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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a temporary final rule adjusting the annual commercial quotas for Atlantic sharks for 2025. These changes are based on shark underharvests from the 2024 fishing year, allowing additional fishing opportunities for commercial shark fishermen. The rule specifies that certain shark species, such as Gulf of America blacktip and smoothhound sharks, can have unharvested quotas carried over because they are not overfished. However, other shark groups like Hammerhead and Blacknose, which are either overfished or overfishing is occurring, won't have quota carryovers. The rule is effective from April 16, 2025, through December 31, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for the rest of the 2025 fishing year. This decision is made because the allocated amount of scallops, known as the Set-Aside, has been fully harvested. During this closure, boats with federal permits cannot fish for, keep, or bring scallops from this area unless they're fishing in state waters under specific conditions. The rule is implemented immediately to prevent overfishing and ensure future scallop populations remain healthy.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking public comments regarding a land swap proposal at the Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The proposal involves exchanging 5 acres of airport land, previously allocated for non-aeronautical purposes, for 5.75 acres of nearby land intended for business development. This proposal is being considered at the request of the Gulf Shores Airport Authority. Interested individuals are invited to submit their comments by March 11, 2021.

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council has issued a final rule to update its regulations on administrative and financial requirements for federal awards. This update aligns its rules with recent changes made by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding grants and agreements. The changes, which are aimed at reducing the administrative burden and risk of waste or fraud, will take effect on February 8, 2021. The rule does not require data collection and is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), part of the Interior Department, has announced the release of a draft report called the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Regional Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales: Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. This report studies potential impacts of oil and gas leasing in areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. BOEM is requesting public comments on this draft until January 27, 2025, and will hold virtual public meetings for further discussion. The draft considers various alternatives for oil and gas leasing and analyzes the possible effects on the environment and communities, balancing energy needs with environmental protection.

NOAA's National Ocean Service, in collaboration with several agencies, is seeking public input to identify data for transmission planning in the Gulf of Mexico off Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This Request for Information aims to improve coastal and marine spatial studies, focusing on offshore wind and transmission planning. The public can provide feedback through written comments or by participating in a public meeting in New Orleans on January 14-15, 2025. The feedback will help NOAA understand data needs and gaps for marine spatial planning and engage better with communities.

The memorandum, issued by the Executive Office of the President, withdraws certain areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from being available for oil and natural gas leasing. This decision affects regions in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, and the Pacific, considering the protection of fragile marine ecosystems, coastal environments, and the need to mitigate climate change. The withdrawal applies indefinitely and does not impact rights under existing leases in these areas.

The Deepwater Horizon natural resource Trustees in Texas have released a draft plan to restore wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats affected by the oil spill. They are focusing on using dredged materials for this purpose, with an estimated cost of $40 million for seven proposed projects. Public comments on this plan are welcome until February 18, 2025, and a public meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2025, to discuss the proposals. Details about the plan and the comment submission process are available online.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing an interim final rule to allow veterans who served in specific locations during and after the Gulf War to have a presumed service connection for urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers. This is related to exposure to fine particulate matter, particularly from burn pits, which can be hazardous to health and has been shown to have a connection to these types of cancers. This new rule is part of the effort to implement the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act), which aims to simplify the process for veterans to receive health care and benefits for conditions linked to toxic exposures during their military service. The rule is effective January 2, 2025, with comments open until March 3, 2025.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has received several filings related to natural gas pipeline rates and refund reports. These filings involve companies like Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, Equitrans, Rover Pipeline, and Gulf South Pipeline, and pertain to rate schedules and negotiated rate agreements. Interested parties can access details of these filings through FERC's eLibrary and must submit any interventions or protests by the specified deadline. The Commission encourages electronic filing for such submissions.