Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 3,224 oil and gas leases across seven states, including Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. This action follows multiple lawsuits challenging the leases based on environmental concerns, such as greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts. The BLM is initiating a public scoping process allowing individuals to submit comments and suggestions until March 17, 2025, which will help shape the EIS. The process is meant to ensure the leasing decisions comply with environmental laws and policies, and it includes opportunities for public input throughout different stages.

The Gilcrease Museum, in compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), plans to return cultural items classified as unassociated funerary objects to their rightful Native American or Native Hawaiian organizations. These items, including various kinds of beads and a tar mat headrest, were originally acquired in California, likely around the mid-20th century. The Tejon Indian Tribe has been identified as having a cultural link to these items. Requests for repatriation can be made by other organizations showing a cultural connection, starting May 19, 2025.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the availability of the Area Identification for the proposed Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale 258 in northern Cook Inlet, Alaska. This step is part of the 2017-2022 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The Area ID is a preliminary assessment and does not mean that leasing will definitely occur; further steps, including environmental analysis and public comments, are still needed. More information is accessible on BOEM's website and through contact with their Alaska Regional Office.

The Federal Subsistence Board has proposed new rules for wildlife hunting and trapping in Alaska for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 regulatory years. These rules would update the regulations for subsistence use, revise hunting seasons and harvest limits, and ensure that Alaska residents in rural areas have priority for taking fish and wildlife on federal lands. The proposed regulations would replace existing ones and are subject to public meetings for comments and suggestions on changes. Federal agencies, along with rural residents, are working together to manage the subsistence resources effectively.

The National Park Service is proposing new rules for using powered micromobility devices, like electric scooters, hoverboards, and Segways, in national parks. These devices will be classified separately from motor vehicles and bikes, and specific regions within parks can be designated for their use. The proposal ensures that these devices aren't allowed in wilderness areas and provides clear guidelines for where and how they can be used, giving park superintendents the flexibility to manage their use. Public comments on this proposed rule are invited until March 17, 2025.

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 Bureau of Indian Affairs has announced a decision to take 68.60 acres of land, known as the Shiloh Site in Sonoma County, California, into trust for the Koi Nation of Northern California. This land acquisition is intended for gaming and other purposes under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The decision was finalized on January 13, 2025, and the transfer will be completed once all departmental requirements are met. This action is authorized by various delegations within the Department of the Interior and follows necessary legal and regulatory procedures.

The United States Forest Service (USFS), on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, has asked the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to extend a current protection order for an area in the Tonto National Forest, Arizona, for another 20 years. This order, known as Public Land Order No. 7664, covers 990 acres and prevents mining activities to safeguard the Diamond Rim Quartz Crystal Interpretative Area from potential mining damage. The public is invited to submit comments or request a meeting regarding this proposal by April 3, 2025. The application will be handled following specific regulations, and although personal information can be requested to be kept private, there are no guarantees it will be withheld from public view.

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. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to reclassify the rough popcornflower from "endangered" to "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. This decision is based on scientific information indicating that while the species' condition has improved and it is not in immediate danger of extinction, it is still likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The proposal also includes regulations under section 4(d) of the Act aimed at conserving the species. The public can submit comments on this proposed rule by February 10, 2025.