 2026, they will be deemed unclaimed. Interested parties, such as descendants or tribes, are encouraged to contact the USACE Tulsa by February 18, 2025, if they wish to claim these remains and objects.

The California State University, Sacramento plans to return a cultural item to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians as part of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The item is a baby cradle basket made in the 1950s by a member of the tribe, and efforts will be taken to ensure its proper repatriation by April 17, 2025. People or organizations with claims related to this item can submit repatriation requests to the authorized representative. If there are multiple requests, the university will decide the rightful claimant.

In line with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Florida Museum of Natural History has created an inventory of human remains and associated objects. These items have been linked culturally to Native American groups, namely the Seminole Tribe of Florida and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The remains and artifacts come from two Florida sites—Waddell's Mill and Marine Street. Repatriation of these items is scheduled to begin after February 18, 2025, with formal requests considered by the museum.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests plans to return human remains and funerary items to descendants, an Indian Tribe, or a Native Hawaiian organization, in line with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These remains and items, found in Navajo County, Arizona, have cultural ties to the Hopi of Arizona, Pueblo of Acoma, and Zuni Tribe. Claims for these items are accepted until January 20, 2026. If there are multiple claims, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will decide who receives them based on evidence.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the release of a final environmental impact statement regarding a habitat conservation plan created by the Oregon Department of State Lands. This plan seeks to obtain permits allowing incidental harm to three threatened species: the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet, and the Oregon Coast coho salmon. The permits would support research and management activities in the Elliott State Research Forest in Oregon for 80 years. They include steps to minimize and mitigate impacts, with ongoing monitoring and adaptive management strategies guided by the plan's conservation goals.

The Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs approved the Shawnee Tribe's new leasing regulations under the HEARTH Act, allowing them to lease their lands for various purposes like business, educational, and cultural activities without needing further approval from the Secretary of the Interior. This approval aims to give tribes more control over their lands and help them develop their economies. The rules also state that state and local taxes cannot be applied to improvements or activities on these lands, although the Shawnee Tribe might levy their own taxes. The Federal Government continues to support the tribes in managing and monitoring these leases.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service at the Hoosier National Forest plans to return human remains and funerary objects to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. These items, found at a site in Indiana, are associated with Native American ancestry and include bone fragments, a bear canine tooth, and a shell bead. The process follows the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and claims must be made by March 19, 2026, or they become unclaimed. The National Park Service oversees these actions but is not responsible for identifying the remains.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects. UAB has determined that there is a cultural link between these remains and objects and certain Native American tribes, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, among others. The items are eligible for repatriation starting April 16, 2025, to these tribes or other eligible requestors who can prove a cultural connection. The National Park Service has published this notice as part of its administrative duties, but the responsibility for the determinations rests with UAB.

The Bureau of Land Management has announced a public meeting for the Missouri Basin Resource Advisory Council. This meeting will take place virtually on January 16, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time. The council, which advises on public land management in parts of Montana and the Dakotas, will discuss various topics, including district and field office reports, recreation site business plans, and provide a period for public comments. Attendees need to register beforehand, and requests for accommodations should be made 14 days prior to the meeting.