FWS initiated five-year status reviews under the ESA of 22 animal and plant species. 

FWS announced 90-day findings on petitions to list Betta hendra, Betta rutilans, Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander, pygmy rabbit, Railroad Valley toad, Southern Plains bumble bee, Southwest spring firefly, white-margined penstemon, and yellow-spotted woodland salamander, finding that listing may be warranted under the ESA. 

United States v. Swinerton Builders, No. 3:24-cv-00274 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 17, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, a settling CWA defendant that allegedly violated the Act during construction of solar energy facilities in Alabama, Idaho, and Illinois, must implement significant mitigation actions and pay a $2,300,000 civil penalty. 

United States v. Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, No. 3:24-cv-08006 (D. Ariz. Jan. 9, 2024). Under a proposed partial consent decree, a settling CWA defendant that allegedly violated the limits and conditions established in its NPDES permits at three wastewater treatment facilities must improve the performance of its exiting treatment plants in the short term, construct new treatment plants over the longer term, improve its operation and maintenance of the facilities, and study its collection systems to identify defects and plan for their repair. 

EPA proposed to revise the technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards for the meat and poultry products point source category. 

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.

EPA Region 10 reissued the NPDES general permit for federal aquaculture facilities and aquaculture facilities located in Indian country in Washington.