Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is seeking public comments on the renewal of an information collection, in line with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This involves a form used by state and tribal governments to request technical training courses, which helps OSMRE plan and estimate the resources needed for these courses. The public has until March 31, 2025, to provide feedback on whether this collection is necessary, how the agency could improve the process, and how the burden on respondents might be minimized. The information collection is mandatory for those who want to participate in the training courses.

The National Park Service has issued a final rule to regulate motor vehicle use in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The rule requires permits for operating vehicles off designated roads in certain areas and allows the superintendent to create closures and restrictions. It designates specific routes and areas for off-road vehicles and sets noise and speed limits. The rule aims to protect natural resources while providing recreational opportunities, and it becomes effective on February 16, 2021, with some provisions starting on April 15, 2021.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the City of Imperial Beach plan to create a draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Bayside Community Resiliency project. This project aims to transform a section of the Bayshore Bikeway corridor into a coastal resilience corridor to protect against flooding, improve public access, and enhance habitat areas around San Diego Bay. The proposal includes various alternatives such as constructing a "living levee" and creating a tidal channel to improve stormwater management and provide additional habitat space. Community input is being sought during the scoping period, which closes on February 24, 2025.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the Cahuilla Band of Indians' Leasing Ordinance under the HEARTH Act, allowing the Tribe to engage in business and residential leases without needing further approval from the BIA. This measure supports the Tribe's autonomy by enabling a more efficient process for handling leases while protecting Tribal sovereignty by preempting state and local taxation on the leased lands. The Federal government maintains a role in overseeing and approving the overall framework to ensure compliance with established regulations.

The Department of the Interior and the Department of the Army have decided to delay the effective date of a rule related to reservoir project lands. This decision is in line with a directive from President Trump's administration to pause new regulations for review. Initially set to take effect on April 16, 2025, the rule's implementation is postponed to May 16, 2025. The delay allows further evaluation and is made without public comments, as it aims to ensure regulations are carefully considered.

The Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service, has officially nominated the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to be added to the prestigious World Heritage List. This process involves several steps, including a review of the refuge's unique natural features, such as its diverse ecosystems and rare species, which meet specific criteria for natural properties. The nomination is part of a broader effort to recognize U.S. sites that have significant environmental and cultural value. While being on the list does not impose any legal restrictions, it highlights the site's importance on an international level.

The National Park Service, within the U.S. Department of the Interior, has completed an inventory of human remains at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area that have been linked to Native American tribes, including the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin. The remains were collected during a 1974 archaeological dig and have now been returned to the park. Repatriation of the remains can occur starting May 19, 2025, and requests for repatriation can be made by these tribes or others who establish a valid claim. The process will be managed under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

The Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology plans to return certain cultural items to Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These items, a shell bead and a red ochre sample, were found during fieldwork on Whidbey Island, Washington, in the late 1990s. The cultural items have been identified as having significant historical or cultural importance to certain tribes, including the Lummi Tribe, Samish Indian Nation, and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. The repatriation process may begin on or after January 13, 2025, and the university is responsible for ensuring the appropriate tribe receives the items if multiple claims are made.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has announced a proposal to renew an information collection activity under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This activity gathers bird count data for over 600 North American bird species, which helps in assessing bird populations and trends. Public comments on this collection are invited until March 10, 2025, and individuals who choose to participate in submitting data do so voluntarily. The USGS protects any proprietary information provided and estimates that responding will take about 11 hours on average per submission.

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.