Environment

EPA Response to TSCA Section 8(e) Comments

EPA has issued a response document addressing public comments submitted on Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) requirements. The document provides EPA's determinations on the issues raised by commenters regarding health and safety data reporting obligations for chemical substances. This response clarifies EPA's interpretive positions and resolves outstanding questions raised during the comment period for the underlying TSCA 8(e) rulemaking.

EPA Proposes Approving Missouri SIP Revisions for Petroleum Storage Emission Controls in St. Louis

The EPA Region 7 is proposing to approve Missouri's State Implementation Plan revisions to Rule 10 CSR 10-5.220, which controls VOC emissions from petroleum liquid storage, loading, and transfer in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The revisions raise the smaller tank size threshold from 500 to 550 gallons, add a streamlined process for vapor recovery system modifications at gasoline dispensing facilities eliminating associated permitting requirements, and clarify testing and reporting language. The changes align the St. Louis rule with a similar Kansas City area rule. Comments must be submitted by May 26, 2026.

From Commitment to Implementation for Caspian Sea Protection

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen delivered a speech at the High-level Session on the Tehran Convention in Astana, Kazakhstan, emphasizing the ecological and human crisis facing the Caspian Sea, the world's largest enclosed body of water. The speech highlighted that water levels have dropped approximately 2 metres since the 1990s, with projections of an additional 8 to 21 metres decline by century end, threatening fisheries, ports, coastal infrastructure, food security, and potentially displacing millions of people across five littoral states. The Tehran Convention was described as the only legally binding regional framework for protecting the Caspian Sea's marine environment, with UNEP supporting substantive coordination steps with Caspian states since June 2024.

Apply for Non-Native Fish or Crayfish Licence

CEFAS and DEFRA published updated guidance on 23 April 2026 for applying to the Fish Health Inspectorate to introduce and keep non-native freshwater fish (not for farms or inland waters) and certain non-native crayfish species. This consolidated form replaces the previous ILFA1 and CRAY2 application forms. The guidance applies to England and Wales and cites the Import of Live Fish (England and Wales) Act 1980 and the Prohibition of Keeping of Live Fish (Crayfish) Order 1996 as the governing legislation.

Minnesota MPCA Earth Day Water Quality Improvements Scale Up

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released an Earth Day update highlighting statewide water quality improvements, including 330,000 acres of conservation practices projected for 2026, a 22,000-pound annual sediment capture system in Duluth's Hartley Park, and measurable reductions of 32% phosphorus and 6% nitrogen flowing to the Gulf of Mexico. The announcement showcases farmer-led nutrient reduction efforts in the Red River and Mississippi River watersheds, supported by Minnesota's Clean Water Fund and the newly released Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Settlement: $668M Cleanup with 100+ Parties

EPA, DOJ, and the State of Washington reached a settlement with over 100 potentially responsible parties on March 4, 2026, to address hazardous substance releases into the Lower Duwamish Waterway, a five-mile segment of Seattle's only river. The Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (Boeing, City of Seattle, King County) will design and perform EPA's selected cleanup plan for approximately 177 acres through dredging and capping over at least 10 years. The settlement value is approximately $668 million, with $130 million from other private responsible parties and $140 million from settling federal agencies.

Australian NPI Emissions Data Updated April 2026

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) emissions dataset on data.gov.au was updated on 1 April 2026. The dataset contains annual reported emissions to air, water, and land from NPI-reporting facilities and is available for download in Excel, CSV, TSV, JSON, and XML formats, with a Data API also accessible. This is a routine data publication update with no new compliance obligations or regulatory changes.

Submit Comment on Jamaican Kite Swallowtail Endangered Status

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has opened a public comment period on the proposed endangered species status review for the Jamaican Kite Swallowtail butterfly. The consultation invites interested parties to submit comments on whether this species warrants listing under the Endangered Species Act. Comments may be submitted through Regulations.gov or by mail, with the option to identify as an individual, organization, or anonymously.

NAGPRA Notice of Inventory Completion: Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Andover, MA

The Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology has completed a NAGPRA inventory identifying human remains representing at least two individuals removed from the Hagan Mound Group (11SC365) in Schuyler County, Illinois during the 1920s Illinois Valley Survey. The Institute has determined cultural affiliation with 33 Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations listed in the notice. Written repatriation requests must be submitted to Ryan Wheeler at the Institute; repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026.

