🌳Proposed Endangered Status for Blue Tree Monitor - Business Implications
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reopening the comment period on our December 26, 2024, proposed rule to list the blue tree monitor (Varanus macraei), a lizard species from Indonesia, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are taking this action to allow interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule and to conduct a public hearing. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.
Learn More⚡Adoption of Categorical Exclusions for Hydropower Projects
The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has adopted two categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act concerning hydropower projects. This order, effective 31 days post-issuance, facilitates quicker project approvals by streamlining the regulatory process for energy stakeholders. Interested parties can access the order through the Commission's eLibrary.
Learn More🌍Impact of NEPA Procedures Rescission on Business and Compliance
This interim final rule rescinds DON's regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), because the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) NEPA regulations, which they were meant to supplement, have been rescinded, and because the DoD is promulgating Department-wide NEPA procedures that will guide the Navy's NEPA process. In addition, this interim final rule requests comments on this action.
Learn More🌍DOT Updates NEPA Procedures for Environmental Impact Assessments
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is updating DOT Order 5610.1C "Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts," which establishes procedures for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Order was last updated in 1985. This update is necessary in light of the recent recission of the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ's) NEPA procedures, which DOT's procedures were designed to supplement. In addition, the update incorporates provisions from the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21); the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA); and the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA 2023) related to the environmental review process. The updated Order promotes collaboration and efficiencies in the implementation of NEPA and modernizes the processes and procedures for environmental review. This update enables DOT to conduct coordinated, consistent, predictable, and timely environmental reviews, thus reducing unnecessary burdens and delays.
Learn More✈️FAA Rescinds NEPA Order 1050.1F
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is rescinding FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures in light of Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy. The FAA is issuing new streamlined National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures, FAA NEPA Order 1050.1G, to align with amendments to the NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and to reflect the February 25, 2025 Interim Final Rule issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) rescinding its regulations implementing NEPA. The new procedures maintain environmental amenities and protection and reduce regulatory delays that may impede aviation safety improvements and infrastructure development as well as integration of new entrant technologies. The Order is immediately effective upon publication and applies to all FAA actions that require environmental review and commence on or after the publication of this Notice. This Order does not apply to or alter any decisions made or final environmental documents issued prior to the effective date of this Order. Order 1050.1G promotes collaboration and efficiencies in the implementation of NEPA and modernizes the procedures for environmental reviews. This update is intended to provide clear, consistent, and simplified guidance for complying with the amended directives set forth in NEPA, and to the extent applicable, CEQ guidance that remains valid following the rescission of CEQ's NEPA implementing regulations. The FAA is providing an opportunity for public review and comment of this Order, which will inform future revisions.
Learn More⚡FERC Final Rule
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is issuing this final rule to revise its regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and its Rules of Practice and Procedure to remove reference to the Council on Environmental Quality's rescinded regulations.
Learn More🌱USDA Interim Final Rule on NEPA Regulations Revisions
This interim final rule modifies the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and removes various USDA agency regulations for implementing NEPA. USDA is taking this action in response to the Council on Environmental Quality's rescission of its NEPA implementing regulations (which USDA's NEPA regulations were designed to supplement), statutory changes to NEPA, executive orders, and case law. Comments are voluntarily requested on this action to inform USDA's decision-making.
Learn More🌿EPA Cancels Pesticide Registrations
This notice announces EPA's order for the cancellations and/or amendments to terminate uses, voluntarily requested by the registrants and accepted by the Agency, pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This cancellation order follows a December 17, 2024, Federal Register Notice of Receipt of Requests from the registrants listed in Table 3 of Unit II to voluntarily cancel and/or amend to terminate uses of all these product registrations. In the December 17, 2024, notice, EPA indicated that it would issue an order implementing the cancellations and/or amendments to terminate uses, unless the Agency received substantive comments within the 30-day comment period that would merit its further review of these requests, or unless the registrants withdrew their requests. The Agency received one anonymous comment on the notice, but it did not merit its further review of the requests. Further, the registrants did not withdraw their requests. Accordingly, EPA hereby issues in this notice a cancellation order granting the requested cancellations and/or amendments to terminate uses. Any distribution, sale, or use of the products subject to this cancellation order is permitted only in accordance with the terms of this order, including any existing stocks provisions.
Learn More🦭Permit Issued for California Sea Lion Research by NOAA
Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Daniel Costa, Ph.D., University of California at Santa Cruz, 130 McAlister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 to conduct research on California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).
Learn More🌳Adoption of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA by BLM
The Department of the Interior (Department) is notifying the public and documenting the adoption of nine U.S. Forest Service (USFS), one U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), one Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and four Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) categorical exclusions (CXs) by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), under section 109 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for recreation, restoration, road management, rangeland management, access for hydrologic and geologic exploration, transmission infrastructure, and reburial of human remains and funerary objects under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. In accordance with section 109, this notice identifies the types of actions for which the BLM will rely on the CXs, the considerations that the BLM will use in determining the applicability of the CXs and the consultation between the agencies on the use of the CXs, including application of extraordinary circumstances.
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