Search Results for keywords:"U.S. Department of the Interior"

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.

The National Park Service announced its plan to return human remains found at the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Nevada to the descendants or tribal group with the strongest claim. According to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), these remains, identified as Native American, can be claimed by any lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations. The remains are primarily intended for the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada, but other parties can also submit claims based on evidence. If no claims are received by April 20, 2026, the remains will be considered unclaimed.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office (OTAO) has completed its inventory of human remains as required by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). They have determined a cultural affiliation between these remains and certain Indian Tribes, specifically the Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, among others. Requests for repatriation of these remains can be made by tribes mentioned in the notice or others with evidence of cultural affiliation. The repatriation process may begin on or after April 17, 2025, following evaluation of any competing claims.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service is planning to return human remains found at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Nebraska to their rightful descendants, according to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The remains, identified as Native American, were discovered on federal land in 2020. The Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska have priority for claiming the remains. Interested parties must submit their claims by December 5, 2025, or the remains will be considered unclaimed.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced the adoption of a National Park Service (NPS) categorical exclusion for managing invasive species, which will be used by seven other department bureaus. This decision aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of controlling invasive species on federal lands, following proper environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The adopted exclusion, allowing actions such as physical control and use of biological control organisms, means that these bureaus can manage invasive species without requiring a full environmental assessment, unless extraordinary circumstances arise. This step seeks to protect native species and preserve ecosystems across lands managed by these departments.

The U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service issued a notice about their completed inventory of human remains and funerary objects found at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Washington. These remains and objects are affiliated with Native American tribes, specifically the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Repatriation of these remains and objects to the tribes or any proven descendants can begin on or after May 19, 2025. The public can contact Eric Anderson at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for more information or requests for repatriation.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, with help from museums in Alaska, has completed an inventory of human remains and artifacts found on several islands in Alaska. They determined that these remains and objects are culturally connected to Native American tribes living in Atka, Alaska. The agency plans to return these items to the rightful tribe on or after April 18, 2025. Requests for repatriation can be submitted by the tribes mentioned in the notice or by others who can prove a cultural connection.