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76<li><div class='title'>Posts by Paul S. Weiland</div><div class='photo'><img alt='' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/606_blog.webp' /></div><div class='bioposition'>Partner</div><div class='abstract'><p>Paul Weiland is Assistant Managing Partner and a member of the Environment &amp; Land Use Group. He has represented clients &ndash; including public agencies, publicly regulated utilities, corporations, trade associations and&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='links'><span class='viewProfile'><a target=_blank href='https://www.nossaman.com/professionals-paul-weiland'>Full Bio</a></span> | <span class='email'><a href='&#109;&#97;&#105;&#108;&#116;&#111;&#58;&#112;&#119;&#101;&#105;&#108;&#97;&#110;&#100;&#64;&#110;&#111;&#115;&#115;&#97;&#109;&#97;&#110;&#46;&#99;&#111;&#109;'>Email</a></span> | <span class='phone'><a href='tel:949.833.7800'>949.833.7800</a></span></div></li>
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81<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/rescission-of-the-harm-rule-where-do-we-stand'>Rescission of the “Harm” Rule: Where Do We Stand</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/rebecca-barho'>Rebecca Hays Barho</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/jennifer-seely'>Jennifer  Seely</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2026-09-24' class='itemdate'>09.24.2026</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/legal'>Legal</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/rescission-of-the-harm-rule-where-do-we-stand'><img itemprop='image' alt='Rescission of the “Harm” Rule: Where Do We Stand' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/969.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>As we previously reported, on July 14, 2026, the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively, Services) published a final rule to rescind the definition of &ldquo;harm&rdquo; from their Endangered Species Act (ESA) implementing regulations (Final Rule). In the preamble to the final rule, the Services contend that the interpretations of &ldquo;harm&rdquo; and &ldquo;take&rdquo; set forth by Justice Scalia in his dissent in <em>Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon</em>, 515 U.S. 687 (1995) (<em>Sweet Home</em>) represent the best&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/rescission-of-the-harm-rule-where-do-we-stand'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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87			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/administrative'>Administrative</a>, <a href='/tag/babbitt-v-sweet-home-chapter-of-communities-for-a-great-oregon'>Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon</a>, <a href='/tag/chevron-deference'>chevron deference</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/final-rule'>final rule</a>, <a href='/tag/harm'>Harm</a>, <a href='/tag/incidental-take'>Incidental take</a>, <a href='/tag/loper-bright-esa'>Loper Bright</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/regulations'>regulations</a>, <a href='/tag/threatened-species'>threatened species</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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95<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/d-c-circuit-affirms-epas-no-effects-esa-determination'>D.C. Circuit Affirms EPA’s “No Effects” ESA Determination</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2026-08-31' class='itemdate'>08.31.2026</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/d-c-circuit-affirms-epas-no-effects-esa-determination'><img itemprop='image' alt='D.C. Circuit Affirms EPA’s “No Effects” ESA Determination' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/492.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On August 25, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a notable Endangered Species Act (ESA) decision in<em> Center for Biological Diversity v. EPA</em>, No. 25-1005. The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) had filed a petition for review challenging a final rule published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which retained the existing national ambient air quality standard for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and revised the standard for sulfur oxides. CBD argued that EPA violated the ESA by concluding that the challenged air quality rule&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/d-c-circuit-affirms-epas-no-effects-esa-determination'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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101			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/air-quality'>air quality</a>, <a href='/tag/deference'>deference</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-protection-agency-'>Environmental Protection Agency</a>, <a href='/tag/epa-'>EPA</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-eslp'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-section-7'>ESA section 7</a>, <a href='/tag/loper-bright-esa'>Loper Bright</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7-consultation'>section 7 consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-court-of-appeals-for-the'>U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit</a></div></div>
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109<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/fish-and-wildlife-service-grizzly-bears'>Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to Provide Greater Authority to States and Tribes to Manage Grizzly Bears</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2026-07-23' class='itemdate'>07.23.2026</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/fish-and-wildlife-service-grizzly-bears'>
109<img itemprop='image' alt='Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to Provide Greater Authority to States and Tribes to Manage Grizzly Bears' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/835.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>The U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service (Service) has <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/17/2026-14450/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-grizzly-bear-listing-on-the-list-of-endangered-and">released</a> a supplemental notice of proposed changes to its regulations for management of the grizzly bear (<em>Ursus arctos horribilis</em>) (the 2026 proposed rule). These proposed changes, if adopted in a final rule, would provide States and Tribes with a greater role in management of the species and set up a tiered management system that provides more flexibility to States, Tribes, and federal land managers when they achieve specified conservation management outcomes. The 2026 proposed rule stops short of delisting the grizzly bear but&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/fish-and-wildlife-service-grizzly-bears'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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115			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/4d-rule'>4(d) rule</a>, <a href='/tag/bear'>Bear</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/regulations'>regulations</a>, <a href='/tag/state-led-conservation'>state-led conservation</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/wildlife'>Wildlife</a></div></div>
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123<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/recent-case-grapples-with-expert-testimony-in-endangered-species-act-litigation'>Recent Case Grapples with Expert Testimony in Endangered Species Act Litigation</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2026-05-26' class='itemdate'>05.26.2026</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/recent-case-grapples-with-expert-testimony-in-endangered-species-act-litigation'><img itemprop='image' alt='Recent Case Grapples with Expert Testimony in Endangered Species Act Litigation' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/2453.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>In <em>Conservation Council for Hawaii v. Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.</em> (D. Haw. Apr. 24, 2026), a federal district court in Hawai&rsquo;i applied Federal Rule of Evidence 702 regarding the admissibility of expert testimony in the context of a lawsuit alleging unauthorized &ldquo;take&rdquo; of species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The decision reflects the effort of the trial judge to balance the gatekeeping function of the judiciary, which is intended to prevent parties from blurring the line between lay and expert testimony, and the notion that parties are entitled to&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/recent-case-grapples-with-expert-testimony-in-endangered-species-act-litigation'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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129			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/bird'>Bird</a>, <a href='/tag/court'>Court</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/tag/procedure'>Procedure</a></div></div>
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137<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/god-squad-grants-endangered-species-exemption'>God Squad Grants Endangered Species Exemption</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/rebecca-barho'>Rebecca Hays Barho</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2026-03-31' class='itemdate'>03.31.2026</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/government-administration'>Government Administration</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/god-squad-grants-endangered-species-exemption'><img itemprop='image' alt='God Squad Grants Endangered Species Exemption' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/2413.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the Endangered Species Committee (Committee) &ndash; colloquially known as the God Squad &ndash; met in Washington, DC at the request of the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. The Committee is made up of high-ranking federal government officials, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, that can be convened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to grant exemptions to requirements of the ESA in certain limited circumstances. The March 31, 2026 meeting of the Committee, in which it unanimously granted an exemption for oil and gas exploration, development and production in the Gulf of America due to national security concerns, marks the first time in 30 years that the Committee has been convened. &hellip;&nbsp;</p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/god-squad-grants-endangered-species-exemption'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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143			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/center-for-biological-diversity'>center for biological diversity</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-and-threatened-plants'>endangered and threatened plants</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-snail-darter'>endangered snail darter</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-committee'>Endangered Species Committee</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-section-7'>ESA section 7</a>, <a href='/tag/god-squad-elu'>god squad</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service-elu'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration'>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/secretary-of-defense'>Secretary of Defense</a>, <a href='/tag/tva-v-hill'>TVA v. Hill</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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151<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/senate-holds-hearing-on-ESA-reform'>Senate Holds Hearing on Endangered Species Act Reform</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2026-03-30' class='itemdate'>03.30.2026</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/congress'>Congress</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/senate-holds-hearing-on-ESA-reform'><img itemprop='image' alt='Senate Holds Hearing on Endangered Species Act Reform' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1176.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On March 18, 2026, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife convened a hearing to examine ongoing challenges and potential improvements in the implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As we previously reported, Rep. Westerman (R-Ark.), Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, is the lead author of H.R. 1897, a bill to reauthorize the ESA that was voted out of that Committee in December 2025. With both chambers now engaged, we are closer to significant ESA legislative reform than at any time in the past two decades.</p> <p><strong>A&nbsp;... </strong></p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/senate-holds-hearing-on-ESA-reform'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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157			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/congressional-bills'>Congressional Bills</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/house-of-representatives'>House of Representatives</a>, <a href='/tag/-legislation-'>legislation</a>, <a href='/tag/reform'>Reform</a>, <a href='/tag/senate'>Senate</a></div></div>
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165<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/mountain-lions-protected-under-CESA'>Mountain Lions Protected Under the California Endangered Species Act</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/nur-ibrahim'>Nur  Ibrahim</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/mary-lynn-coffee'>Mary Lynn  Coffee</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2026-02-25' class='itemdate'>02.25.2026</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/mountain-lions-protected-under-CESA'>
165<img itemprop='image' alt='Mountain Lions Protected Under the California Endangered Species Act' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/2380.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On February 12, 2026, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) voted 3-0 to list mountain lions (<em>Puma concolor)</em> in Southern and Central California as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).&nbsp; The listing decision is based on concerns that the mountain lion population in Southern and Central California could become extinct in the foreseeable future due to fragmented habitat, barriers to movement, and human removal.&nbsp; Mountain lions are now protected from take without a permit in the affected region, which includes the counties of Ventura, Los&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/mountain-lions-protected-under-CESA'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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171			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/agency-action'>agency action</a>, <a href='/tag/california-department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>California Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-listing-'>California endangered species listing</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-game-commission'>Fish and Game Commission</a>, <a href='/tag/mountain-lion'>Mountain Lion</a></div></div>
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179<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/leadership-transition-at-CDFW'>Leadership Transition at California Department of Fish and Wildlife</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2026-02-03' class='itemdate'>02.03.2026</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/government-administration'>Government Administration</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/leadership-transition-at-CDFW'><img itemprop='image' alt='Leadership Transition at California Department of Fish and Wildlife' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/2010.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>Longtime California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton &ldquo;Chuck&rdquo; Bonham recently stepped down after 15 years at the helm. His departure marks the end of the longest tenure in the Department&rsquo;s 150&#8209;year history. CDFW has principal responsibility to implement California&rsquo;s wildlife laws, including the California Endangered Species Act, Natural Community Conservation Planning Act, Lake and Streambed Alteration Program, and California&rsquo;s fully protected species statutes.</p> <p>Bonham left his post to join The Nature Conservancy as its California&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/leadership-transition-at-CDFW'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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185			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/agency'>agency</a>, <a href='/tag/california-department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>California Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>
185, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/california-natural-resources-agency'>California Natural Resources Agency</a>, <a href='/tag/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/tag/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/tag/conservation-planning'>Conservation Planning</a>, <a href='/tag/delta'>delta</a>, <a href='/tag/fully-protected-species'>fully protected species</a>, <a href='/tag/gray-wolf'>Gray Wolf</a>, <a href='/tag/klamath-river'>Klamath River</a>, <a href='/tag/mountain-lion'>Mountain Lion</a>, <a href='/tag/salmon'>salmon</a>, <a href='/tag/streambed-alteration'>streambed alteration</a>, <a href='/tag/wildlife'>Wildlife</a></div></div>
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193<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/esa-regulations-consultation'>ESA Regulations: Consultation</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-12-12' class='itemdate'>12.12.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/esa-regulations-consultation'><img itemprop='image' alt='ESA Regulations: Consultation' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/853.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On November 21, 2025, the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively, the Services) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/2025-20551.pdf">published</a> several proposed rules to revise their regulations implementing certain provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To a substantial extent, the Services are proposing to return to the regulations put in place by the first Trump Administration in its prior rulemakings and thereby undo the changes put in place by the Biden Administration. This is the fourth in a series of blog posts that will briefly describe each proposed rule. The notice states&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/esa-regulations-consultation'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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199			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/compensatory-mitigation'>compensatory mitigation</a>, <a href='/tag/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/cumulative-impacts'>Cumulative Impacts</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-baseline'>environmental baseline</a>, <a href='/tag/incidental-take'>Incidental take</a>, <a href='/tag/listed-species'>listed species</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>