NAGPRA Human Remains Inventory Completed, Cultural Affiliations Determined

In compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the University of Nebraska State Museum has completed its required inventory of human remains, identifying at least two individuals with no associated funerary objects. The museum has determined cultural affiliation between the remains and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona, based on geographical location and acquisition history.

UTSA Center Completes NAGPRA Inventory, Human Remains

The University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research has completed a NAGPRA inventory identifying human remains of at least two individuals and five associated funerary objects (four pot sherds and one projectile point). The remains and objects, donated in 1979 with no records other than a note indicating Georgia origin, have been determined to be culturally affiliated with the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and The Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026, upon written request to the authorized representative.

U.S. Army Corps NAGPRA Inventory Completion, Tulsa OK

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District (USACE) has completed a NAGPRA inventory identifying human remains of one individual and 32 associated funerary objects (ceramic sherds, chipped stone, faunal remains, lithic points, ochre, and natural stone) recovered in 1967 from site 41LR12 at Pat Mayse Lake in Lamar County, Texas. USACE has determined cultural affiliation with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. Written repatriation requests must be sent to Jacqueline Rodgers at USACE Tulsa District; repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026.

Indiana University NAGPRA Human Remains Inventory

Indiana University has completed its NAGPRA-required inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects originating from multiple sites in Kentucky, identifying at least 17 individuals and 13 associated funerary objects. The university has determined cultural affiliation with nine federally recognized Indian Tribes and one Native Hawaiian organization, as listed in the notice. Repatriation of these remains and objects may occur on or after May 26, 2026, subject to written requests submitted to Dr. Jayne-Leigh Thomas at Indiana University.

NAGPRA Inventory Completion: Florida Department of State Human Remains

The Florida Department of State, acting under NAGPRA, has completed an inventory identifying human remains representing at least one individual of Native American ancestry. The remains were transferred to the Department in 2018 by the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office; information on the remains indicates removal from Jefferson County, New York on October 25, 1931. The Department has determined there is a cultural affiliation between the remains and the Onondaga Nation. Written repatriation requests may be submitted to Tea Kaplan at the Florida Department of State, and repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026.

Yale Peabody Museum Completes NAGPRA Human Remains Inventory

The Yale Peabody Museum has completed a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) inventory identifying human remains representing at least 16 individuals and 24 associated funerary objects from five Connecticut archaeological sites (Old Lyme Site, Clark Site, South Woodstock Site), collected between 1899 and 1947. The museum has determined cultural affiliation with the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut. Repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026, and written requests may be submitted by the identified tribes, lineal descendants, or any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization demonstrating cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence.

Field Museum NAGPRA Inventory: Human Remains of Assiniboine Individual, Repatriation May 2026

The Field Museum has completed a NAGPRA inventory identifying human remains (hair clippings) of one individual with tribal designation 'Assiniboine' (catalog number 193211.6), collected under Franz Boas and Frederick Ward Putnam for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The museum has determined cultural affiliation with the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and the Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana. Repatriation of these remains may occur on or after May 26, 2026.

San Bernardino County Museum Intends to Repatriate 14 Cultural Patrimony Objects Under NAGPRA

The San Bernardino County Museum has issued a notice of intended repatriation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) for 14 cultural patrimony objects including shell beads, ceramic discs, lithics, ground stone, and faunal bone from various archaeological sites in California. The objects were collected and recorded between 1962 and 1981 from sites including Coyote Holes Cyn, Montgomery Peak #2, Joshua Tree-N, and Bankus sites. Repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026, with written requests to be sent to Gabrielle Carpentier at the museum. The museum has determined that these objects have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to Native American groups and are culturally affiliated with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

Yale Peabody Museum Repatriates Eight Unassociated Funerary Objects to Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes

The Yale Peabody Museum at Yale University has issued a Notice of Intended Repatriation under NAGPRA for eight unassociated funerary objects—quartz and soapstone fragments, ceramic vessel fragments, clay pipe fragments, stone items, and faunal remains—removed from the Tubbs Site in Niantic, Connecticut between 1932 and 1970. The museum has determined cultural affiliation with the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut. Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Professor Erika Edwards, Interim Director, and repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026. Competing requests require the museum to determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.

