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FAST-41 Missed Date:Endangered Species Act Consultation (NOAA-NMFS): ESA Consultation Concludes (Agency Action)

Submitted by Anonymous on

Agency Milestone Date of 10/24/2025 for ESA Consultation Concludes (Agency Action) has passed by 1 business days

Action
Project Name:
NANA Regional Broadband Network (NRBN)
Responsible Agency:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Status: Cooperating under FAST-41
Status:
In Progress
POC Name:
Justin Voeller
POC Email:
justin.voeller@noaa.gov

Milestones:

ESA Consultation Request Package Submitted (Agency Action)
Completed Date:
NOAA determines ESA Consultation Package is Complete - Formal (Agency Action)
Completed Date:
ESA Consultation Concludes (Agency Action)
  • Monthly Status Report for November 2025:
    Due to the federal lapse in appropriations that resulted in a government shutdown, NOAA staff supporting the ESA consultation were furloughed and unable to continue working on the NANA Regional Broadband project during the lapse. A NOAA contractor continued developing the Letter of Concurrence, but NOAA staff were unable to review and approve it. On November 6, 2025, NOAA received approval to resume consultation activities during the shutdown, and completed the last steps of the consultation the same day. Therefore, the ESA consultation is complete. 
  • Non-conformance Explanation:
    Due to the federal lapse in appropriations that resulted in a government shutdown, NOAA staff supporting the ESA consultation were furloughed and unable to continue working on the NANA Regional Broadband project during the lapse. A NOAA contractor continued developing the Letter of Concurrence, but NOAA staff were unable to review and approve it. On November 6, 2025, NOAA received approval to resume consultation activities during the shutdown, and completed the last steps of the consultation the same day.
Current Target Date:


View Action's Modification History

Milestone
ESA Consultation Concludes (Agency Action)
  • Monthly Status Report for November 2025:
    Due to the federal lapse in appropriations that resulted in a government shutdown, NOAA staff supporting the ESA consultation were furloughed and unable to continue working on the NANA Regional Broadband project during the lapse. A NOAA contractor continued developing the Letter of Concurrence, but NOAA staff were unable to review and approve it. On November 6, 2025, NOAA received approval to resume consultation activities during the shutdown, and completed the last steps of the consultation the same day. Therefore, the ESA consultation is complete. 
  • Non-conformance Explanation:
    Due to the federal lapse in appropriations that resulted in a government shutdown, NOAA staff supporting the ESA consultation were furloughed and unable to continue working on the NANA Regional Broadband project during the lapse. A NOAA contractor continued developing the Letter of Concurrence, but NOAA staff were unable to review and approve it. On November 6, 2025, NOAA received approval to resume consultation activities during the shutdown, and completed the last steps of the consultation the same day.
Current Target Date:
Project

PROJECT WEBSITE: https://www.nanabroadband.com/

All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.

In Progress

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS

icon_calendar

ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
04/15/2026

3 out of 8

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED

Broadband

SECTOR
Broadband

Project Category

CATEGORY
Project Category FAST-41 Covered Projects

Department of Commerce

LEAD AGENCY
Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration

View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies

Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:

Department of the Interior

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management

Department of the Interior

Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of the Army

Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory

Department of Commerce

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Description:

The NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. proposes to implement a high-speed broadband network in the NANA region through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. The proposed ~725-mile fiber optic cable route consists of a combination of terrestrial ground-laid, subsea, trenched, and aerial cable to connect villages across vast distances to the broadband Point of Presence in Kotzebue. The Project plans to bring a fiber-based broadband network capable of providing high-speed internet services to Alaska Native Villages in the NANA Region.

field_status
Rejected
System Comments
Agency Milestone Date of 10/24/2025 for ESA Consultation Concludes (Agency Action) has passed by 1 business days
Approver Comments
<p>Due to the federal lapse in appropriations that resulted in a government shutdown, NOAA staff supporting the ESA consultation were furloughed and unable to continue working on the NANA Regional Broadband project during the lapse. A NOAA contractor continued developing the Letter of Concurrence, but NOAA staff were unable to review and approve it. On November 6, 2025, NOAA received approval to resume consultation activities during the shutdown, and completed the last steps of the consultation the same day. Therefore, the ESA consultation is complete.&nbsp;</p>
Previous Action Status
In Progress
New Action Status
In Progress
Missed Date Process
Yes
Missed Date Triggered by Extension
No
Agency Notified Date
New Milestone
ESA Consultation Concludes (Agency Action)
  • Monthly Status Report for November 2025:
    Due to the federal lapse in appropriations that resulted in a government shutdown, NOAA staff supporting the ESA consultation were furloughed and unable to continue working on the NANA Regional Broadband project during the lapse. A NOAA contractor continued developing the Letter of Concurrence, but NOAA staff were unable to review and approve it. On November 6, 2025, NOAA received approval to resume consultation activities during the shutdown, and completed the last steps of the consultation the same day. Therefore, the ESA consultation is complete. 
  • Non-conformance Explanation:
    Due to the federal lapse in appropriations that resulted in a government shutdown, NOAA staff supporting the ESA consultation were furloughed and unable to continue working on the NANA Regional Broadband project during the lapse. A NOAA contractor continued developing the Letter of Concurrence, but NOAA staff were unable to review and approve it. On November 6, 2025, NOAA received approval to resume consultation activities during the shutdown, and completed the last steps of the consultation the same day.
Current Target Date:
Response Date
Reporting Agency
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration