Department of the Interior – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of the Interior (Department) proposes new regulations that provide a framework to prevent the export for sale in foreign countries of Native American cultural items that are held in violation of current Federal laws; to repatriate such items from individuals and organizations having such items; and to improve coordination among Federal agencies, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations seeking to prevent the export and sale, and support the repatriation, of such items. The proposed rule would establish an export certification system, set forth procedures for detention and repatriation of items subject to the rule, establish a framework for voluntary return of items subject to the rule, and establish interagency and Native working groups.

BSEE is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on August 30, 2024. BSEE is publishing a correction to fix an erroneous statement in the preamble of the final rule. BSEE inadvertently stated it did not receive public comments to an identified section of the rule. However, BSEE had received a comment associated with that section of the rule. BSEE evaluated and addressed that comment in other discussions in the preamble of the final rule.

This notice announces revisions to the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended, which remove four administratively established categorical exclusions (CXs) and incorporate two CXs statutorily created by Congress.

This notice announces the Department of the Interior's (Department) proposal to revise the National Environmental Policy Act implementing procedures for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at Chapter 11 of Part 516 of the Departmental Manual (DM) to add a new categorical exclusion for geothermal resource confirmation activities on Federal geothermal resource leases.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (HOCU) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 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 St. Louis County Office of the Medical Examiner (MEO) 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 Field Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a known lineal descendant.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky (WSWM) 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 Yale Peabody Museum, Yale University, 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 Museum of Us 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 San Bernardino County 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 Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is publishing this notice to announce that a Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Advisory Council for Climate Adaptation Science (ACCAS) will take place and is open to members of the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Thomas R. Kellaway and Doris J. Redmond (permittees), for a renewal of incidental take permit TE48316A (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The requested renewal would extend the ITP by 5 years from the date of reissuance. The existing ITP authorizes take of the federally endangered Morro shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta walkeriana) incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the construction of one residence on each of two separate but contiguous parcels in Los Osos, an unincorporated community of San Luis Obispo County. If renewed, the ITP would not authorize any additional take of the species. We request public comment on the application, which includes the permittee's 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. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) located in Southwest Colorado and Southeast Utah. The Colorado and Utah State Directors signed the ROD on October 17, 2024, which constitutes the decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP Amendment effective immediately.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking nominations for membership on the Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee (MAC), the Grand Staircase-Escalante National MAC, the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area Advisory Council, and the Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC) to fill existing vacancies and for member terms that are scheduled to expire. This is a 30-day extension of the call for nominations published in the Federal Register on September 18, 2024.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application for a permit to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation and survival of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on this application. Before issuing the requested permit, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct scientific research to promote conservation or other activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is publishing this notice in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), as amended, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The BLM gives notice that the Secretary of the Interior is establishing the National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the BLM Public Lands Rule (Committee) and is seeking nominations for individuals to be considered as Committee members and alternate members.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice of a public meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The ANS Task Force's purpose is to develop and implement a program for U.S. waters to prevent introduction and dispersal of aquatic invasive species; to monitor, control, and study such species; and to disseminate related information.

This notice publishes the approval of the Addendum to Tribal- State Compact for Control of Class III Blackjack on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Reservation in Minnesota for Class III Card Games.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for eight of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) statewide and regional Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have vacant positions or members whose terms are scheduled to expire. These RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within the geographic areas for which the RACs are organized.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act for 59 species. A 5- year status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any new information on these species that has become available since the last reviews.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing a new information collection.

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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (HOCU) intends to carry out the disposition of human remains and associated funerary objects removed from Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition in this notice.