University of Michigan NAGPRA Inventory Ancestral Remains and Funerary Objects

In accordance with NAGPRA (25 U.S.C. 3003), the University of Michigan completed an inventory identifying at least seven individuals of Native American ancestry and 13 associated funerary objects from three archaeological sites in Berrien County, Michigan. The University determined cultural affiliation with 13 federally recognized tribes. Repatriation of the Ancestral remains and associated funerary objects may occur on or after May 26, 2026. Written requests for repatriation must be submitted to Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Office Managing Director, University of Michigan.

NAGPRA Repatriation Notice, Thornton W Burgess Society, East Sandwich

The National Park Service has published a Notice of Intended Repatriation under NAGPRA for the Thornton W. Burgess Society in East Sandwich, MA. The Society has determined that one sacred object (Kapa/Tapa), recorded as probably of Pacific Island origin and donated in 1983 from the Alfred E. Hoxie collections, is culturally affiliated with the Hui Iwi Kuamo'o, a Native Hawaiian organization. Repatriation of the cultural item may occur on or after May 26, 2026. Written requests may be submitted by lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations not identified in the notice who can demonstrate cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence.

Foreign Endangered Species Receipt of Permit Application

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published notice in the Federal Register (91 FR 21832) of a permit application for activities involving foreign endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The notice opens a 33-day public comment period ending May 26, 2026. This is a standard administrative notice inviting public input on the application before the agency makes any permitting determination.

Small-Scale Groundwater Abstraction for Construction Dewatering: RPS 368

The Environment Agency has published Regulatory Position Statement 368 (RPS 368), providing its regulatory approach to small-scale groundwater abstraction for construction dewatering lasting under 270 days. The RPS does not create new legal obligations but clarifies that the Agency will not normally take enforcement action against abstraction activities that meet its specified requirements, even where a full abstraction licence would ordinarily be required. Construction firms undertaking dewatering activities in England should review the RPS requirements to determine whether their operations qualify for this regulatory position.

CELLSAFEUK Ltd Environmental Permit Application Public Consultation EPR/PP3623MM/A001

The Environment Agency has published a public consultation notice regarding an environmental permit application (EPR/PP3623MM/A001) submitted by CELLSAFEUK Ltd for Cellsafe Limited in Willenhall. The application covers waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators. The public may submit comments on the application, and the Environment Agency will subsequently decide whether to grant or refuse the permit and what conditions to include.

Hawaii PUC Opens VPP Docket for Grid Integration

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has opened Docket No. 2026-0084 to design a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) grid-services program that will better integrate customer-sited energy resources such as rooftop solar and battery storage to support grid operations across Hawaiian Electric service territories. The commission found that while Hawaii has high distributed energy resource adoption, many resources are not optimized for grid reliability or fossil fuel reduction. The proceeding will explore remote-dispatch models, performance-based compensation, and expanded access including low- and moderate-income households. Individuals and organizations may file a motion to intervene or participate within 20 days.

Renewables Obligation to Exchequer Cost Scheme Due Diligence and Monitoring Privacy Notice

DESNZ has published a privacy notice explaining how it processes personal data when awarding grant payments to energy suppliers under the Renewables Obligation to Exchequer Cost Scheme. The notice covers due diligence and monitoring activities and informs affected parties of their data rights. Energy suppliers receiving or applying for grants under this scheme should review the notice to understand how their personal data will be handled by the department.

Earth Day Coloring Book Contest Winners Announced

WA Ecology announced 12 student winners (grades K-12) of its Solution to the Pollution Earth Day coloring book design contest, selected from 55 total submissions from across Washington State including Seattle, Walla Walla, Maple Valley, Spokane, Odessa, Ocean Beach, and West Richland. Winners were organized by six statements about preventing nonpoint pollution such as picking up pet waste, planting rain gardens, using cover crops, and keeping livestock out of waterways. The full coloring book is now available for free download on the Ecology publications website.

Delaware CGP Reauthorization Deadline June 15 2026

Delaware DNREC has reauthorized the Delaware NPDES Construction General Permit, effective March 11, 2026. All permittees and co-permittees with previously approved Notices of Intent must complete the reauthorization process under the 2026 CGP by June 15, 2026. Instructions were distributed via mail and email to affected parties, with additional guidance available on the Sediment and Stormwater Program website.

