Conservation Programs: Fish and Wildlife Service Publishes Three Endangered Species Act Final Rules
On April 5, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published in the Federal Register three final rules revising regulations for “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.” The first rule, “Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and…

Federal Lands: Interior Department Finalizes BLM Rule to Reduce Natural Gas Waste from Oil & Gas Production on Federal and Tribal Lands
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the Department of the Interior published a final rule to the Federal Register that was originally proposed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on November 30, 2022.…

Air Quality: SEC Publishes ‘Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors’ Final Rule
On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published in the Federal Register a final rule (89 FR 21668) that will require U.S.-listed public companies “to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports.” Also announced by…

Wildlife Habitat: Bureau of Land Management Proposes Changes to Sage-Grouse Conservation and Management
On March 14, 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it was proposing to “strengthen greater sage-grouse conservation and management on public lands,” which spans across eleven western states, including California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,…

Food Labeling: USDA Publishes Final ‘Product of USA’ Rule for Meat, Poultry, and Eggs
On March 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published in the Federal Register a final rule (89 FR 19470) amending 9 C.F.R. §§ 317, 381, and 412 to “generically…

GHG Emissions: Texas Brings Suit in D.C. Circuit Court over EPA Methane Rule 
On Friday, March 8, 2024, the State of Texas petitioned the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to review a final rule officially published to the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the same day. The EPA first announced the…

GHG Emissions: SEC Adopts New Climate Risk and Emissions Disclosure Rule
On March 6, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted a new rule which will require publicly traded companies to disclose to potential investors their climate risks and levels of greenhouse gas emissions. These companies must report all climate risks that have had…