Department of the Interior December 19, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing a supplementary rule for BLM-administered public lands in the Tres Rios Field Office (TRFO) and Gunnison Field Office (GFO). The final supplementary rule will allow the BLM to implement and enforce decisions related to motorized and non-motorized vehicles, day-use areas, seasonal wildlife habitat protection, camping, and campfires.

Pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Act), as amended, for each of the Department of the Interior (Department) bureaus other than the Bureau of Indian Affairs, this notice lists programs or portions of programs eligible for inclusion in self-governance funding agreements with Indian Tribes, and Fiscal Year 2025 programmatic targets for each of the non-Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) bureaus in the Department of the Interior (Department), pursuant to title IV of the Act, as amended. Revisions to this list are based upon feedback received in Tribal Consultations in January 2023 on what information would be most helpful to Indian Tribes seeking ways to develop collaborative arrangements in the co-stewardship of Federal lands and waters.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Puerto Rican skink (Spondylurus nitidus), a skink species from Puerto Rico and Desecheo Island, and the Lesser Virgin Islands skink (S. semitaeniatus) and Virgin Islands bronze skink (S. sloanii), two skink species from the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, as endangered species. We propose to list the Culebra skink (S. culebrae), a skink species from Culebra Island and offshore cays of Puerto Rico, as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) ("4(d) rule"). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing these species is warranted. If we finalize this rule as proposed, we will add these species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to these species. We also propose to designate critical habitat for the Puerto Rican skink, Culebra skink, Lesser Virgin Islands skink, and Virgin Islands bronze skink under the Act. We also announce the availability of an economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Puerto Rican skink, Culebra skink, Lesser Virgin Islands skink, and Virgin Islands bronze skink. We find that it is not warranted at this time to list the Mona skink (Spondylurus monae), the Greater Virgin Islands skink (S. spilonotus), the Greater Saint Croix skink (S. magnacruzae), and the Lesser Saint Croix skink (Capitellum parvicruzae). However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of any of the species mentioned above and their habitats.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing a supplementary rule to protect natural resources and public health and safety. The final supplementary rule applies to public lands and BLM facilities managed by the Colorado River Valley, Grand Junction, and Kremmling Field Offices, and the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA) in Colorado managed by the Grand Junction and Uncompahgre Field Offices.

The National Park Service published a document in the Federal Register of February 28, 2011, concerning a minor boundary revision at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, now known as Indiana Dunes National Park. The document contained an incorrect map date and reference number.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma Residential 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 residential leases without further BIA approval.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma 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 agriculture, business, residential, wind and solar, public, religious, and recreational leases without further BIA approval.