Windblown Dust Advisory San Gorgonio Pass Banning Coachella Valley

South Coast AQMD has issued a windblown dust advisory for San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and the Coachella Valley effective Monday 8:00 PM through Wednesday 7:00 AM. Wind gusts up to 43 mph are expected in the Northern Coachella Valley and 50-60 mph in San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, causing high particle pollution (PM10) with Very Unhealthy or higher AQI categories anticipated at times in the Northern Coachella Valley and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher in other areas. Residents in affected areas are advised to remain indoors with windows closed, avoid vigorous physical activity, and run air conditioning or air purifiers.

Windblown Dust Advisory Extended for San Gorgonio Pass, Banning and Coachella Valley

South Coast AQMD has extended a windblown dust advisory for San Gorgonio Pass, Banning, and the Coachella Valley through Wednesday April 22 at 11:59 PM due to high winds with gusts up to 50-60 mph expected in the Northern Coachella Valley. Unhealthy or higher AQI categories are forecast at times through Wednesday night in the Northern Coachella Valley, while Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher AQI is expected in other areas. The advisory includes public health recommendations including remaining indoors with windows closed and running air conditioning or air purifiers.

South Coast AQMD Highlights Air Quality Progress Despite Wildfires

South Coast AQMD announced that 2025 recorded some of the lowest ozone levels on record for the Los Angeles region, and the South Coast Air Basin now meets the federal PM10 standard and achieved the 24-hour PM2.5 standard in 2023 and 2024. The agency highlighted that elevated PM2.5 levels at times were driven by large-scale wildfires, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, while referencing programs such as Rule 2305 (WAIRE Program), INVEST CLEAN*, and ELECTRIC as ongoing efforts to reduce emissions in impacted communities.

Toyota ShareLunker Program 2026 Season Delivers 18 Legacy Class Fish From 10 Texas Lakes

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced results of the 2026 Toyota ShareLunker collection season, celebrating the program's 40th anniversary with 18 Legacy Class ShareLunkers submitted from 10 different public lakes across Texas. Two waterbodies (Hords Creek Reservoir and Ellison Creek Reservoir) recorded their first Legacy Class fish, while four lakes set new waterbody records. O.H. Ivie retained bragging rights for most entries for the sixth consecutive season with five Legacy Class ShareLunkers, bringing its total to 63 since 2020. The program focuses on habitat improvement, stocking programs, and genetic research for largemouth bass conservation.

CPUC Commission News Release Search Form

This page is the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) online search form for archived Commission News Releases, providing a searchable database of releases issued since July 2000. The form allows filtering by document title, industry (Energy, Transportation, Water/Sewer, Communications, Other, or Multiple Types), and publication date range. The page contains no substantive regulatory content and is a utility interface only.

Landmark Study Finds Crumb Rubber in Synthetic Turf Poses No Significant Cancer Risk

OEHHA released a landmark study on March 5, 2026, finding that recycled tires used as crumb rubber infill in synthetic turf fields pose no significant risk of cancer or other health problems to players, coaches, referees, or spectators. The comprehensive study tested 35 synthetic turf fields across all California climate regions, coordinated with Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, UC Berkeley, and University of Arizona, and surveyed over 1,000 soccer players ages 7 to 71 to assess exposure through skin contact, breathing, and ingestion. OEHHA found no acute risk to any group tested, including toddlers who might crawl on fields, with negligible risk for sensory irritation, cancer, or reproductive harm.

Signs Bill Lifting Nuclear Moratorium, Creates Nuclear Task Force

Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation S3870/A4528 to lift New Jersey's de facto moratorium on new nuclear power plant construction, removing a permitting hurdle created by the Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA). The law allows the DEP Commissioner to approve permits based on safe, NRC-compliant waste storage methods, which have a 100 percent effective safety record in the U.S. Concurrently, the newly established Nuclear Task Force, created under Executive Order 2, will organize its work across five focus areas: Financing, Supply Chains and Technology Development, Workforce Growth and Training, Regulatory and Permitting Framework, and Public Trust and Confidence.

