FWS announced a 12-month finding on a petition to list Hamilton milkvetch, Flowers penstemon, Frisco buckwheat, Ostler's peppergrass, and Frisco clover as threatened or endangered under the ESA; the agency found that listing Hamilton milkvetch and Flowers penstemon is not warranted and that listing Frisco buckwheat, Ostler's peppergrass, and Frisco clover is warranted but precluded by higher priority actions.

FWS determined threatened status for the New Zealand/Australia distinct population segment of the southern rockhopper penguin under the ESA.

FWS designated approximately 98,366 acres in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties in California as critical habitat for the arroyo toad under the ESA.

FWS designated approximately 2,947 acres in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties in California as critical habitat for thread-leaved brodiaea under the ESA.

FWS will reintroduce whooping cranes as a nonessential experimental population into historic habitat in southwestern Louisiana to establish a nonmigratory flock.

EPA approved revisions to North Carolina's hazardous waste management program.

United States v. Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., No. 4-07-CV-3795 (S.D. Tex. May 16, 2011). A settling CERCLA defendant responsible for violations at facilities in Houston, Odessa, and Webster, Texas, must pay $815,000 to the United States and $81,500 to Texas in response costs incurred or to be incurred at the sites.

In re Caribbean Petroleum Corp., No. 10-12553 (KG) (Bankr. D. Del. May 20, 2011). Settling CERCLA, CWA, Oil Pollution Act, and RCRA defendants responsible for violations at a petroleum distribution terminal in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, must provide the United States with general unsecured claims totaling $18,725,130 and must pay $8,200,000 in U.S. response costs and penalties.

United States v. South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., No. 2-11-cv-1110-CWH (D.S.C. May 9, 2011). A settling CERCLA and Park System Resource Protection Act defendant responsible for violations at the National Park Service's Dockside II Property in Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston, South Carolina, must pay $3.6 million in U.S. response costs and damages incurred at the site, must pay $120,528.88 in natural resource damages to state and federal trustees, and must pay $29,471.12 in natural resource damage assessments to state and federal agencies.

United States v. Alsol Corp., No. 2:09-cv-03026 (JLL/CCC) (D.N.J. May 11, 2011). Settling CERCLA defendants that denied EPA entry and access to the Michelin Powerhouse Superfund site in Milltown, New Jersey, must pay a $200,000 civil penalty.