Policy News
There continues to be a concern that a policy rider in a Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that exempts the repeal of the Clean Water Rule from the Administrative Procedures Act might make its way to final passage of a Fiscal Year 2018 spending bill. Earlier this year, the CASS groups sent... Read More
After hearing directly from stakeholders and the people of Alaska, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is suspending its process to withdraw the proposed restrictions on Pebble Mine. This decision would leave the restrictions in place while the agency receives more information on the potential mine’s impact. In a statement released on January 26, the agency said,... Read More
On January 22, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that challenges to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule must be heard in district courts rather than in U.S. Federal Courts of Appeal presenting a procedural hurdle to the Trump Administration’s efforts to repeal and replace the 2015 rule with a narrower rule. Industry and local... Read More
Want to learn more about grassroots advocacy techniques? Join us for a free webinar on February 22 to learn how you can help AFS support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in your state. Participants will learn the fundamentals of a congressional “field visit”, the elements of a successful in-district meeting with a member of Congress, and how... Read More
UPDATE: The Pebble Limited Partnership has filed its permit application with the Corps of Engineers which has determined that it will conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to comply with its NEPA review of the project. The lengthy process requires that a comprehensive “alternatives assessment” be undertaken to consider a broad range of development alternatives... Read More
With the new year comes bittersweet news from AFS headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland: Tom Bigford is retiring as Director of Policy, with Drue Winters taking his place at the helm. “While Tom will continue to participate in AFS activities as a member of the Society, his invaluable expertise and persona will be greatly missed. Tom... Read More
AFS had plenty of reasons to stand up for fish and aquatic resources in 2017. From the Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts to conservation funding to the repeal of the 2015 Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS), the Society has been working to ensure that Congress and federal agencies consider the best available science when... Read More
The National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) is an 11-year-old effort to shift attention, effort, and limited resources to state, federal, and private sectors with interests in fish habitats. Their mission is to protect, restore, and enhance the nation’s fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life... Read More
The National Ocean Policy, launched by President Barack Obama in 2010, is facing congressional scrutiny regarding its scope and cost after seven years of slow but steady progress on the effort. In early December, the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard convened a hearing entitled “National Ocean Policy: Stakeholder Perspectives.”... Read More