NJ DEP Adds Shark River Basin and Lower Passaic River Regions to Resilient NJ Flood Program

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced the addition of two new regions — the Shark River Basin in Monmouth County and the Lower Passaic River in Essex County — to its Resilient NJ flood resilience planning program. The expansion brings the total number of participating regions to six, with the program now working with 87 municipalities across coastal and inland areas. NJ DEP is also accepting applications for up to four additional planning regions, with grants of up to $300,000 each available to selected regional teams.

NJ DEP Awards $14.8M in Natural Climate Solutions Grants for Flood Protection

NJ DEP announced $14.8 million in grants through its Natural Climate Solutions Grant Program for three flood protection projects in Cape May, Cumberland, and Ocean counties, NJ. Recipients include the Barnegat Bay Partnership ($4.8M), American Littoral Society ($5M), and Ocean City ($5M), each focused on restoring coastal ecosystems such as salt marshes to provide natural storm-surge and flood protection.

Precision Bred Oilseed Rape Release, England, 3rd May

DEFRA has published a notice of intention to release a precision bred oilseed rape plant in England under schedule 1 of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025. The release is scheduled to occur on or after 3 May 2026, with reference number PBR/26/003. For further information, interested parties may contact the DEFRA precision breeding team at pb-regulation@defra.gov.uk.

UK Seafood Exports Get £1.5M Annual Boost

The UK government announced a £1.5 million annual boost to the Seafood Exports Package, funded through the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund. Minister for Fisheries Dame Angela Eagle unveiled the package at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, the world's largest seafood trade event. The funding will provide practical support including expert advice on market access, export requirements, and buyer connections to help established exporters expand into new markets and give smaller firms confidence to begin exporting. The government is also working with industry to maximise the SPS agreement benefits, which will further support trade with the EU, the UK's largest seafood export market.

Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend April 25-26, Ages 12-15

New York State DEC has announced its annual youth turkey hunting weekend scheduled for April 25-26, open to junior hunters ages 12-15 across upstate New York and Suffolk County. Eligible youth must hold a hunting license and turkey permit, with supervision requirements varying by age: youth ages 12-13 must be accompanied by an adult over 21, while ages 14-15 require an adult over 18, with written parental permission in both cases. The bag limit is one bearded bird, which counts toward the regular spring season limit of two bearded birds, with shooting hours from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day.

NY Forest Rangers Week in Review: 362 Rescues and 202 Wildfires in 2025

New York State DEC Forest Rangers 2025 annual statistics show 362 search and rescue missions, 202 wildfires covering 840 acres, and 1,100 tickets and arrests. The week of April 14-19, 2026 included the largest Flood Incident Response Strike Team (FIRST) exercise on the Hudson and Schroon rivers with 82 participants, night vision goggle training, multiple wilderness rescues, a water rescue attempt in Kaaterskill Creek where a 15-year-old from Brooklyn was tragically pronounced deceased, and a prescribed burn of 11.5 acres at Albany Pine Bush. 41 Forest Rangers were deployed to fire assignments in 10 different states during 2025.

Eversource UI Electric Rates Decrease May 1 2026

PURA conditionally approves decreased electric rates for Eversource Energy and United Illuminating (UI) effective May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027 in PURA Dockets 26-01-03 and 26-01-04. Eversource residential customers will see a decrease of 4.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, averaging about $30 less per month; UI residential customers will see a decrease of 4.9 cents per kilowatt-hour, averaging about $34 less per month. The reductions are driven by lower public benefits charges tied to Millstone and Seabrook nuclear energy contracts and decreased hardship protection costs including uncollectible debt and arrearage forgiveness programs. A prudence review of actual revenues and expenses may result in further adjustments effective September 1.

Idaho DEQ Awards $89,505 to Bloomington and Roberts for Wastewater Planning

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality awarded $89,505 in total to two water systems for wastewater facility planning. The City of Bloomington in Bear Lake County received $40,000 toward an $80,000 project, while the City of Roberts in Jefferson County received $49,505 toward a $99,010 project. DEQ's Planning Grant Program covers up to 50% of eligible planning costs for wastewater and drinking water systems seeking to achieve compliance with state and federal standards.

