Natural Resources Conservation Service August 14, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is amending its regulations for watershed projects to allow Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations to sponsor needed watershed projects. While federally recognized Tribes generally maintain regulatory jurisdiction over their land and can therefore exert eminent domain, Alaska Native Corporations and Tribal organizations do not have eminent domain authority, which has been one of the requirements to be a watershed project sponsor. This rule change will provide an option to better allow federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, or Tribal organizations to become watershed project sponsors.