Feds Want Paperwork on Tribes Harvesting Sacred Plants in Parks
Published Date: 9/18/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Park Service is asking to keep collecting info from federally recognized Indian tribes who gather certain plants for traditional uses. This helps the agency manage and respect tribal practices without adding new costs or deadlines. You can share your thoughts by October 19, 2026, but no changes or fees are planned right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Tribal Plant-Gathering Information Rule
Federally recognized Indian Tribes that want to gather certain plants in National Parks must provide information to the National Park Service to request a plant-gathering agreement and a permit. Only enrolled Tribal members designated by the Tribe, whose Tribe has a long-standing historical connection to the park that existed before the park was created, may gather plants for traditional, sustainable, non-commercial purposes.
Estimated Paperwork Burden for Tribes
The National Park Service estimates 30 annual responses for this information collection, with each response taking between 4 and 80 hours and a total of 530 estimated annual burden hours. Responding is required to obtain or retain the benefit (a permit or agreement).
No Non-Hour Costs Required
The notice states there are no estimated annual non-hour (out-of-pocket) costs for this collection (Total Estimated Annual Non Hour Burden Cost: None). The collection is an extension of an approved information collection under OMB Control Number 1024-0271.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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