Federal Register

Browse proposals in the Federal Register that are currently open for comment.

Rescission of the Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Regulations

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – Bureau of Land Management

Document #: 2025-10058

Posted on: 2025-06-03

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to rescind the "Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska" final rule, issued on May 7, 2024. We solicit comment on all aspects of this proposed rule.

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Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska-2026-27 and 2027-28 Subsistence Taking of Wildlife Regulations

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – Forest Service – DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Document #: 2025-00434

Posted on: 2025-01-21

This proposed rule would establish regulations for hunting and trapping seasons, harvest limits, and methods and means related to taking of wildlife for subsistence uses during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (hereafter referred to as "the Board") is on a schedule of completing the process of revising subsistence taking of wildlife regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence taking of fish and shellfish regulations in odd- numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking will replace the existing subsistence wildlife taking regulations. This proposed rule could also amend the general regulations on subsistence taking of fish and wildlife.

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Assateague Island National Seashore; Oversand Vehicles

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2025-01210

Posted on: 2025-01-17

The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to amend the special regulations for Assateague Island National Seashore to remove certain permit eligibility requirements for motor vehicles that drive on designated beaches and oversand routes. The rulemaking would eliminate requirements addressing vehicle weight, ground clearance, and dimensions. These requirements were established in 1976 and are no longer necessary. In addition, the NPS proposes to make several technical, non-substantive changes to the regulations.

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Powered Micromobility Devices

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2024-31578

Posted on: 2025-01-16

The National Park Service proposes a management framework for the use of powered micromobility devices within the National Park System. The proposed rule would define powered micromobility devices separately from motor vehicles, traditional bicycles, electric bicycles, and human powered coasting devices, and create rules for where and how they may be used in units of the National Park System. Examples of powered micromobility devices include electric scooters (e- scooters), hoverboards, and Segways.

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Whiskeytown Unit, Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area; Bicycling

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2024-31207

Posted on: 2024-12-30

The National Park Service proposes to amend the special regulations for Whiskeytown National Recreation Area to allow bicycle use on approximately 79.8 miles of multi-use trails. National Park Service regulations require promulgation of a special regulation to allow bicycles on new trails outside of developed areas and for existing trails that require construction or significant modification to accommodate bicycles.

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World Heritage Convention

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2024-27373

Posted on: 2024-12-04

This proposed rule would revise regulations governing the National Park Service's coordination of U.S. participation in the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The proposed changes would reflect updates to the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention that have been made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage since the regulations were first promulgated in 1982.

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Hot Springs National Park; Use of Thermal Water and Commercial Passenger-Carrying Vehicles

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2024-27571

Posted on: 2024-11-27

The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to amend the special regulations for Hot Springs National Park to update regulations about the use of thermal water. The NPS also proposes to remove outdated regulations concerning commercial passenger-carrying motor vehicles.

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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Motor Vehicles

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2024-21032

Posted on: 2024-09-16

The National Park Service proposes to amend special regulations for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to update rules about the use of motor vehicles on roads and off roads on designated routes and areas.

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Rights of Way

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2024-12605

Posted on: 2024-06-10

The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to revise 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 proposed changes would 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. The proposed rule would clarify the process for permitting construction related to a ROW permit, make updates that reflect current technology and standard practices, and integrate applicable laws that have been implemented since the regulations were first promulgated in 1980.

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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area; Bicycling

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2024-08998

Posted on: 2024-05-22

The National Park Service proposes to amend the special regulations for Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to allow for bicycle use on approximately 20.6 miles of trails.

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Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska-2025-26 and 2026-27 Subsistence Taking of Fish and Shellfish Regulations

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – Forest Service – DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – Fish and Wildlife Service

Document #: 2024-05821

Posted on: 2024-03-22

This proposed rule revises regulations for fish and shellfish seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of fish and shellfish for subsistence uses during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (hereafter referred to as "the Board") is on a schedule of completing the process of revising subsistence taking of fish and shellfish regulations in odd- numbered years and subsistence taking of wildlife regulations in even- numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking replaces the existing subsistence fish and shellfish taking regulations. This proposed rule may also amend the general regulations on subsistence taking of fish and wildlife.

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Public Lands Administered by the Tres Rios Field Office in Archuleta, La Plata, Montezuma, Dolores, San Miguel, and Montrose Counties; and by the Gunnison Field Office in Gunnison, Ouray, San Juan, and Hinsdale Counties, CO

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – Bureau of Land Management

Document #: 2024-03732

Posted on: 2024-02-28

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado is proposing a supplementary rule for public lands addressed in five planning efforts in the Tres Rios and Gunnison Field Offices. The proposed supplementary rule would implement decisions relating to motorized and non-motorized vehicles, day-use areas, seasonal wildlife habitat protection, camping, and campfires.

