NMFS announced its 90-day finding on a petition to list the Delaware River population of Atlantic sturgeon as an endangered distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic sturgeon under the ESA and to designate critical habitat for the DPS, finding the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating action may be warranted and denying the petition. 

FERC amended its regulations governing applications for permits to site electric transmission facilities under the Federal Power Act, as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, and amended its NEPA procedures.

United States v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., No. 4:23-cv-00517 (N.D. Ohio May 23, 2024). In connection with the February 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, a proposed consent decree requires a settling CWA and CERCLA defendant to (1) reimburse all response costs incurred by the United States; (2) pay a civil penalty of $15 million; (3) establish a $25 million community health program for qualifying members of the public impacted by the derailment; (4) implement an array of specified rail safety procedures; (5) develop and adopt programs for coordination of rail track restoration and vent and burn procedures; (6) implement a $6 million local waterways remediation plan; (7) pay $175,000 for natural resource damages; and (8) implement compliance and future monitoring requirements. 

FWS proposed to designate approximately 930 acres in Churchill County, Nevada, as critical habitat for the Dixie Valley toad under the ESA. 

FWS removed approximately 64,797 acres of land within Arizona from the designation of critical habitat for the jaguar to comply with a court order. 

FWS designated approximately 1,213,752 acres in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon as critical habitat for the coastal distinct population segment of Pacific marten under the ESA.

NMFS announced a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon as a threatened or endangered species under the ESA, and to designate critical habitat concurrent with the listing, finding that listing may be warranted and commencing a status review. 

FWS determined endangered species status for the dunes sagebrush lizard under the ESA. 

NMFS proposed to issue protective regulations under §4(d) of the ESA for the conservation of the threatened oceanic whitetip shark. 

DOE announced the availability of the preliminary list of potential national interest electric transmission corridors, the designation of which would focus public and policymaker attention on the areas of greatest transmission need and unlock valuable federal financing and permitting tools to advance transmission development.