199, <a href='/tag/proposed-rule'>Proposed Rule</a>, <a href='/tag/regulation'>Regulation</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7'>Section 7</a>, <a href='/tag/trump-administration'>Trump Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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207<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/esa-regulations-blanket-4-d-rule'>ESA Regulations: Blanket 4(d) Rule</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-12-10' class='itemdate'>12.10.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/esa-regulations-blanket-4-d-rule'><img itemprop='image' alt='ESA Regulations: Blanket 4(d) Rule' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/853.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On November 21, 2025, the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively, the Services) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/2025-20552.pdf">published</a> several proposed rules to revise their regulations implementing certain provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To a substantial extent, the Services are proposing to return to the regulations put in place by the first Trump Administration in its prior rulemakings and thereby undo the changes put in place by the Biden Administration in its prior rulemakings. This is the third in a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.endangeredspecieslawandpolicy.com/esa-regulations-listing-and-critical-habitat">series</a> of blog posts that will briefly describe each proposed&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/esa-regulations-blanket-4-d-rule'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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213			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/4d-rule'>4(d) rule</a>, <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/department-of-interior'>Department of The Interior</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered'>Endangered</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-regulations'>environmental regulations</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/notice-proposed-rulemaking'>Proposed Rulemaking</a>, <a href='/tag/range'>Range</a>, <a href='/tag/section-4'>Section 4</a>, <a href='/tag/section-9'>Section 9</a>, <a href='/tag/significant'>Significant</a>, <a href='/tag/threatened'>Threatened</a>, <a href='/tag/trump-administration'>Trump Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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221<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/esa-regulations-critical-habitat-exclusion-analysis'>ESA Regulations: Critical Habitat Exclusion Analysis</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-12-08' class='itemdate'>12.08.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/esa-regulations-critical-habitat-exclusion-analysis'><img itemprop='image' alt='ESA Regulations: Critical Habitat Exclusion Analysis' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/853.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On November 21, 2025, the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively, the Services) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/2025-20550.pdf">published</a> several proposed rules to revise their regulations implementing certain provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To a substantial extent, the Services are proposing to return to the regulations put in place by the first Trump administration in its prior rulemakings and thereby undo the changes put in place by the Biden administration in its prior rulemakings. This is the second in a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.endangeredspecieslawandpolicy.com/esa-regulations-listing-and-critical-habitat">series</a> of blog posts that will briefly describe each proposed&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/esa-regulations-critical-habitat-exclusion-analysis'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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227			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/conservation-agreement'>conservation agreement</a>, <a href='/tag/conservation-planning'>Conservation Planning</a>, <a href='/tag/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/economic-analysis'>economic analysis</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>
227, <a href='/tag/proposed-rule'>Proposed Rule</a>, <a href='/tag/regulations'>regulations</a>, <a href='/tag/section-4'>Section 4</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7'>Section 7</a>, <a href='/tag/trump-administration'>Trump Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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235<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/esa-regulations-listing-and-critical-habitat'>ESA Regulations: Listing and Critical Habitat</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-12-05' class='itemdate'>12.05.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/esa-regulations-listing-and-critical-habitat'><img itemprop='image' alt='ESA Regulations: Listing and Critical Habitat' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/853.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On November 21, 2025, the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively, the Services) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/2025-20549.pdf">published</a> several proposed rules to revise their regulations implementing certain provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To a substantial extent, the Services are proposing to return to the regulations put in place by the first Trump administration in its prior rulemakings and thereby undo the changes put in place by the Biden administration in its prior rulemakings. This is one in a series of blog posts that will briefly describe each proposed rule&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/esa-regulations-listing-and-critical-habitat'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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241			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/12-month-finding'>12-Month Finding</a>, <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-regulations'>environmental regulations</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-eslp'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>
241, <a href='/tag/proposed-rule'>Proposed Rule</a>, <a href='/tag/section-4'>Section 4</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7-consultation'>section 7 consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/threatened-species'>threatened species</a>, <a href='/tag/trump-administration'>Trump Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/warranted'>Warranted</a></div></div>
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249<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/endangered-species-act-conference-in-seattle'>Endangered Species Act Conference in Seattle</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-12-04' class='itemdate'>12.04.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a>, <a href='/category/supreme-court'>Supreme Court</a>, <a href='/category/timberland'>Timberland</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/endangered-species-act-conference-in-seattle'><img itemprop='image' alt='Endangered Species Act Conference in Seattle' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/2326.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>Paul Weiland will be speaking on a panel on &ldquo;Agency Happenings&rdquo; at the 33rd Annual Endangered Species Act Conference in Seattle, Washington. The conference, organized by the Seminar Group, will be January 29 and 30, 2026 at the Courtyard Marriott at Pioneer Square. As the premier Endangered Species Act (ESA) conference in the Pacific Northwest, the conference includes faculty who are leading practitioners in the field of federal wildlife law and policy.</p> <p>The conference spans a day and a half and provides the latest and most important information on ESA compliance. Panel topics&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/endangered-species-act-conference-in-seattle'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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255			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/agency'>agency</a>, <a href='/tag/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-permitting-'>environmental permitting</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-regulations'>environmental regulations</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/-legislation-'>legislation</a>, <a href='/tag/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/tag/section-10'>Section 10</a>, <a href='/tag/timber'>Timber</a></div></div>
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263<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/governor-newsom-signs-endangered-species-bill-into-law'>Governor Newsom Signs Endangered Species Bill Into Law</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-10-15' class='itemdate'>10.15.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/ceqa'>CEQA</a>, <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/governor-newsom-signs-endangered-species-bill-into-law'><img itemprop='image' alt='Governor Newsom Signs Endangered Species Bill Into Law' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1314.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>Per Governor Newsom&rsquo;s latest <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/11/governor-newsom-issues-legislative-update-10-11-25/">legislative update</a>, he has signed AB 1319. The law will become effective on January 1, 2026. For our discussion of this bill and its potential implications, please see the following post.&nbsp;</p>
