Department of the Interior April 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Boston Children's Museum 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.

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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Grand Rapids Public Museum 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.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) John Day- Snake Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as follows.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA), and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (MLA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Price Field Office, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA Forest Service) Manti-La Sal National Forest, as co-lead agencies, intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response to a Lease by Application (LBA) for the Little Eccles Federal Coal Lease Tract (UTU- 92226) of 120 acres and a Lease Modification Application (LMA) to add 640 acres to the Flat Canyon Lease Tract (UTU-77114). This notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The EIS will evaluate potential impacts of leasing and underground mining of Federal coal reserves contained in both lease tracts.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of the Interior (DOI, Department) is issuing a public notice of its intent to modify the Privacy Act system of records, INTERIOR/DOI-71, Electronic FOIA Tracking System and FOIA Case Files. In this notice, DOI is proposing to consolidate the system of records with INTERIOR/OS-69, Freedom of Information Act Appeals Files, system of records; update the system name to INTERIOR/DOI-71, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Files; and provide updates to all sections of the notice in accordance with the Privacy Act and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) policy.

We, the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service (Service), revise the regulations concerning the issuance of enhancement of survival and incidental take permits under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The purposes of these revisions are to: clarify the appropriate use of enhancement of survival permits and incidental take permits; clarify our authority to issue these permits for non-listed species without also including a listed species; simplify the requirements for enhancement of survival permits by combining safe harbor agreements and candidate conservation agreements with assurances into one agreement type; and incorporate portions of our five-point policies for safe harbor agreements, candidate conservation agreements with assurances, and habitat conservation plans into the regulations to reduce uncertainty. We also made technical and administrative revisions to the regulations. The regulatory changes are intended to reduce costs and time associated with negotiating and developing the required documents to support the applications. We anticipate that these improvements will encourage more individuals and companies to engage in these voluntary programs, thereby generating greater conservation results overall.

The National Park Service gives public notice that, pursuant to the terms of Concession Contract CC-GATE015-03 and in accordance with NPS regulations, it intends to extend Concession Contract CC- GATE015-03 until April 14, 2025, or until the effective date of a new authorization, whichever comes first.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) proposes to appoint one new member to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG). The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting as administrative lead, is soliciting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the AMWG.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) 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.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is issuing a public notice of its intent to modify the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Privacy Act system of records, INTERIOR/WBR-7, Concessions. DOI is revising this notice to change the system bureau designation to be consistent with Reclamation's title, propose new and modified routine uses, and update all sections of the notice to accurately reflect management of the system of records. This modified system will be included in DOI's inventory of record systems.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Gilcrease Museum 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.

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.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Missouri Museum of Anthropology 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.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Dickinson State University 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.

On November 30, 2022, the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), published in the Federal Register a proposed rule entitled "Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation." This final rule aims to reduce the waste of natural gas from venting, flaring, and leaks during oil and gas production activities on Federal and Indian leases. The final rule also ensures that, when Federal or Indian gas is wasted, the public and Indian mineral owners are compensated for that wasted gas through royalty payments. This final rule will be codified in the Code of Federal Regulations and will replace the BLM's current requirements governing venting and flaring, which are more than four decades old.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, is proposing to renew an information collection.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California Business Leasing Ordinance under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 2012 (HEARTH Act). With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into business leases without further BIA approval.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to renew an information collection.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tonopah Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of Corvus Gold Nevada, Inc.'s (Corvus) North Bullfrog Mine Project (Project) in Nye County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues and alternatives; it also serves to initiate public consultation, as required, under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the joint record of decision (ROD) on the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Park City Wind LLC (Park City Wind) for its proposed New England Wind Project and New England Wind Offshore Export Cable Project (Project) offshore Massachusetts. The joint ROD includes the Department of the Interior's (DOI) decision regarding the New England Wind COP, the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) decision regarding Park City Wind's request for Incidental Take Regulations (ITR) and an associated Letter of Authorization (LOA) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and the Department of the Army's (DA) decision regarding authorizations under section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA) and section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). NMFS has adopted the final EIS to support its decision of whether or not to promulgate the requested ITR and issue a LOA to Park City Wind under the MMPA. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has adopted the final EIS to support its decision to issue a DA permit under section 10 of the RHA and section 404 of the CWA. The joint ROD concludes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for each agency.

This Public Land Order (PLO) withdraws 221,898.23 acres, including approximately 197,744.66 acres of National Forest System lands, approximately 15,464.99 acres of BLM-managed public lands, and approximately 8,688.58 acres of reserved Federal mineral interest, from all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location and entry under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights, for a period of 20 years.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the St. Joseph Museums, Inc. intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Ohio History Connection 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.