🐍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🌍EPA Regulations on Hydrofluorocarbons
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing, pursuant to the statutory framework established in the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act), the eligibility of six applications to continue to receive priority access to allowances to produce or import hydrofluorocarbons. In this final rule, EPA establishes the framework for how EPA interprets the statutory criteria for assessing whether to renew the eligibility of applications to receive application-specific allowances and sets out determinations to renew or not renew each of the six applications that currently receive application-specific allowances. EPA is also finalizing revisions to the Technology Transitions regulations relevant to the specific applications under review, a procedural process for submitting a petition to designate a new application as eligible for priority access to allowances, the methodology used to allocate allowances to application-specific allowance holders for calendar years 2026 and beyond, and limited revisions to existing regulations. In addition, EPA is authorizing an entity to produce regulated substances for export. Lastly, EPA is finalizing certain regulatory confidentiality determinations for newly reported information.
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🌬️Request for Comments on Wind Turbine Imports and National Security
On August 13, 2025, the Secretary of Commerce initiated an investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of wind turbines and their parts and components. This investigation has been initiated under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (Section 232). Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, data, analyses, or other information pertinent to the investigation to the Department of Commerce's (Department) Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security. This notice identifies issues on which the Department is especially interested in obtaining the public's views.
Learn More⚖️U.S. Countervailing Duty Investigation on Unwrought Palladium from Russia
The U.S. Department of Commerce has initiated a countervailing duty investigation into imports of unwrought palladium from Russia, prompted by allegations of subsidization harming the domestic industry. This investigation involves assessing the impact of Russian imports on U.S. producers and could lead to the imposition of tariffs if material injury is determined. Interested parties may provide comments and factual information during the investigation process.
Learn More🐟Proposed Regulation
NMFS is proposing changes to regulations to implement the binding International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Recommendation 24-12 on mobulid rays of the family Mobulidae, which was adopted in 2024. Specifically, NMFS is proposing to prohibit retention of mobulid rays in fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), to require mobulid rays to be released unharmed in HMS fisheries, and to implement mobulid ray handling practices for vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear.
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🚂Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation on Freight Rail Couplers
The Department of Commerce has initiated a countervailing duty investigation into imports of freight rail couplers and parts from India based on allegations of government subsidies causing injury to the domestic industry. Interested parties are invited to comment on the scope of the investigation and submit relevant factual information as the process unfolds.
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.
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