National Park Service December 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared Director's Order #42 to set forth its policies and procedures for making facilities, transportation systems, information and communication technology, interpretive and educational programs and services, and commercial services accessible to visitors with disabilities. Once adopted, the policies and procedures in Director's Order #42 and the accompanying Reference Manual 42 (RM-42) will supersede and replace the policies and procedures issued in Director's Order #42: Accessibility for Visitors with Disabilities, dated November 3, 2000.

The National Park Service (NPS) revises regulations governing the application, processing, and issuance of right-of-way (ROW) permits for lands and waters administered by the NPS. A ROW permit authorizes the use of such lands and waters for the operation and maintenance of infrastructure associated with utilities such as fiber, water lines, power lines, and cellular antennas. The revisions align NPS processes more closely with those of other Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus by allowing for a pre-application meeting, identifying a common standard application form, and broadening methods the NPS can use to determine fair market value. This rule clarifies the process for permitting construction related to a ROW permit, makes updates that reflect current technology and standard practices, and integrates applicable laws that have been implemented since the regulations were first promulgated in 1980.

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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (BISO) intends to carry out the disposition of human remains removed from Federal or Tribal lands to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition in this notice.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), The Quincy Museum Inc. 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 William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology, University of Kentucky (WSWM) 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 California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) 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.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Princeton 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 Office of History and Archaeology 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 Kikuchi Center at Kaua`i Community College 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 Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Phillips Academy (RSPI) 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 National Park Service is soliciting nominations for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Committee). The Secretary of the Interior will appoint one member from nominations submitted by Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, or traditional Native American religious leaders. The appointed member must be a traditional Indian religious leader.