Policy News
The Trump administration is moving forward to repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule (WOTUS). Last month, EPA and the Army Corps issued a proposed rule that was filed in the Federal Register today. The public comment period is open until August 28, 2017. AFS joined with the members of the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies... Read More
UPDATE: The House of Representatives passed a security-themed “minibus” appropriations package on July 27, containing Defense, Energy & Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs spending bills. The bill includes a controversial provision to exempt the repeal of the 2015 Clean Water Rule from the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). The policy rider would allow for an expedited... Read More
AFS recently signed-on to a letter urging congressional appropriators to fund the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) in concert with a number of conservation organizations. The President’s FY18 budget proposes a 34% decrease in overall funding from FY17 levels for this program and the cuts would result... Read More
The Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) will host a webinar on July 11, 2017 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET featuring legal experts representing diverse perspectives on the Trump administration’s proposed repeal of the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Army are carrying out a two-step process to repeal... Read More
In June, Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Ben Cardin, D-Md. introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP). The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act, S. 1436, authorizes $7.2 million annually for fish habitat restoration and protection projects that are supported by regional Fish Habitat Partnerships and codifies the National Fish Habitat Action... Read More
Officials with the U.S. Department of Commerce announced in June that an agreement was made between NOAA Fisheries and the five Gulf Coast states (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas) to align the federal and state private angler red snapper fishing seasons and extend the federal season from three days to 42. Under the agreement,... Read More
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have begun the process of rescinding the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The repeal of the 2015 rule and replacement could result in a rollback of Clean Water Act protections for a majority of the nation’s streams and wetlands, including the headwater streams and... Read More
The U.S. Department of the Interior recently named Greg Sheehan as the Deputy Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Sheehan, who has attended AFS meetings in the past, has more than 25 years of experience working in wildlife and natural resource management. Most recently, he led the Utah Division of Wildlife Service. He will... Read More
Newly appointed Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, testified before the House Committee on Appropriations’ Interior Subcommittee on June 8 regarding the agency’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2018. That proposal prioritizes maintenance of National Parks infrastructure and energy development and may include increased oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf while offering cuts in... Read More
Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, with concurrence from the White House, named Chris Oliver Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. The Texas native assumed his new position on June 19. As Assistant Administrator, Oliver will oversee the federal agency responsible for recreational and commercial fisheries. In addition to managing productive and sustainable domestic fisheries, including some... Read More
