OSM approved revisions to Alabama's regulatory program under SMCRA that clarify that the venue for appeals of Alabama Surface Mining Commission decisions resides in the circuit court of the county in which the agency maintains its principal office.

OSM adjusted for inflation the level of civil monetary penalties assessed under SMCRA.

OSM proposed to approve an amendment to Pennsylvania's regulatory program under SMCRA; the amendments revise Pennsylvania's Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conversation Act to include language clarifying the circumstances where a finding of presumptive evidence of pollution is warranted under the commonwealth's Clean Streams Law.

OSM announced the withdrawal of proposed amendments to Arkansas' regulatory program and abandoned mine land reclamation plan under SMCRA due to inconsistencies with federal rules.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is proposing to amend its categorical exclusions under NEPA for certain BIA actions and seeks comment on whether it should revise or delete any existing exclusions and/or add new ones. 

United States v. Jeld-Wen, Inc., No. 2:18-cv-00113 (W.D. Wash. Jan. 25, 2018). Settling CWA and OPA defendants responsible for natural resource damages caused by discharges of hazardous substances and oil to the Port Gardner Bay Area in Everett, Washington, must pay $4,290,886 in civil penalties.

The president issued Executive Order No. 13817 on December 20, 2017, "A Federal Strategy To Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals," which seeks to streamline the leasing and permitting processes to expedite the exploration and production of domestic minerals to decrease the reliance on importation.

EPA announced the availability of data in support of its proposed rule "Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources: Stay of Certain Requirements."

DOI approved an amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program under SMCRA that further defines the implementation process for the reclamation of alternative bonding system "Legacy Sites," and clearly identifies the current list of Legacy Sites.

OSM proposed to approve revisions to Alabama’s abandoned mine land reclamation plan to reflect changes in the federal regulations.