Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior Department has announced that about 56.66 acres of land have been officially added to the Rincon Reservation for the Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians in San Diego, California. This proclamation was made on December 17, 2024, by the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, under the authority granted by the Secretary of the Interior. While the land is recognized as part of the reservation, this action does not alter existing rights or easements for public utilities and transportation present on the land.

The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History plans to return a culturally significant coiled basket to the Pechanga Band of Indians, as per the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The basket, initially donated in 1937, is mistakenly labeled as connected to tribes near the Navajo but has been identified as "Mission style," belonging to Southern California Native peoples. The museum has confirmed its cultural importance to the Pechanga Band after consulting with the tribe. Repatriation of the basket is expected to happen after January 29, 2025, unless there are competing claims.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the big red sage, a plant species from central Texas, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This decision is based on threats including habitat changes, herbivory by deer and other animals, collection, inappropriate propagation, and climate change, which have all contributed to a decline in plant populations and genetic diversity. Although recognizing these threats, the Service has determined that designating critical habitat for the big red sage is imprudent, as it might increase the threat of collection. The proposal highlights the urgent need for conservation actions to protect and recover the species.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a proposal to renew an information collection process related to mineral surveys, patent applications, and other mining-related activities under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The public and other federal agencies are invited to comment on this proposal by January 9, 2025. The BLM is seeking feedback on the necessity and utility of the information collected, the estimated burden on respondents, and ways to improve the process. This renewal is necessary due to the ongoing possibility that the current moratorium on processing new mineral patent applications may be lifted.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for amendments to Resource Management Plans (RMPs) to support large-scale solar energy projects across public lands in 11 states. These amendments aim to update the management framework for solar energy development, ensuring better protection of significant resources while excluding about 131 million acres from solar development. Approximately 31 million acres remain potentially available for solar projects, with specific considerations such as proximity to transmission lines and previously disturbed land being factors for project approval. The decision seeks to advance solar energy while balancing other land uses and addressing consistent State and Federal planning methods.

The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University has completed an inventory of human remains collected from the Sherman Institute in Riverside County, California, as per the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The museum has identified a cultural affiliation between the remains, specifically hair clippings of a Pomo individual, and several Pomo Indian tribes in California. Requests for repatriation of the remains can be submitted by these tribes or lineal descendants, and repatriation may happen after April 18, 2025. The National Park Service published this notice as part of its responsibilities under NAGPRA.

The document is a notice from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior announcing that the class III gaming compacts between three Tribes in California and the State of California have been extended. The Tribes involved are the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, Cher-Ae-Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, and the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians of California. These compacts have been extended until December 31, 2025. The extension does not change any other terms of the existing agreements and therefore does not require approval from the Secretary.

The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University has completed an inventory of human remains under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These remains were collected at the Uintah and Ouray Agency in Utah and consist of hair clippings from four Native American individuals. The museum has determined that these remains are culturally affiliated with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Requests for their repatriation can be submitted by these tribes or other eligible parties, with the process possibly beginning after April 17, 2025.

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced upcoming meetings for eight Subsistence Resource Commissions (SRCs) in Alaska, each dedicated to different national parks or monuments, including the Aniakchak National Monument and the Gates of the Arctic National Park. These meetings, which are open to the public for testimony, will be held via teleconference or in person, with agendas covering various reports and discussions such as SRC business, updates from the Federal Subsistence Board, and reports from NPS staff. Participation details, including teleconference access, are available through specific NPS contacts, and all meetings will adhere to the Federal Advisory Committee Act guidelines. Comments provided at meetings might be made public, but the NPS cannot guarantee the confidentiality of personal information in those comments.

The National Park Service proposes to update regulations for using personal watercraft at the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The proposal includes reducing flat wake speed zones in specific areas and officially closing certain parts of West Petit Bois Island and around the Fort Pickens ferry pier to watercraft. These changes aim to protect the natural and cultural resources of the seashore and enhance visitor safety. Public comments on this proposed rule must be submitted by March 16, 2021.