United States v. Ohio Refining Co., No. 3:24-cv-00039 (N.D. Ohio Jan. 8, 2024). Under five proposed consent decrees, settling CERCLA, CWA, and OPA defendants that released hazardous substances and oil at the Duck & Otter Creeks NRDA Site near Toledo, Ohio, must collectively pay $7,225,909 in natural resource damages (NRD) and $903,239 as reimbursement for NRD assessment costs incurred by DOI.

FWS initiated five-year status reviews under the ESA for the Aleutian shield fern and the Alaska breeding population of Steller’s eider. 

FWS initiated five-year status reviews under the ESA for five northeastern species. 

FWS initiated five-year status reviews under the ESA for three plant and 13 animal species. 

NMFS prohibited the retention and possession of oceanic whitetip sharks in U.S. waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and hammerhead sharks in U.S. waters of the Caribbean Sea. 

NMFS designated approximately 2,384.67 square kilometers of aquatic habitat located off the coasts of southeastern Florida, Puerto Rico, Navassa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as critical habitat for the threatened Nassau grouper pursuant to §4 of the ESA. 

FWS determined endangered species status for the black-capped petrel under the ESA. 

FWS announced the availability of the draft revised National European Green Crab Management and Control Plan. 

EPA announced the release of and seeks comment on the Waste Reduction Model (WARM) version 16 and its supporting documentation. 

NMFS extended the region-wide moratorium on the harvest of gold corals in the U.S. Pacific Islands through June 30, 2028, in order to prevent overfishing and to stimulate research on gold corals.