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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a new rule to list the bleached sandhill skipper, an insect subspecies from Humboldt County, Nevada, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The listing is due to threats from climate change and groundwater pumping affecting its habitat. The agency invites public comments until March 10, 2025, and will conduct a public hearing if requested. The rule would extend protections to the species, although a critical habitat designation is not yet determined.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the blue tree monitor, a rare lizard native to Indonesia, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This proposed rule is due to the lizard's shrinking population, caused by habitat loss from deforestation, climate change, and overcollection for the international pet trade. The service has identified that the blue tree monitor faces an immediate risk of extinction throughout its entire range. Public comments are invited until February 24, 2025, and a temporary 240-day emergency listing is also concurrently in effect.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to rules about hunting migratory birds in Alaska, focusing on subsistence harvest regulations. This includes introducing permits for hunters from excluded areas, closing the harvesting of emperor goose eggs statewide due to population concerns, and providing clarity on certain boundaries and regulations to ensure compliance and proper management. The proposals aim to involve Native representatives in managing these rules and ensure the sustainability of bird populations while balancing subsistence needs.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program. This decision, signed by the Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, finalizes the plan to implement an oil and gas leasing program in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The decision follows the requirements set by a U.S. law to manage these leasing activities. Additional details, including the specific lands available for leasing and the rules for leasing operations, have been determined in the ROD.

The Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA has announced the types of surplus and purchased foods that will be available in 2025 for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). These foods are intended to help provide nutrition assistance to those in need. The program is funded based on factors such as poverty and unemployment in each state. States can distribute these foods to agencies that offer meals or provide food for people to take home. Types of foods include dairy, fruits, vegetables, and meats, but availability might change due to agricultural market conditions.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced a public meeting of the Permanent Advisory Committee (PAC) on May 28, 2025. This meeting, conducted via web conference, will advise U.S. Commissioners on issues related to highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The PAC, which supports the U.S. National Section to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), will focus on discussing outcomes from past meetings and preparing for future ones. Public comments are invited, and accessibility accommodations are available upon request by May 21, 2025.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced plans for the SEDAR 98 assessment process, which aims to evaluate the status of the red snapper population in the Gulf of America. This will involve a data workshop, several assessment webinars, and a review workshop. The first assessment webinar is scheduled for April 15, 2025, and it will take place online for public participation. Participants can gain access by contacting the SEDAR Coordinator, and they will discuss data recommendations and ongoing assessment work. Special accommodations are available for people with disabilities.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published a notice about an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application by Atlantic Capes Fisheries, Inc., in partnership with Rutgers University. This permit, if granted, would allow certain vessels to catch both surfclams and ocean quahogs during the same trip, something normally restricted by current regulations. The aim is to research and develop accurate methods for estimating the number of these species discarded and mixed at sea. Public comments on this proposal must be submitted by April 7, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a public meeting for the SEDAR 98 Assessment Webinar II focusing on Gulf of America red snapper. The meeting will take place on May 30, 2025, and will be held online. The purpose is to review data recommendations and ongoing assessment work for the red snapper stock. The meeting is part of a larger SEDAR process aimed at evaluating fish stock status in the Southeast region, involving workshops and assessments with various participants including scientists, fishermen, and conservation experts.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have released a draft plan for managing the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument over the next 15 years. This plan outlines the goals, objectives, and potential management activities, and it includes an environmental assessment to understand the possible impacts on the human environment. The public is invited to comment on this draft by May 25, 2021, and comments can be submitted electronically or by mail. The agencies will consider all these comments before finalizing the management plan.