264<p>&ldquo;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.endangeredspecieslawandpolicy.com/california-legislature-sends-endangered-species-bill-to-governor">California Legislature Sends Endangered Species Bill to Governor</a>&rdquo; ...&nbsp;</p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/governor-newsom-signs-endangered-species-bill-into-law'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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270			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/california-department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>California Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>, <a href='/tag/candidate-species'>candidate species</a>, <a href='/tag/-ceqa-'>CEQA</a>, <a href='/tag/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/tag/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/-legislation-'>legislation</a>, <a href='/tag/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/newsom'>newsom</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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278<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/california-legislature-sends-endangered-species-bill-to-governor'>California Legislature Sends Endangered Species Bill to Governor</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-09-17' class='itemdate'>09.17.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/ceqa'>CEQA</a>, <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/california-legislature-sends-endangered-species-bill-to-governor'><img itemprop='image' alt='California Legislature Sends Endangered Species Bill to Governor' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1314.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On September 10, 2025, the California Senate passed Assembly Bill 1319 (AB 1319) with amendments, and the following day the California Assembly concurred in the amendments sending the bill to Governor Newsom for his consideration. AB 1319 is a direct response to concerns that the federal government may reduce existing protections for species listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). To do so, it proposes to establish a new category of species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), &ldquo;provisional candidate species.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>What&nbsp;... </strong></p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/california-legislature-sends-endangered-species-bill-to-governor'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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284			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/california-department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>California Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/California-environmental-quality-act-'>California Environmental Quality Act</a>, <a href='/tag/candidate-species'>candidate species</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-wildlife-service'>Fish and Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/-legislation-'>legislation</a>, <a href='/tag/listed-species'>listed species</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/newsom'>newsom</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7'>Section 7</a></div></div>
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292<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/court-of-appeals-affirms-service-decision-to-retain-protections-for-southwestern-willow-flycatcher'>Court of Appeals Affirms Service Decision to Retain Protections for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-08-28' class='itemdate'>08.28.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/migratory-bird'>Migratory Bird</a>, <a href='/category/texas'>Texas</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/court-of-appeals-affirms-service-decision-to-retain-protections-for-southwestern-willow-flycatcher'><img itemprop='image' alt='Court of Appeals Affirms Service Decision to Retain Protections for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/2011.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On August 22, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/24-5075-2131443.pdf">upheld</a> the decision of the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service (Service) to deny a petition to remove the southwestern willow flycatcher (<em>Empidonax traillii extimus</em>) from the list of species protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service listed the southwestern willow flycatcher as an endangered species in 1995. The southwestern willow flycatcher is a small migratory bird that winters in Central and South America with a range in the United States that includes southern California, southern Nevada&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/court-of-appeals-affirms-service-decision-to-retain-protections-for-southwestern-willow-flycatcher'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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298			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/administrative-procedure-act'>Administrative Procedure Act</a>, <a href='/tag/appeal'>appeal</a>, <a href='/tag/arizona---'>Arizona</a>, <a href='/tag/best-available-data'>best available data</a>, <a href='/tag/chevron-deference'>chevron deference</a>, <a href='/tag/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/tag/district'>District</a>, <a href='/tag/dps'>DPS</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered'>Endangered</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/migratory-bird'>migratory bird</a>, <a href='/tag/not-warranted'>Not Warranted</a>, <a href='/tag/petition'>Petition</a>, <a href='/tag/southwestern-willow-flycatcher'>southwestern willow flycatcher</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-court-of-appeals-for-the'>U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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306<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/federal-court-overturns-fish-and-wildlife-service-decision-to-delist-gray-wolf-in-the-west'>Federal Court Overturns Fish & Wildlife Service Decision to Delist Gray Wolf in the West</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-08-08' class='itemdate'>08.08.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/federal-court-overturns-fish-and-wildlife-service-decision-to-delist-gray-wolf-in-the-west'><img itemprop='image' alt='Federal Court Overturns Fish &amp; Wildlife Service Decision to Delist Gray Wolf in the West' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1180.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On August 5, the United States District Court for the District of Montana issued an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/Northern-Rockies-Wolves-Ruling-08-05-2025.pdf">order</a> overturning a determination made by the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service (Service) during the Biden administration that listing the gray wolf (<em>Canis lupus</em>) in the western United States is not warranted and remanded the issue back to the Service for further consideration. The Service made the determination in response to two petitions to list separate wolf populations: one covering the Northern Rocky Mountains (the Northern Rocky Mountain population) and one covering the western United States (the&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/federal-court-overturns-fish-and-wildlife-service-decision-to-delist-gray-wolf-in-the-west'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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312			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/best-available-data'>best available data</a>, <a href='/tag/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/tag/district'>District</a>, <a href='/tag/dps'>DPS</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/gray-wolf'>Gray Wolf</a>, <a href='/tag/listing-petition'>listing petition</a>, <a href='/tag/montana'>Montana</a>, <a href='/tag/ninth-circuit'>Ninth Circuit</a>, <a href='/tag/northern-rocky-mountain-gray-wolf'>Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf</a>, <a href='/tag/range'>Range</a>, <a href='/tag/threatened-species'>threatened species</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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320<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/in-washington-d-c-progress-filling-key-esa-slots-continues'>In Washington, DC, Progress Filling Key ESA Slots Continues</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-08-04' class='itemdate'>08.04.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/government-administration'>Government Administration</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/in-washington-d-c-progress-filling-key-esa-slots-continues'><img itemprop='image' alt='In Washington, DC, Progress Filling Key ESA Slots Continues' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1314.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On August 1, 2025, the Senate approved Brian Nesvik, President Trump&rsquo;s nominee for Director of the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service (Service). The Service shares responsibility for administering the Endangered Species Act of 1973 with the National Marine Fisheries Service within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).</p> <p>Mr. Nesvik has decades of experience working for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and rose to the position of Director of the Department in 2019. He served in that position until 2024. Mr. Nesvik also served in the Wyoming Army National Guard&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/in-washington-d-c-progress-filling-key-esa-slots-continues'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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326			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/committee'>Committee</a>, <a href='/tag/d-c'>D.C.</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-permitting-'>environmental permitting</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/noaa'>NOAA</a>, <a href='/tag/regulations'>regulations</a>, <a href='/tag/senate'>Senate</a>, <a href='/tag/trump-administration'>Trump Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/washington'>Washington</a></div></div>