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Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska-Subpart B; Federal Subsistence Board Membership

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – Forest Service – DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – Fish and Wildlife Service

Document #: 2024-03604

Posted on: 2024-02-26

This proposed rule would revise the regulations concerning the composition of the Federal Subsistence Board (Board) by adding three public members nominated or recommended by federally recognized Tribal governments, requiring that those nominees have personal knowledge of and direct experience with subsistence uses in rural Alaska including Alaska Native subsistence uses, defining requirements used for the selection of the Board Chair, affirming the Secretaries' authority to replace members from the Board, and affirming the Secretaries' responsibility and oversight regarding Board decisions while incorporating a ratification requirement. In January 2022, the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) held joint consultations with federally recognized Tribes of Alaska and various Tribal Consortia. Later during October-November 2022, DOI leadership and the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, held joint consultations with various Alaska Tribes regarding fisheries. Approximately 445 individual subsistence users and representatives from Alaska Native Tribes, Tribal consortia, Alaska Native organizations, and Native corporations participated in the consultations, and a majority of the commenters specifically requested increasing the number of public members to five and adding more voting members who represent Alaska Native Villages and have local knowledge and direct subsistence experience.

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Public Lands in the Colorado River Valley, Grand Junction and Kremmling Field Offices, and the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, CO

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – Bureau of Land Management

Document #: 2024-01399

Posted on: 2024-01-25

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a supplementary rule to protect natural resources and public health and safety. The proposed supplementary rule would apply 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.

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Temporary Closure and Restriction Orders

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – Bureau of Land Management

Document #: 2023-25698

Posted on: 2023-11-21

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to modernize and streamline how the agency notifies the public of temporary closure and restriction orders; clarify that the BLM may issue temporary closure or restriction orders to implement management responsibilities, avoid conflicts among public land users, and ensure the privacy of Tribal activities for traditional or cultural use; require that all orders specify the date and time that a temporary closure or restriction becomes effective and terminates; and make the penalties for violating temporary closure and restriction orders consistent with current statutory authority.

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Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska; Extension of Comment Period

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – Bureau of Land Management

Document #: 2023-25486

Posted on: 2023-11-17

On September 8, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would revise the framework for designating and assuring maximum protection of Special Areas' significant resource values and protect and enhance access for subsistence activities throughout the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). The proposed rule would also incorporate aspects of the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan approved in April 2022. On October 24, 2023, the BLM extended the comment period to November 17, 2023. The BLM has determined that it is appropriate to further extend the comment period for the proposed rule by 20 days, until December 7, 2023, to allow for additional public comment.

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Land Uses; Special Uses; Carbon Capture and Storage Exemption

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – Forest Service

Document #: 2023-24341

Posted on: 2023-11-03

The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), is proposing to amend its special use regulations, which prohibit authorizing exclusive and perpetual use and occupancy of National Forest System lands, to provide an exemption for carbon capture and storage. The Forest Service is also proposing to add a definition for "Carbon capture and storage."

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Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska; Extension of Comment Period

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – Bureau of Land Management

Document #: 2023-23427

Posted on: 2023-10-24

On September 8, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would revise the framework for designating and assuring maximum protection of Special Areas' significant resource values and protect and enhance access for subsistence activities throughout the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). The proposed rule would also incorporate aspects of the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan approved in April 2022. The BLM has determined that it is appropriate to extend the comment period for the proposed rule by 10 days, until November 17, 2023, to allow for additional public comment.

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Cape Hatteras National Seashore; Bicycling

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR – National Park Service

Document #: 2023-23077

Posted on: 2023-10-19

The National Park Service proposes to amend the special regulations for Cape Hatteras National Seashore to allow for bicycle use on an approximately 1.6-mile multi-use pathway to be constructed in the Hatteras Island District of the Seashore.

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Law Enforcement; Criminal Prohibitions

Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – Forest Service

Document #: 2023-21563

Posted on: 2023-10-03

The Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), United States Department of Agriculture, is proposing to revise the Forest Service's criminal prohibitions to enhance consistency of the Forest Service's law enforcement practices with those of State and other Federal land management agencies. The Forest Service is proposing to streamline enforcement of criminal prohibitions in related to fire and use of vehicles on National Forest System roads and trails by eliminating the requirement to issue an order for enforcement.

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