FWS announced a 12-month finding on a petition to list the North American wolverine as an endangered or threatened species under the ESA; the agency found that listing is warranted but precluded by higher priority actions

FWS announced a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Sonoran population of the desert tortoise as endangered or threatened and to designate critical habitat under the ESA; the agency found that listing is warranted but precluded by higher priority actions.

FWS proposed to list the dunes sagebrush lizard from southeastern New Mexico and adjacent west Texas as endangered under the ESA.

NOAA-Fisheries announced a 90-day finding on two petitions to delist the eastern distinct population segment of the Steller sea lion under the ESA; the agency found that delisting may be warranted.

NOAA-Fisheries announced a 12-month finding on a petition to list the bearded seal as a threatened or endangered species under the ESA; the agency found that listing of the Beringia and Okhotsk distinct population segments as threatened is warranted.

NOAA-Fisheries announced a 12-month finding on a petition to list the ringed seal as a threatened or endangered species under the ESA; the agency found that listing of the Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic, and Ladoga subspecies as threatened is warranted.

United States v. Ampersand Chowchilla Biomass, LLC, No. 1:11-cv-00242 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 14, 2011). A settling CAA defendant responsible for violations at its biomass electric-generating facilities in Madera, California, must pay a $343,000 civil penalty to the United States and the San Joaquin Valley unified air pollution control district, must install additional emissions monitoring equipment, and must comply with permit conditions over a two-year period or face stipulated penalties.

United States v. Merced Power LLC, No. 1:11-cv-00241 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 14, 2011). A settling CAA defendant responsible for violations at its biomass electric-generating facilities in Merced, California, must pay a $492,000 civil penalty to the United States and the San Joaquin Valley unified air pollution control district, must install additional emissions monitoring equipment, and must comply with permit conditions over a two-year period or face stipulated penalties

United States v. Orval Kent Food Co., Inc., No. 2:11-cv-02057-JAR-JPO (D. Kan. Jan. 31, 2011). A settling CWA defendant responsible for discharges into a POTW in Baxter Springs, Kansas, must pay a $390,000 civil penalty, must increase monitoring of its discharges and install additional treatment, if necessary, and must undertake a fish restocking project at a cost of $32,500.

United States v. HOVENSA L.L.C., No. 1:11-cv-6 (D.V.I. Jan. 26, 2011). A settling CAA defendant responsible for violations at its petroleum refinery in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, must pay civil penalties and must perform injunctive relief to reduce emissions at the facility.