Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, as Co-Lead Agencies, have announced an extension of the scoping period for the Columbia River System Operations environmental review. This period will now end on May 9, 2025, instead of the original March date. In addition, virtual public meetings have been rescheduled for the week of April 7, 2025, to engage with federal and state agencies, Native American Tribes, local governments, and the public about the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement process. Comments and input can be submitted via mail or email and will be made publicly available.

The Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) of the Department of the Interior is making changes to its regulations to improve the hearings and appeals process. These updates aim to make procedures more efficient, reflect changes in the law, and incorporate modern technology like electronic filing and case management systems. They are meant to help both the people involved in these cases and the department work more effectively, ensuring that decisions are reviewed quickly and fairly. The new regulations will be effective from February 10, 2025, and public comments on these changes can be submitted until March 11, 2025.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Riley County Historical Society and Museum in Manhattan, Kansas, intends to return 15 cultural items classified as unassociated funerary objects to Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. These items, including brass bells and shell beads, were originally collected from a Native American grave at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, by Elmer E. “Peg” Walter, likely between the 1930s and 1960s. The National Park Service is facilitating this process, and requests for repatriation can be made by any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization demonstrating cultural affiliation. The process for returning the items is set to begin on January 6, 2025.

The National Park Service is asking for electronic comments on properties that were nominated before February 15, 2025, to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Comments are due by April 1, 2025, and should be sent to National_Register_Submissions@nps.gov with the specific property's name in the subject line. A variety of properties from different states, such as the Los Angeles City Hall in California and the Gem Theater in Louisiana, are under consideration for listing. Additionally, a request has been made to remove a property in Oregon and to move another in Texas.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has announced that two parcels of land, called the Tinta Otunwe Parcel and the Group E Parcel, have been added to the reservation of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in Scott County, Minnesota. The announcement was made by the Acting Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, following the authority granted by the Secretary of the Interior. These parcels total approximately 276.25 acres and are subject to existing rights, easements, and reservations, but this change does not alter the ownership of the land.

The Museum of Riverside, working with the Hoopa Valley Tribe and other Native American groups, plans to return sacred cultural objects to their rightful owners. These items include traditional objects like dance aprons, baskets, and headdresses that were donated to the museum in the past. The museum is open to receiving claims from other tribes or descendants who believe they have a connection to these objects by February 22, 2021. If no additional claims are received, the items will be transferred to the Hoopa Valley Tribe. This process is guided by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has made available the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Lava Ridge Wind Project in Idaho, which was approved by the Department of the Interior (DOI). This decision allows Magic Valley Energy to build and operate a wind-power facility with up to 231 turbines on public lands in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties. The project will take place on a designated area managed by the BLM and will follow specific conditions and mitigation measures as outlined in the ROD. This approval is the final decision by the DOI and cannot be appealed.

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 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 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has completed an inventory of human remains and funerary objects, as required by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These remains and objects have a cultural link to several Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations which are specified in the notice. Repatriation can occur on or after January 29, 2025, and requests can be made by affected tribes and organizations, or other parties proving a cultural affiliation. If multiple requests emerge, the university will decide the most suitable recipient.