Department of the Interior October 23, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Self-Governance PROGRESS Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (Committee), will hold their ninth public meeting to negotiate and advise the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) on a proposed rule to implement the Practical Reforms and Other Goals To Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination for Indian Tribes Act of 2019 (PROGRESS Act).

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Hastings Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural item was removed from Bartow County, GA.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (hereinafter, the Montana program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Montana submitted this proposed amendment to us, on its own initiative, following the passage of a Montana House Bill during the 2023 legislative session. Montana proposes several changes to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Montana adds a new section detailing the procedures a permittee must follow when applying for a ``minor revision'' to its permit. Montana adds several new definitions and removes the current procedures for a permit revision application. Furthermore, Montana adds clarifying language regarding ``minor revisions'' of permits. Lastly, Montana adds contingencies that will not be codified into law but that will apply to the proposed amendment: ``Codification Instructions'' and ``Contingent Termination.'' This document gives the times and locations that the Montana program and this proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Orange County Parks and Recreation Division (Horizon West Regional Park, applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) incidental to the construction of a recreational park in Orange County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and on the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting action may be eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), California State University, Sacramento has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains were removed from Sutter County, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Sacramento intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural items were removed from Placer and Yuba Counties, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), with the assistance of California State University, Sacramento, has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between an associated funerary object and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The associated funerary object was removed from Sacramento County, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Amador County, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Field Museum has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains were collected from individuals at one or more unknown locations.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Cobb Institute of Archaeology, Mississippi State University (CIA) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Oktibbeha County, MS.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), California State University, Sacramento has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Yuba County, CA.