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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a rule to list several Caribbean skink species as endangered or threatened. The Puerto Rican skink, Lesser Virgin Islands skink, and Virgin Islands bronze skink are proposed as endangered, while the Culebra skink is proposed as threatened. The proposal also includes designating critical habitats for these species to aid in their conservation. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until February 18, 2025.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a final rule to change how Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area boundaries are defined, making them more similar to those used for General Schedule (GS) locality pay areas. This rule, effective October 1, 2025, and impacting about 10% of FWS employees, aims to address pay disparities by reducing the number of FWS wage areas and aligning them more closely with GS locality pay areas. It is based on recommendations from the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) and is expected to result in pay increases for some workers while others may see little change or enter pay retention due to the restructuring.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These remains and objects, linked to various locations like Atka Island, Agattu Island, and Tanaga Island in Alaska, are culturally affiliated with Native American groups, particularly the Native Village of Atka. The notice outlines that eligible Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations can request the repatriation of the remains and objects. Repatriation may begin after April 18, 2025, following consideration of any potentially competing requests.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary rule establishing a safety zone in waters near the Glen Island Approach Bridge in Long Island Sound, New Rochelle, NY, due to construction activities. This rule, effective from December 2, 2024, to May 27, 2027, is necessary to protect people and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the bridge's rehabilitation. During active construction periods, unauthorized persons and vessels are prohibited from entering the designated safety zone. The public is invited to comment on this rule by March 3, 2025, with the Coast Guard committed to maintaining transparent communication through platforms like Local Notice to Mariners.

The National Park Service is asking for electronic feedback on properties nominated before February 22, 2025, for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Comments should be sent by April 1, 2025, to the provided email, with postal options also available. The list includes properties from various states, such as Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles, CA, and Triplett High and Graded School in Mount Jackson, VA. Submissions are evaluated based on significance, and personal info in comments may be publicly disclosed.

The National Park Service is inviting public comments on properties that have been nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places before January 23, 2021. The agency is requesting these comments to be submitted electronically by February 18, 2021. The document lists properties from various states like Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Virginia, mentioning specific historic districts, bridges, and buildings being considered for the Register. They also note a request for the removal of one property in Nebraska and additional documentation for a district in Virginia.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed a rule regarding the incidental taking of marine mammals during the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion Project. The Hampton Roads Connector Partners (HRCP) requested this authorization for expected disturbances to marine mammals over five years (2021-2026) due to construction activities like pile driving. NMFS outlines regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), including mitigation and monitoring measures to minimize impact, and invites public comments on the proposal. The rule includes provisions for issuing letters of authorization, monitoring, reporting, and adaptive management to ensure the protection of marine mammals during the project's duration.

The United States Department of Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has decided to take 397.77 acres of land in the City of Pine Island, Minnesota, into trust for the Prairie Island Indian Community. This area, known as the Elk Run Site, will be used for gaming and other purposes. The acquisition is being made under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and fulfills all necessary Departmental requirements. The legal details and descriptions of the land parcels involved are provided to comply with federal regulations.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is granting an experimental fishing permit to the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA). This permit allows them to use tori lines, which are bird scaring devices, in their deep-set longline fishing operations in Hawaii to see if these can help with conservation and management without using other bird-deterrent methods usually required. The permit is valid from January 27, 2021, to January 26, 2022, unless changed or canceled sooner. This experiment is part of a broader effort to understand better how these particular fishing practices affect seabirds.

The National Park Service (NPS) is suggesting changes to the rules about which motor vehicles can drive on the beaches and oversand routes of Assateague Island National Seashore. They want to remove outdated requirements about vehicle weight, ground clearance, and size, which were made in 1976 and are seen as no longer necessary. NPS believes these changes will not harm the environment and will make it easier for more people to visit while still keeping safety and conservation in mind. Public comments are invited on these changes until March 18, 2025.