Search Results for agency_names:"Interior Department"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing an application from BNSF Railway for a permit that would allow incidental harm to the federally threatened grizzly bear during railroad operations in Montana. The application includes a Habitat Conservation Plan proposing methods to reduce risks to grizzly bears and support their recovery, like reducing food sources that attract them near the railway. The Service is seeking public comments on the plan and related documents by February 11, 2021, through various submission methods. They aim to determine if BNSF's proposal will have minimal impact on the grizzly bear and the overall environment.

The University of Kansas plans to return a cultural item, specifically a discoidal stone, to the Chickasaw Nation in compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). This stone, considered an unassociated funerary object, was initially part of the Menninger Foundation's collection and transferred to the university in 1992. Repatriation of the item can occur on or after January 13, 2025. Any other Native American or Native Hawaiian organizations who believe they have a claim to the item can submit a request for repatriation.

The United States Army has requested the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw 1,840 acres of federal land and 53.48 acres of non-federal land in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, from mining and leasing laws. This is meant to protect the John R. Fox Range from potential impact due to mining activities. The public can submit comments on this request until March 10, 2025, and ask for a public meeting. This notice temporarily keeps the lands from being used under these laws for up to two years while the application is being processed.

Princeton University has completed an inventory under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and found that the human remains in their collection are culturally affiliated with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California. These remains were originally collected in the late 1800s from Tomales Bay, CA, by a zoologist and later became part of Princeton's museum collection. Repatriation of the remains can occur after January 6, 2025, provided requests come from culturally affiliated tribes or proven descendants. Competing requests will be evaluated to find the most appropriate group for repatriation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, plans to transfer the remains of a Native American individual, found near Eagle Glacier, to the Eklutna Native Village and the Knik Tribe, in line with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). If no claims are made by January 16, 2026, the remains will be considered unclaimed. Claims can be made by lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations with a connection to the remains, and joint requests for disposition will be treated as single claims.

The New York State Museum has updated a previous notice about repatriating a cultural item, a pottery pipe, which originally involved different Native American tribes. This new notice now includes the Oneida Indian Nation as one of the culturally affiliated tribes. The repatriation of the item can happen on or after January 6, 2025. If there are multiple requests for repatriation, the California State University, Sacramento, will decide the most fitting claimant, and the museum is responsible for notifying the identified tribes.

The Field Museum in Chicago plans to return 54 cultural items to Native American tribes under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). These items include 19 sacred objects and 35 objects of cultural importance originally taken from tribes in California in 1901. The Field Museum will begin repatriating the items on February 18, 2025, and has identified the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California as culturally affiliated with these items. Requests for repatriation can be made by tribes not mentioned in the notice, and efforts will be made to resolve any competing claims for these artifacts.

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects, in line with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and found a cultural connection between these items and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. The objects, found at the Riverside Site in Michigan, are seven chipped-stone biface fragments affiliated with the Tribe based on geography, expert opinion, and archaeological evidence. Requests for the repatriation of these objects may be made by April 17, 2025, by the Menominee Tribe or any other eligible claimant entity not specified in the notice. Competing claims will be assessed to determine the most appropriate recipient, and the University will notify all relevant groups of the notice.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has completed an inventory of human remains and determined a cultural connection between the remains and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The human remains, found in 1962 and currently housed at the University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural History, are those of one Native American individual. Repatriation of these remains may begin on or after April 17, 2025, to the interested tribes, descendants, or organizations, with BLM responsible for resolving any competing claims.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) plans to set up a committee to help create a new rule that supports the Self-Governance PROGRESS Act, which aims to improve self-governance for Indian Tribes. They're asking for public comments and nominations for committee members who will represent affected interests, primarily from Tribal and Federal governments. The committee will consist of 15 to 25 members, meeting over 6 to 12 months, and is tasked with developing regulations to update existing rules about the DOI's Self-Governance Program. The DOI will cover reasonable travel expenses for committee members if needed.