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334<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/esa-legislative-update'>ESA Legislative Update</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/brian-ferrasci-omalley'>Brian  Ferrasci-O'Malley</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-07-24' class='itemdate'>07.24.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/construction-projects'>Construction Projects</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/esa-legislative-update'><img itemprop='image' alt='ESA Legislative Update' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/835.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>The Committee on Natural Resources (Committee) in the U.S. House of Representatives is considering a number of bills regarding wildlife, including bills to reauthorize the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). While it is unclear whether any of these will gain traction, collectively they represent a significant effort to reform federal wildlife law. Below is a summary of the Committee&rsquo;s efforts:</p> <p><strong>ESA Reauthorization: </strong>Committee Chair Westerman (R-Arkansas) is the lead sponsor of H.R. 1897. The Committee held a hearing on this bill on March 25&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/esa-legislative-update'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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340			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/attorneys'>Attorneys'</a>, <a href='/tag/candidate'>Candidate</a>, <a href='/tag/citizen-suit-provision'>Citizen Suit Provision</a>, <a href='/tag/committee-on-natural-resources'>Committee on Natural Resources</a>, <a href='/tag/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/delisting'>Delisting</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-litigation'>environmental litigation</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/gray-wolf'>Gray Wolf</a>, <a href='/tag/grizzly'>Grizzly</a>, <a href='/tag/habitat-conservation-plan'>Habitat Conservation Plan</a>, <a href='/tag/house-bill'>House Bill</a>, <a href='/tag/interagency-consultation'>interagency consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/land-management'>land management</a>, <a href='/tag/-legislation-'>legislation</a>, <a href='/tag/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/tag/marine-mammal-protection-act'>Marine Mammal Protection Act</a>, <a href='/tag/recovery'>Recovery</a>, <a href='/tag/section-10'>Section 10</a>, <a href='/tag/section-4'>Section 4</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7'>Section 7</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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348<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/court-overturns-service-decision-that-listing-joshua-tree-is-not-warranted'>Court Overturns Service Decision that Listing Joshua Tree is Not Warranted</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2025-07-18' class='itemdate'>07.18.2025</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/construction-projects'>Construction Projects</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/court-overturns-service-decision-that-listing-joshua-tree-is-not-warranted'><img itemprop='image' alt='Court Overturns Service Decision that Listing Joshua Tree is Not Warranted' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/705.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On May 12, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/20250512_docket-224-cv-02281_order.pdf">ordered</a> the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service (Service) to reevaluate its decision not to list two species of Joshua tree&mdash;<em>Yucca brevifolia</em> (western Joshua tree) and <em>Yucca jaegeriana</em> (eastern Joshua tree)&mdash;as &ldquo;threatened&rdquo; under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The district court issued a judgment in the case on July 7, 2025. The federal government has 60 days from the date of judgment to decide whether to appeal the district court&rsquo;s decision.</p> <p>The case stems from WildEarth Guardian&rsquo;s&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/court-overturns-service-decision-that-listing-joshua-tree-is-not-warranted'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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354			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/appeal'>appeal</a>, <a href='/tag/best-available-data'>best available data</a>, <a href='/tag/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/tag/court-decision'>court decision</a>, <a href='/tag/district'>District</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-and-threatened-plants'>endangered and threatened plants</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-litigation'>environmental litigation</a>, <a href='/tag/habitat'>habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/joshua-tree'>joshua tree</a>, <a href='/tag/listing-petition'>listing petition</a>, <a href='/tag/not-warranted'>Not Warranted</a>, <a href='/tag/range'>Range</a>, <a href='/tag/significant'>Significant</a>, <a href='/tag/threatened-species'>threatened species</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/wildearth'>WildEarth</a></div></div>
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362<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/early-lessons-from-klamath-dam-removal-efforts'>Early Lessons from Klamath Dam Removal Efforts</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2024-10-21' class='itemdate'>10.21.2024</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/construction-projects'>Construction Projects</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/project'>project</a>, <a href='/category/water-elu'>Water Issues</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/early-lessons-from-klamath-dam-removal-efforts'><img itemprop='image' alt='Early Lessons from Klamath Dam Removal Efforts' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/2115.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On October 20, 2024, I <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://calwatercenter.org/early-lessons-from-the-klamath-dam-removal-effort/">published</a> a post on the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management&rsquo;s DeltaCurrents blog discussing early lessons from the Klamath Dam Removal Project. The removal of four hydroelectric dams on the lower Klamath River is the most ambitious dam removal effort in the history of the United States.</p> <p>While the jury is still out with respect to the effort&rsquo;s success when measured in terms of increased salmonid abundance, there are lessons to be learned now regarding characterization of science pertaining to policy both by scientists in the&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/early-lessons-from-klamath-dam-removal-efforts'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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368			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/center-for-california-water-resources-policy-and-management'>Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management</a>, <a href='/tag/clean-narratives'>clean narratives</a>, <a href='/tag/dams'>dams</a>, <a href='/tag/deltacurrents'>DeltaCurrents</a>, <a href='/tag/hydroelectric'>hydroelectric</a>, <a href='/tag/infrastructure-'>infrastructure</a>, <a href='/tag/klamath-river'>Klamath River</a>, <a href='/tag/salmonid'>Salmonid</a></div></div>
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376<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/groups-petition-california-fish-and-game-commission-to-list-western-burrowing-owl'>Groups Petition California Fish and Game Commission to List Western Burrowing Owl</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2024-03-06' class='itemdate'>03.06.2024</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/groups-petition-california-fish-and-game-commission-to-list-western-burrowing-owl'><img itemprop='image' alt='Groups Petition California Fish and Game Commission to List Western Burrowing Owl' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/2010.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On March 5, 2024, the Center for Biological Diversity and several other groups submitted a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/CA-Burrowing-Owl-Petition-3-5-24.pdf">petition</a> to the California Fish and Game Commission (the Commission) to list the western burrowing owl (<em>Athene cunicularia hypugaea</em>) as endangered or threatened pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act. The petition identifies five separate populations (or evolutionarily significant units (ESUs)) of burrowing owls and petitions to list three as endangered and two as threatened. Alternatively, the petition requests that the Commission consider either (i) listing a greater&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/groups-petition-california-fish-and-game-commission-to-list-western-burrowing-owl'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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382			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/90-day-finding'>90-day finding</a>, <a href='/tag/california-department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>California Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>
382, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-listing-'>California endangered species listing</a>, <a href='/tag/center-for-biological-diversity'>center for biological diversity</a>, <a href='/tag/coho-salmon'>Coho Salmon</a>, <a href='/tag/department-of-fish-and-game'>Department of Fish and Game</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/evolutionarily-significant-unit'>evolutionarily significant unit</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-game-commission'>Fish and Game Commission</a>, <a href='/tag/listing-petition'>listing petition</a>, <a href='/tag/owl'>Owl</a>, <a href='/tag/population'>Population</a>, <a href='/tag/status-review'>status review</a></div></div>
