The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) adopted DOE’s electric vehicle charging stations categorical exclusion pursuant to §109 of NEPA to use for proposed DHS actions.

NOAA announced that it is beginning the process to identify aquaculture opportunity areas in Alaska state waters to help sustainably advance invertebrate and seaweed aquaculture, in partnership with the state of Alaska. 

United States v. Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority, No. 23-cv-00225 (E.D. Tenn. Sept. 29, 2023). Under a proposed consent decree, a settling CWA defendant that allegedly discharged to waters of the United States without an NPDES permit and violated the operations and maintenance conditions of its NPDES permit must perform injunctive relief and pay a civil penalty of $598,490.

FERC amended the Uniform System of Accounts for public utilities and licensees to create new accounts for wind, solar, and other renewable generating assets; create a new functional class for energy storage accounts; codify the accounting treatment of environmental credits; and create new accounts within existing functions for computer hardware, software, and communication equipment.

EPA announced its intent to approve revisions to Texas' Public Water System Supervision program.

United States v. Waco Oil & Gas Co., Inc., No. 23-cv-00078 (N.D.W. Va. Sept. 28, 2023). Under a proposed consent decree, a settling CWA defendant that discharged pollutants without a permit into waters of the United States must restore impacted areas, perform mitigation, and pay a civil penalty.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management amended its renewable energy regulations to update the definition of “Outer Continental Shelf” and add the definition of “State” in conformity with the Inflation Reduction Act.

United States v. Mount Vernon, No. 18-5845 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 19, 2023). Under a proposed consent decree, a settling CWA defendant must take steps necessary to bring its municipal separate storm sewer system into compliance and pay a $100,000 civil penalty.

EPA revised and replaced the 2020 regulatory requirements for water quality certification under CWA §401.

EPA Region 1 announced the availability of the draft NPDES non-contact cooling water general permit for discharges to certain waters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of New Hampshire.