WVDEP Adopt-A-Highway Spring Cleanup Set April 25

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is accepting registrations for the Adopt-A-Highway Spring Statewide Cleanup on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with a registration deadline of April 17. The 2025 event drew more than 1,900 volunteers from over 250 groups who removed nearly 79,000 pounds of litter from almost 600 miles of roadway. The program, administered through WVDEP's Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP), provides garbage bags, work gloves, and safety vests to volunteers, and handles disposal of collected trash. Participants must be at least 12 years old; groups can register by calling 1-800-322-5530 or emailing dep.aah@wv.gov.

FWS Awards $6.6M to 35 Tribes for Wildlife Conservation

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding $6.6 million to 35 federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native tribes across 15 states for conservation projects under the Tribal Wildlife Grants program. Nine of the awarded proposals went to tribes that have never received Tribal Wildlife Grants funds before. Since 2003, the program has awarded more than $131 million supporting 732 conservation projects, with over 100 million acres of habitat influenced or managed by 575 federally recognized tribes. Projects include salmon monitoring, Apache trout recovery, Roosevelt elk habitat restoration, fisher population research, green crab removal, and lake whitefish reintroduction.

Draft Recovery Plan Available for Pearl River Map Turtle

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a draft recovery plan for the Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis), a freshwater turtle listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2024. The plan focuses on habitat conservation and restoration, threat reduction, population growth, research on reproductive biology and ecological needs, and increased public awareness. The Service is seeking review and comment from local, state, and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public until May 22, 2026.

Nina Liang, 17, Texas, Wins 2026 National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest

Nina Liang, 17, of Texas won the 2026 National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest with an oil painting of a blue-winged teal pair titled 'Sailors of Mustard Algae.' The winning artwork will appear on the 2026-2027 Junior Duck Stamp, which raises funds for youth wildlife and wetlands conservation education programs. Second place went to Jisun Yoon, 14, of New Jersey; third place to Thora Larson, 14, of South Dakota; and the Conservation Message Contest was won by Iris Lovett, 13, of Wisconsin. The program sold approximately 3,000 Junior Duck Stamps at $5 each in the prior year.

NOAA Trains 37 Personnel in Africa Against IUU Fishing

NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement deployed instructors to Gaborone, Botswana in January 2026 for a Fisheries Enforcement and Prosecution course delivered through the International Law Enforcement Academy, training 37 fisheries law enforcement personnel, attorneys, and officials from Botswana, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Seychelles, and Mauritius. The curriculum covered container inspections, mock vessel boarding, IUU fishing legal frameworks, and building case packages to prosecute marine fisheries violations. As of January 2026, NOAA has trained more than 214 individuals from 19 countries through this program, with additional trainings planned for 2026 in Botswana and Thailand.

New Jersey Captain and Seafood Buyer Found Guilty of Multiyear Scallop Harvest Conspiracy

A New Jersey captain and seafood buyer were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States through a multiyear illegal scallop harvesting scheme spanning October 2017 to April 2021. The captain was sentenced on August 4, 2025 to a $10,000 fine, 6-month home confinement, and 2-year term of probation, and is prohibited from holding a NOAA Fisheries Operator Permit or commercial fishing permit. The dealer was sentenced on April 22, 2025 to a $4,000 fine and 2-year term of probation. The investigation began when officers discovered scallops concealed in a hidden compartment during a boarding in April 2021.

NOAA Halts Illegal Tuna Imports, Fines Importers $222,902

NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement completed two multi-year investigations resulting in $222,902 in combined civil penalties against seafood importers for falsely labeling tuna as 'dolphin safe.' The violations involved over 3.4 million pounds of tuna product imported from Mexico into U.S. commerce without proper dolphin-safe certification. Both importers cooperated with investigators, withdrew products from retail, donated inventory to nonprofits fighting food insecurity, and agreed to implement corrective labeling and sourcing practices for future shipments.

Point Rousse Port Expansion Gets Early Approval Under Impact Assessment Act

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) completed its assessment of the Point Rousse Port Expansion Project in Newfoundland and Labrador and determined that potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through existing laws and regulations. The federal impact assessment process under the Impact Assessment Act is now complete after a 68-day review, with no further assessment required. Point Rousse Marine Terminal Ltd. must still obtain any necessary federal and provincial authorizations and permits to proceed with construction.