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390<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/resource-optimization-and-endangered-species-management'>Resource Optimization and Endangered Species Management</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2023-12-28' class='itemdate'>12.28.2023</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/budget'>Budget</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/construction-projects'>Construction Projects</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/water-elu'>Water Issues</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/resource-optimization-and-endangered-species-management'><img itemprop='image' alt='Resource Optimization and Endangered Species Management' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1314.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On December 21, 2023, I published a post on the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management&rsquo;s <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://calwatercenter.org/resource-optimization-enhances-the-efficiency-and-effectiveness-of-wildlife-management-and-conservation-efforts/">DeltaCurrents blog</a> discussing integration of resource optimization into endangered species policy to improve conservation outcomes. Resource optimization is the allocation of finite resources in the most efficient manner possible. In the context of wildlife management, it is a structured process to select a management action from among available alternatives intended to result in the most efficient allocation of resources to achieve a specified objective. &hellip;&nbsp;</p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/resource-optimization-and-endangered-species-management'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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396			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/center-for-california-water-resources-policy-and-management'>Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management</a>, <a href='/tag/deltacurrents'>DeltaCurrents</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-policy'>environmental policy</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/nmfs'>NMFS</a>, <a href='/tag/resource-management'>resource management</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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404<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/california-protected-species-law-changes-real-fix-or-red-tape'>California Protected Species Law Changes: Real Fix or Red Tape?</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2023-10-02' class='itemdate'>10.02.2023</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/california-protected-species-law-changes-real-fix-or-red-tape'><img itemprop='image' alt='California Protected Species Law Changes: Real Fix or Red Tape?' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1938.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>I recently authored an article for <em>Law360</em> on the impact of SB 147, which was signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 10, 2023, and amends California's "fully protected species" statutes. These laws were enacted in 1970, and currently protect 37 species native to California, ranging from the massive North Pacific right whale to the diminutive salt marsh harvest mouse.</p> <p>The amendments create a temporary, 10-year permitting regime that allows proponents of a limited, defined set of projects to pursue authorization from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/california-protected-species-law-changes-real-fix-or-red-tape'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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410			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-listing-'>California endangered species listing</a>, <a href='/tag/sb-147'>SB 147</a></div></div>
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418<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/california-amends-fully-protected-species-statutes-streamlining-or-more-red-tape'>California Amends Fully Protected Species Statutes: Streamlining or More Red Tape?</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2023-07-14' class='itemdate'>07.14.2023</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/alternative-energy'>Alternative Energy</a>, <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/construction-projects'>Construction Projects</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/project'>project</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/california-amends-fully-protected-species-statutes-streamlining-or-more-red-tape'><img itemprop='image' alt='California Amends Fully Protected Species Statutes: Streamlining or More Red Tape?' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1314.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On July 10, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 147 (SB147) into law, amending California&rsquo;s &ldquo;fully protected species&rdquo; statutes. These laws were enacted in 1970 and currently protect 37 species native to California, ranging from the North Pacific right whale (<em>Eubalaena japonica</em>) to the salt marsh harvest mouse (<em>Reithrodontomys raviventris</em>). The amendments enacted by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor create a temporary, 10-year permitting regime that allows proponents of a limited, defined set of projects to pursue authorization from the&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/california-amends-fully-protected-species-statutes-streamlining-or-more-red-tape'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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424			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/california-department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>California Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>
424, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-permitting-'>environmental permitting</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-game-code'>Fish and Game Code</a>, <a href='/tag/fully-protected-species'>fully protected species</a>, <a href='/tag/harm'>Harm</a>, <a href='/tag/-legislation-'>legislation</a>, <a href='/tag/newsom'>newsom</a>, <a href='/tag/project-'>project</a>, <a href='/tag/right-whale'>right whale</a>, <a href='/tag/senate-bill'>Senate Bill</a>, <a href='/tag/taking'>Taking</a>, <a href='/tag/transportation-elu'>transportation</a></div></div>
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432<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/d-c-circuit-vacates-biological-opinion-built-on-presumption-in-favor-of-listed-species'>D.C. Circuit Vacates Biological Opinion Built on Presumption in Favor of Listed Species</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2023-06-20' class='itemdate'>06.20.2023</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a></div><div class='image'></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On June 16, 2023, in a highly anticipated <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/22-5238-2003771.pdf">decision</a>, the United States Court of Appeal for the D.C. Circuit set aside a biological opinion regarding the effects of the federal lobster fishery on the North Atlantic right whale (<em>Eubalaena glacialis</em>). The court held that a presumption in favor of an endangered species is not required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and, further, that such a presumption can distort the agency&rsquo;s scientific judgment and did so in this circumstance.</p> <p>The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued the biological opinion in 2021 analyzing the&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/d-c-circuit-vacates-biological-opinion-built-on-presumption-in-favor-of-listed-species'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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438			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/biological-opinion'>Biological Opinion</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/north-atlantic-right-whale'>North Atlantic Right Whale</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7-consultation'>section 7 consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-court-of-appeals-for-the'>U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit</a></div></div>
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446<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/california-court-refuses-to-dismiss-esa-challenge-to-corps-operation-of-coyote-valley-dam-on-russian-river'>California Court Refuses to Dismiss ESA Challenge to Corps’ Operation of Coyote Valley Dam on Russian River</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2023-03-14' class='itemdate'>03.14.2023</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/legal'>Legal</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/water-elu'>Water Issues</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/california-court-refuses-to-dismiss-esa-challenge-to-corps-operation-of-coyote-valley-dam-on-russian-river'><img itemprop='image' alt='California Court Refuses to Dismiss ESA Challenge to Corps’ Operation of Coyote Valley Dam on Russian River' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1833.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>Recently, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a concerned citizen against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) alleging Endangered Species Act (ESA) violations in connection with the Corps&rsquo; operation of the Coyote Valley Dam on the Russian River in Northern California. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/White%20v.%20United%20States%20Army%20Corps%20of%20Engineers%20-%20Court%20Opinion.pdf">court opined</a> that federal defendants cannot avoid having to defend their prior actions simply by initiating the consultation process under section 7(a)(2) of the ESA, and the equities&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/california-court-refuses-to-dismiss-esa-challenge-to-corps-operation-of-coyote-valley-dam-on-russian-river'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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452			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/biological-opinion'>Biological Opinion</a>, <a href='/tag/dams'>dams</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-litigation'>environmental litigation</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/incidental-take'>Incidental take</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7-consultation'>section 7 consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers'>U.S. Army Corps of Engineers</a></div></div>
