United States v. Holly Energy Partners-Operating, L.P., No. 5:24-cv-00107 (W.D. Okla. Jan. 29, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, settling CWA defendants that allegedly discharged about 300,000 gallons of crude oil into Skull Creek near Cushing, Oklahoma, must pay $7.4 million in civil penalties and perform corrective measures to remedy the violations. 

FWS announced findings that listing two species—the north Oregon coast distinct population segment of the red tree vole and the Plateau spot-tailed earless lizard—as endangered or threatened species under the ESA is not warranted at this time. 

FWS proposed new regulations to support conservation in the National Wildlife Refuge System by providing refuge managers with a consistent approach for evaluating and implementing management actions to ensure biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health, in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. 

United States v. PotlatchDeltic Land & Lumber, LLC, No. 2:24-cv-00043 (D. Idaho Jan. 24, 2024). Under a proposed consent decree, a settling CWA defendant that violated its NPDES permits related to stormwater discharges from its sawmill and lumberyard facility in St. Maries, Idaho, must pay a $225,000 civil penalty and implement injunctive relief and significant mitigation actions.  

United States v. Reading, City of, No. 04-05696 (E.D. Penn. Jan. 24, 2024). A proposed amendment to a consent decree extends the deadlines for completing remaining capital improvement projects for a settling CWA defendant that violated its NPDES permits, the CWA, and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams law by discharging pollutants into the Schuylkill River, failed to enforce the requirements of its pretreatment program for industrial users, and failed to properly operate and maintain its wastewater treatment plant and systems. 

EPA approved alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water to determine compliance with national primary drinking water regulations under the SDWA. 

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.