Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The Bureau of Land Management has announced the official filing of plats and field notes for various land surveys in Idaho, which will occur 30 days after the publication date. These surveys were conducted to meet the needs of different Federal agencies. Detailed information about the specific lands and surveys are listed, and the public can obtain copies by paying the required fee at the Bureau's Idaho State Office. Anyone wishing to protest these surveys must submit a written notice to the Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Idaho within 30 days from the date of publication.

The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University has completed an inventory under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, identifying human remains with cultural ties to certain Indian Tribes. The remains, specifically hair clippings from a 15-year-old identified as "Concow," were collected in the early 1930s at the Sherman Institute in California and later donated to the museum. The museum confirms a cultural connection between the remains and the Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California and the Round Valley Indian Tribes. The repatriation of these remains may proceed after April 17, 2025, with requests accepted from affiliated tribes or other qualifying claimants.

The University of California, Davis has completed an inventory of historic funeral items associated with Native American tribes. These items, found in a cave site, include clamshell disc beads and Olivella beads, which were mailed anonymously to the university from Arizona. They have been linked to the Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians, the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, based on the location and history of how the beads were acquired. Requests for repatriation must be sent to the university, and the return of these items can begin on or after January 17, 2025.

The University of California, Davis has completed an inventory under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and identified cultural affiliations between certain funerary objects and several Native American Tribes. These objects were found with human remains during excavations at a site in California. The university plans to repatriate these objects to the affiliated tribes starting May 19, 2025. If there are competing claims for the objects, UC Davis will decide the most appropriate requestor.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has approved changes to Wyoming's regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. These changes allow for the disposal of decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers as backfill in surface coal mining operations. The amendment aims to address the disposal challenges posed by the large number of wind turbine components while ensuring compliance with existing environmental standards. The rule will become effective on February 12, 2025, and does not impact air or water quality standards, so no further Environmental Protection Agency concurrence was needed.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued permits that allow certain activities with endangered and threatened species. These permits were issued under the Endangered Species Act after reviewing permit applications and considering public comments. Each permit applicant demonstrated good faith, ensured no disadvantage to the species, and aligned with the Act's purposes. Details and documents related to these permits are accessible online at regulations.gov.

The Department of Anthropology at Northern Illinois University (NIU) has completed an inventory of human remains under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). They found that the remains, representing three Native American individuals, have a cultural connection with The Osage Nation. The National Park Service has outlined the process for repatriation, which can start after January 6, 2025. Requests for repatriation can be submitted by the identified tribes or other eligible claimants who can demonstrate a connection.

In 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the operations of fourteen dams in the Columbia River System. Now, due to new circumstances, these agencies plan to update and supplement this EIS. This includes examining the environmental effects of proposed changes and new information affecting the dams' operations. The aim is to ensure the dams are managed in a way that considers regional energy, tribal needs, and environmental impacts, with public input being sought through virtual meetings and comments.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the Records of Decision (RODs) for the updated Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendments focused on conserving Greater Sage-Grouse habitats in Colorado and Oregon. These updates are part of a wider effort that involves ten states, tribal governments, and local communities to protect the species and its environment. The BLM made minor adjustments from the proposed plans to resolve issues raised by some states and to ensure a consistent conservation approach. The RODs are now effective and available online for public review.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex intends to return 98 cultural items to Native American groups under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These items, which include artifacts like a stone anchor and glass trade beads, were collected from a burial site in Clark County, Washington. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, along with the Chinook Nation, are working together on this repatriation. The items' return to eligible claimants may begin on or after May 19, 2025.