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460<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/species-status-assessments-under-the-endangered-species-act'>Species Status Assessments under the Endangered Species Act</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2023-03-03' class='itemdate'>03.03.2023</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/species-status-assessments-under-the-endangered-species-act'><img itemprop='image' alt='Species Status Assessments under the Endangered Species Act' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1314.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On February 28, 2023, I published a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://calwatercenter.org/strengthening/">post</a> on the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management&rsquo;s DeltaCurrents blog discussing Species Status Assessments (SSAs) as a tool to facilitate implementation of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.fws.gov/project/species-status-assessment">describes</a> the SSA framework as &ldquo;an analytical approach developed . . . to deliver foundational science for informing all [ESA] decisions.&rdquo; The Service has explained it intends SSAs to provide &ldquo;focused, repeatable, and rigorous scientific assessment&rdquo; that results in&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/species-status-assessments-under-the-endangered-species-act'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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466			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/center-for-california-water-resources-policy-and-management'>Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management</a>, <a href='/tag/deltacurrents'>DeltaCurrents</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/guidance'>Guidance</a>, <a href='/tag/smelt'>smelt</a>, <a href='/tag/species-status-assessment'>species status assessment</a>, <a href='/tag/ssa'>ssa</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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474<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/ferc-approves-surrender-license-for-lower-klamath-project'>FERC Approves Surrender License for Lower Klamath Project</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><span itemprop='name'>Noah DeWitt (Pending admission to the State Bar of California)</span></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2022-11-22' class='itemdate'>11.22.2022</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/construction-projects'>Construction Projects</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/project'>project</a>, <a href='/category/water-elu'>Water Issues</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/ferc-approves-surrender-license-for-lower-klamath-project'><img itemprop='image' alt='FERC Approves Surrender License for Lower Klamath Project' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1053.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On November 17, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (&ldquo;FERC&rdquo;) voted unanimously to issue an Order Modifying and Approving Surrender License and Removal of Project Facilities (&ldquo;Order&rdquo;) for the Lower Klamath Project (&ldquo;Project&rdquo;). The Order allows the dams&rsquo; private operator to surrender its operating license and was one of the final hurdles for the largest dam removal project in United States history. The $450 million project involves the removal of four dams along the Klamath River near the border of Northern California and Southern Oregon.</p> <p>A noteworthy&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/ferc-approves-surrender-license-for-lower-klamath-project'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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480			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/dams'>dams</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/ferc'>FERC</a>, <a href='/tag/fully-protected-species'>fully protected species</a>, <a href='/tag/klamath-river'>Klamath River</a>, <a href='/tag/lost-river-sucker'>lost river sucker</a>, <a href='/tag/oregon'>Oregon</a>, <a href='/tag/project-'>project</a>, <a href='/tag/salmonid'>Salmonid</a>, <a href='/tag/shortnose-sucker'>shortnose sucker</a></div></div>
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488<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/federal-court-adopts-plan-for-water-project-operations-in-california-dismissing-concerns-of-water-users-and-engos'>Federal Court Adopts Plan for Water Project Operations in California, Dismissing Concerns of Water Users and eNGOs</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><span itemprop='name'>Samantha Murray (Pending admission to the State Bar of California)</span></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2022-03-16' class='itemdate'>03.16.2022</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/nepa'>NEPA</a>, <a href='/category/project'>project</a>, <a href='/category/water-elu'>Water Issues</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/federal-court-adopts-plan-for-water-project-operations-in-california-dismissing-concerns-of-water-users-and-engos'>
489							<figure>
490								<img itemprop='image' alt='Federal Court Adopts Plan for Water Project Operations in California, Dismissing Concerns of Water Users and eNGOs' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/901.webp' />
491								<figcaption>
492									<p><span>Delta smelt, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act that is covered in the BiOps.&nbsp;</span></p>
493								</figcaption>
494							</figure>
495							</a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>Last Friday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/Court%20Order%20re%202019%20BiOps%202022-03-11.pdf">order</a> on competing motions in the coordinated cases challenging the 2019 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/NMFS%20Central%20Valley%20Operations%20BiOp%20Oct%202019.pdf">biological opinions</a> (BiOps) that govern operation of California&rsquo;s State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project (Projects). The hefty order, which spanned over a hundred and twenty pages, attempted to distill the thousands of pages of briefing the parties submitted on the matter. Admittedly, stakes were high: these two Projects supply water to more than 25 million Californians and to farmers across the&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/federal-court-adopts-plan-for-water-project-operations-in-california-dismissing-concerns-of-water-users-and-engos'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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501			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/biological-opinion'>Biological Opinion</a>, <a href='/tag/california-natural-resources-agency'>California Natural Resources Agency</a>, <a href='/tag/central-valley-project'>central valley project</a>, <a href='/tag/consultation'>Consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-settlement'>ESA settlement</a>, <a href='/tag/listed-species'>listed species</a>, <a href='/tag/national-environmental-policy-act'>National Environmental Policy Act</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/state-water-project'>state water project</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/water-management-'>water management</a></div></div>
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509<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/fish-and-game-commission-to-consider-protections-for-southern-california-steelhead'>Fish and Game Commission to Consider Protections for Southern California Steelhead</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2022-01-24' class='itemdate'>01.24.2022</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/water-elu'>Water Issues</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/fish-and-game-commission-to-consider-protections-for-southern-california-steelhead'><img itemprop='image' alt='Fish and Game Commission to Consider Protections for Southern California Steelhead' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1572.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>In July 2021, CalTrout submitted a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/CalTrout_SCS_CESA_Petition_Endangered.pdf">petition</a> to the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) to list a population of the fish <em>Oncorhynchus mykiss</em>, referred to as the Southern California Steelhead or Southern Steelhead, as an endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The population extends from the Santa Maria River system on the central coast of California to the border with Mexico. ...&nbsp;</p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/fish-and-game-commission-to-consider-protections-for-southern-california-steelhead'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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515			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/ca-fish-game'>CA Fish &amp; Game</a>, <a href='/tag/california-department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>California Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered'>Endangered</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-game-commission'>Fish and Game Commission</a>, <a href='/tag/listing-petition'>listing petition</a>, <a href='/tag/may-be-warranted'>may be warranted</a>, <a href='/tag/petition'>Petition</a>, <a href='/tag/status-review'>status review</a></div></div>
