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FAST-41 Missed Date:Use Authorization (DOI-BOR): Final decision/agency action (Agency Action)

Submitted by Anonymous on

Agency Milestone Date of 04/30/2026 for Final decision/agency action (Agency Action) has passed by 1 business days

Action
Project Name:
Navajo Nation Department of Education E-Rate Funded Broadband Project
Responsible Agency:
Bureau of Reclamation
Agency Status: Cooperating under FAST-41
Cooperating under NEPA
Status:
In Progress

Milestones:

Initial application submitted (Applicant Action)
Completed Date:
Application deemed complete (Agency Action)
Completed Date:
Final decision/agency action (Agency Action)
  • Non-conformance Explanation:
    The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) missed the April 30, 2026, milestone to complete the use authorization. Per 42 U.S.C.§ 4370m-2(c)(2)(F), Reclamation is required to provide an alternative completion date and an initial explanation for the missed completion date by May 11, 2026. Reclamation has provided the initial explanation for the missed date but has not yet provided the required alternative completion date. The Permitting Council is working with Reclamation to ensure an alternative completion date is determined and represented on the permitting timetable as soon as possible. Modifications to the language of the use authorization agreement were requested at the end of April delayed the execution of the agreement and prompted additional internal reviews.
Current Target Date:

Additional Milestones:

Additional Milestones
All outstanding application documents submitted to BOR within 7 days
Completed Date:


View Action's Modification History

Milestone
Final decision/agency action (Agency Action)
  • Non-conformance Explanation:
    The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) missed the April 30, 2026, milestone to complete the use authorization. Per 42 U.S.C.§ 4370m-2(c)(2)(F), Reclamation is required to provide an alternative completion date and an initial explanation for the missed completion date by May 11, 2026. Reclamation has provided the initial explanation for the missed date but has not yet provided the required alternative completion date. The Permitting Council is working with Reclamation to ensure an alternative completion date is determined and represented on the permitting timetable as soon as possible. Modifications to the language of the use authorization agreement were requested at the end of April delayed the execution of the agreement and prompted additional internal reviews.
Current Target Date:
Project

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
08/20/2026

4 out of 9

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED

Broadband

SECTOR
Broadband

Project Category

CATEGORY
Project Category FAST-41 Covered Projects

Department of the Interior

LEAD AGENCY
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs

View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies

Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:

Department of the Interior

Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of the Interior

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

Department of the Interior

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management

Description:

The Navajo Nation Department of Education proposes to deploy a reliable, affordable, scalable,
and future-proofed broadband network that bridges the digital divide for the foreseeable future in some of the most remote, isolated, high-cost, and difficult to serve areas of the United States. The Navajo Nation Department of Education E-Rate Funded Broadband Project consists of constructing approximately 323 miles of middle mile fiber optic network on the Navajo Nation to connect 17 Head Start entities and 33 libraries with high-speed Internet connectivity to speeds of 1 Gbps or greater.

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Indian Affairs request to extend the NEPA; Section 106; Right-of-Way (BLM); Right-of-Way (BIA); Use Authorization (BOR); and Endangered Species Act (FWS) completion dates on March 31, 2025. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

The project proponent is developing the project in phases. Phase I would provide internet service from Ya’ta’hey to San Juan Chapter, New Mexico, as considered in the Ya’ta’hey to San Juan  Chapter, New Mexico Fiber Optic Broadband Cable Navajo Nation Division of Education Environmental Assessment (EA-26-012726). Phase II of the proposed project would serve the 11 Navajo communities; starting with San Juan Chapter, Bloomfield to Counselor and Huerfano, Crownpoint, Lake Valley, White Rock, Becenti, Rock Springs, Bread Springs, Casamero Lake, Churchrock, Pinedale, Mariano Lake, and Pueblo Pintado. 

field_status
Rejected
System Comments
Agency Milestone Date of 04/30/2026 for Final decision/agency action (Agency Action) has passed by 1 business days
Approver Comments
<p>The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) missed the April 30, 2026, milestone to complete the use authorization. Per 42 U.S.C.§ 4370m-2(c)(2)(F), Reclamation is required to provide an alternative completion date and an initial explanation for the missed completion date by May 11, 2026. Reclamation has provided the initial explanation for the missed date but has not yet provided the required alternative completion date. The Permitting Council is working with Reclamation to ensure an alternative completion date is determined and represented on the permitting timetable as soon as possible. Modifications to the language of the use authorization agreement were requested at the end of April delayed the execution of the agreement and prompted additional internal reviews.</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
Final decision/agency action (Agency Action)
  • Non-conformance Explanation:
    The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) missed the April 30, 2026, milestone to complete the use authorization. Per 42 U.S.C.§ 4370m-2(c)(2)(F), Reclamation is required to provide an alternative completion date and an initial explanation for the missed completion date by May 11, 2026. Reclamation has provided the initial explanation for the missed date but has not yet provided the required alternative completion date. The Permitting Council is working with Reclamation to ensure an alternative completion date is determined and represented on the permitting timetable as soon as possible. Modifications to the language of the use authorization agreement were requested at the end of April delayed the execution of the agreement and prompted additional internal reviews.
Current Target Date:
Response Date
Reporting Agency
Bureau of Reclamation