BLM is modifying their Right-of-Way Authorization to remain in alignment with the overall permitting timetable for the project which reflects a 60-day modification to the final completion dates.
Description:
This milestone is for a BLM Right-of-way Authorization for Phase II of the Navajo Nation Department of Education (NN DOE) project as assessed by the NN DOE Phase II Environmental Assessment. 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.
Milestones:
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
10/19/2026
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Broadband
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
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, Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
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.
Original Target Date: 08/20/2026
Milestone: Final decision/agency action (Agency Action)
Requested extensions greater than 30 days for this Action are shown below:
Final decision/agency action (Agency Action) extended by 60
From: 08/20/2026
To: 10/19/2026