🐍Proposed Regulation for Southern Hognose Snake Listing
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), a small, fossorial snake species from the coastal plains and sandhills across the southeastern United States, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the southern hognose snake. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the southern hognose snake as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species. We find that designating critical habitat for this species is prudent but not determinable at this time.
Learn More⚔️ITAR Amendments
The Department of State (the Department) amends the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to remove from the U.S. Munitions List (USML) items that no longer warrant inclusion, add to the USML items that warrant inclusion, and clarify certain entries. With these amendments, the Department also updates the interim final rule it published on January 17, 2025. In addition, the Department is adding a new license exemption for certain activities related to unmanned underwater vehicles described in the exemption.
Learn More🦆Economic Impact of 2025-26 Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
This rule prescribes the seasons, hours, areas, and daily bag and possession limits for hunting migratory game birds. Taking of migratory game birds is prohibited unless specifically provided for by annual regulations. This rule permits the taking of designated species during the 2025-26 season.
Learn More📬Updated Mailing Address for CBP Office of Finance and Revenue Division
This final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to update the address of the Office of Finance, Revenue Division. Additionally, this final rule amends the CBP regulations to reflect the restructuring of the Office of Finance, Revenue Division. All correspondence directed to the CBP Office of Finance, Revenue Division, should be sent to the new address.
Learn More⚖️Civil Monetary Penalties Adjusted for 2025 by Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) issues this final rule to adjust for inflation the statutory civil monetary penalties that may be assessed for violations of Service-administered statutes and their implementing regulations. We issue this rule in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the 2015 Act) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum M-25-02. We are required to adjust civil monetary penalties annually for inflation according to a formula specified in the 2015 Act. This rule replaces the previously issued amounts with the updated amounts after using the 2025 inflation adjustment multiplier provided in M-25-02.
Learn More🦆Final Frameworks for 2025-26 Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations Established
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is establishing the final frameworks from which States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 2025-26 migratory game bird hunting season. We annually prescribe limits (which we call frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. Frameworks specify the outside dates, season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and areas where migratory game bird hunting may occur. These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and limits and to allow harvest at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance, and aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds.
Learn More🚂EXIM Notice
This Notice is to inform the public, in accordance with the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, as amended, the Export-Import Bank of the United States ("EXIM") has received an application for final commitment for a long-term loan or financial guarantee in excess of $100 million. Comments received within the comment period specified below will be presented to the EXIM Board of Directors prior to final action on this Transaction.
Learn More🐬Proposed Regulations on Marine Mammal Take for Duckabush Estuary
NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for incidental take regulations (ITR) and a Letter of Authorization (LOA) pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The requested regulations would govern the authorization of take of small numbers of marine mammals over 5 years (2026-2031) incidental to the Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project (DERP) in Hood Canal, Washington. NMFS requests public comments and will consider them prior to making any final decision on the requested ITR and issuance of the LOA; agency responses to comments will be summarized in the final rule, if issued.
Learn More✈️User Fee Amendment for Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Services
On May 7, 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published in the Federal Register a final rule amending the user fee regulations associated with the agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) program. The final rule went into effect on October 1, 2024, with the exception of the removal of an exemption from paying the AQI user fee for commercial aircraft with 64 or fewer seats meeting certain conditions. The removal of the exemption would have taken effect on April 1, 2025. On March 21, 2025, we published a notice in the Federal Register delaying the effective date of the removal of the exemption from paying the AQI user fee for small commercial passenger aircraft, until June 2, 2025, and requesting information. As a result of the comments we received on that notice, we decided to delay implementation of the removal of the exemption indefinitely. However, as a result of an editorial error, the exemption had already been removed from the regulations. In this document, we are amending the regulations to restore the exemption from paying the AQI user fee for commercial aircraft with 64 or fewer seats meeting certain conditions.
Learn More🦎Proposed Rule for Borneo Earless Monitor Endangered Status
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Borneo earless monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis), a lizard species from Borneo, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the Borneo earless monitor. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the Borneo earless monitor as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species.
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