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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting public comments on permit applications for certain activities involving foreign species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These activities typically require Federal authorization but can be permitted for scientific research or to help the species survive. Public comments are accepted until April 30, 2025, and can be submitted online or by mail as detailed in the document. The notice includes various applications, such as importing biological samples for research and exporting live animals for species propagation, which are open for public reviewing and commenting.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has accepted an application from Oswego Hydro Partners, LP for a new major license concerning the Phoenix Hydroelectric Project located in New York. This project includes the Phoenix Dam and other structures on the Oswego River, with a total energy capacity of 3.18 megawatts. The application is open for public inspection, and interested parties can submit protests or motions to intervene by February 3, 2025. Oswego Hydro proposes to continue operation in its current mode and has outlined plans for issues like fish passage and environmental protection.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a final rule to implement measures for minimizing salmon bycatch in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. These measures aim to reduce the incidental catch of Endangered Species Act-listed Chinook and coho salmon. The rule introduces new management tools, including specific area closures and gear requirements, and establishes conditions under which fishery participants can access a Chinook salmon bycatch reserve. The rule also allows for the creation of Salmon Mitigation Plans (SMPs) by groups of fishing vessels to help manage bycatch while providing certain flexibilities to the industry.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to implement Framework Adjustment 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan for the 2025 and 2026 fishing years. This plan includes setting scallop catch limits, allocating fishing efforts, and modifying access area management to protect juvenile scallops. The adjustment also involves seasonal closures, area openings, and a research set-aside for scallop studies. The proposed rule aims to prevent overfishing, increase yield, and optimize the sustainability of scallop fisheries.

The Department of Commerce is asking for public comments on its information collection process related to the National Saltwater Angler Registry Program. This program gathers details from anglers and for-hire fishing vessels, such as names and contact information, to help estimate recreational fishing activities. The document invites comments for 60 days, offers details on how to send them, and describes the registration process, ensuring transparency about respondent obligations and legal authority. Comments will help assess and improve the accuracy and utility of the collection while seeking to minimize any reporting burden on the participants.

The Department of Justice has lodged a proposed Consent Decree in a lawsuit concerning natural resource damages caused by Vigor Industrial, LLC and Exxon Mobil Corp. The lawsuit involves claims under environmental laws for damages in Seattle's Lower Duwamish River. The proposed settlement requires the defendants to carry out and maintain habitat restoration projects and pay $815,816.59 for assessment costs. Public comments on the proposed Consent Decree and the Draft Restoration Plan will be accepted for 30 days following the notice's publication.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued an in-season order that relinquished regulatory control over specific U.S. treaty tribal and all citizen commercial salmon fisheries in the Fraser River Panel Area in 2024. This decision follows the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the U.S. and Canada, designed to manage salmon stocks in the region. The order was approved by the Pacific Salmon Commission and is intended to align with domestic legal obligations, allowing fishing activities in designated areas without prior public notice, due to timing constraints. This rule takes immediate effect to ensure that fisheries can operate efficiently when salmon are available.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public meetings from March 27 to April 7, 2025. The meetings will cover several topics, including vessel use caps, sablefish release procedures, crab protection measures in the Gulf of Alaska, and more. The sessions will be held virtually, allowing participants to join online through the Council's website. Public comments can be submitted in writing from March 7 to March 28, 2025, to ensure all voices are heard without technical issues affecting oral testimonies.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed a petition to classify the Rio Grande cutthroat trout as endangered or threatened but found that it is not warranted at this time. This trout, which inhabits high-altitude streams in New Mexico and Colorado, faces threats such as hybridization with nonnative trout and habitat threats like wildfires and climate change. However, current conservation efforts, including a multi-agency agreement, have helped improve its population's resiliency. As a result, the Service concludes that the trout is not currently in danger of extinction throughout its range, nor is it likely to become endangered soon.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to its existing information collection process related to special use permits for activities on national wildlife refuges. They plan to introduce a new, simplified application form (Form 3-1383-EZ) to reduce the burden on applicants involved in non-economic activities. In addition, they are updating other forms to include more relevant activity options and improve the wording for clarity. Public comments on these changes are invited until February 18, 2025.