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523<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/on-science-and-intellectual-humility-in-resource-management'>On Science and Intellectual Humility in Resource Management</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2022-01-18' class='itemdate'>01.18.2022</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/publications'>Publications</a>, <a href='/category/sacramento-san-joaquin-delta'>Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta</a>, <a href='/category/water-elu'>Water Issues</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/on-science-and-intellectual-humility-in-resource-management'><img itemprop='image' alt='On Science and Intellectual Humility in Resource Management' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/901.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p><span>Recently, I authored <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://calwatercenter.org/on-science-and-intellectual-humility-in-resource-management/">a post for </a><em><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://calwatercenter.org/on-science-and-intellectual-humility-in-resource-management/">DeltaCurrents</a>, </em>the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management's blog. The focus of the piece is on science and humility. It is a topic of broad importance in society though I focus on it in the resource management context, and, specifically, as it pertains to California's Bay-Delta.</span></p> <p><span>For the past three decades, the federal and California governments and diverse stakeholders have looked to scientists to explain the causes of the long-term population declines in fish species native to California&rsquo;s Bay-Delta in an effort to chart a&nbsp;... </span></p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/on-science-and-intellectual-humility-in-resource-management'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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529			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/california-bay-delta'>California Bay-Delta</a>, <a href='/tag/center-for-california-water-resources-policy-and-management'>Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management</a>, <a href='/tag/clean-narratives'>clean narratives</a>, <a href='/tag/conservation-planning'>Conservation Planning</a>, <a href='/tag/cromwells-rule'>Cromwell’s Rule</a>, <a href='/tag/delta-smelt'>delta smelt</a>, <a href='/tag/deltacurrents'>DeltaCurrents</a>, <a href='/tag/intellectual-humility'>intellectual humility</a>, <a href='/tag/publish-or-perish'>publish or perish</a>, <a href='/tag/resource-management'>resource management</a>, <a href='/tag/sacramento-san-joaquin-rivers-delta'>Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers Delta</a>, <a href='/tag/san-francisco-bay'>San Francisco Bay</a></div></div>
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537<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/assessment-of-services-move-to-rescind-definition-of-habitat'>Assessment of Service’s Move to Rescind Definition of Habitat</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-11-30' class='itemdate'>11.30.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/construction-projects'>Construction Projects</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/assessment-of-services-move-to-rescind-definition-of-habitat'><img itemprop='image' alt='Assessment of Service’s Move to Rescind Definition of Habitat' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/852.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>This week, I published a post on the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management&rsquo;s DeltaCurrents blog discussing the Biden administration&rsquo;s proposal to rescind the definition of habitat.&nbsp; The definition was promulgated by the Trump administration in response to the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 in <em>Weyerhauser Co. v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</em>, a case involving a challenge to the rule designating critical habitat for the dusky gopher frog in the American southeast. &hellip;&nbsp;</p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/assessment-of-services-move-to-rescind-definition-of-habitat'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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543			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/dusky-gopher-frog'>dusky gopher frog</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/habitat'>habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/proposed-rule'>Proposed Rule</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/weyerhaeuser-co-v-u-s-fish-and'>Weyerhaeuser Co. v. U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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551<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/usfws-ordered-to-take-another-look-at-joshua-tree'>USFWS Ordered to Take Another Look at Joshua Tree</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/rebecca-barho'>Rebecca Hays Barho</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-09-23' class='itemdate'>09.23.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/usfws-ordered-to-take-another-look-at-joshua-tree'>
551<img itemprop='image' alt='USFWS Ordered to Take Another Look at Joshua Tree' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/705.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On September 20, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/Joshua%20Tree%20Court%20Opinion.pdf">set aside</a> the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service&rsquo;s (Service) negative 12-month finding (Finding) on a petition by WildEarth Guardians (Guardians) to list the Joshua tree (<em>Yucca brevifolia</em>) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).</p> <p>The petition had alleged that the Joshua tree is threatened by the effects of climate change and its associated effects, including drought and increasing wildfires. On September 14, 2016, the Service issued a positive finding on Guardians&rsquo; petition&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/usfws-ordered-to-take-another-look-at-joshua-tree'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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557			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/12-month-finding'>12-Month Finding</a>, <a href='/tag/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/tag/drought'>drought</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/guardians'>Guardians</a>, <a href='/tag/joshua-tree'>joshua tree</a>, <a href='/tag/listing-petition'>listing petition</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/warranted'>Warranted</a>, <a href='/tag/wildearth'>WildEarth</a>, <a href='/tag/wildfire'>wildfire</a>, <a href='/tag/yucca-brevifolia'>YUCCA BREVIFOLIA</a>, <a href='/tag/yucca-jaegeriana'>YUCCA JAEGERIANA</a></div></div>
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565<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/service-lists-franklins-bumble-bee-as-endangered-species'>Service Lists Franklin’s Bumble Bee as Endangered Species</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-08-30' class='itemdate'>08.30.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/service-lists-franklins-bumble-bee-as-endangered-species'><img itemprop='image' alt='Service Lists Franklin’s Bumble Bee as Endangered Species' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1176.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recently <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/Franklins%20Bumble%20Bee%20Final%20Rule.pdf">listed</a> the Franklin&rsquo;s bumble bee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.&nbsp; Historical records indicate that the species is endemic to southwest Oregon and northern California.&nbsp; The last known record of the species dates back to 2006.&nbsp; The Service&rsquo;s decision is the culmination of a listing process that began 11 years ago with the submission of a petition to list by the Xerces Society in 2010.</p> <p>In its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ref=service-lists-franklin%E2%80%99s-bumble-bee-as-endangered-under-endangered-&amp;_ID=36977">press release</a> announcing the decision, the Service both noted that Franklin&rsquo;s bumble bee has the smallest known&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/service-lists-franklins-bumble-bee-as-endangered-species'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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571			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/bumble-bee'>Bumble Bee</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/tag/listing-petition'>listing petition</a>, <a href='/tag/oregon'>Oregon</a>, <a href='/tag/species-status-assessment'>species status assessment</a>, <a href='/tag/ssa'>ssa</a></div></div>
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579<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/an-overview-of-the-listing-process-under'>An Overview of the Listing Process Under the California Endangered Species Act</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-07-08' class='itemdate'>07.08.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/an-overview-of-the-listing-process-under'><img itemprop='image' alt='An Overview of the Listing Process Under the California Endangered Species Act' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/705.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>In an article published this week in <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=193394&amp;inline"><em>California Fish and Wildlife</em></a>, co-authors Stephanie Clark, Ashley Remillard and I provide an overview of the process of determining whether to list species as threatened or endangered, and thereby protect them, under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Listing is the gateway to protection under CESA. The process is analogous to listing under the federal Endangered Species Act in certain respects but it also differs in a number of respects, perhaps the most important being that the decision whether to list a species is made by the Fish and&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/an-overview-of-the-listing-process-under'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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585			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/bumble-bee'>Bumble Bee</a>, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/california-fish-and-wildlife-journal'>California Fish and Wildlife Journal</a>, <a href='/tag/cesa'>CESA</a>, <a href='/tag/department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered'>Endangered</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-eslp'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-game-commission'>Fish and Game Commission</a>, <a href='/tag/joshua-tree'>joshua tree</a>, <a href='/tag/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/tag/listing-petition'>listing petition</a>, <a href='/tag/mountain-lion'>
585Mountain Lion</a>, <a href='/tag/secretary-of-the-interior'>Secretary of the Interior</a>, <a href='/tag/threatened'>Threatened</a>, <a href='/tag/threatened-species'>threatened species</a></div></div>
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593<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/aba-publishes-third-edition-of-endangered-species'>ABA Publishes Third Edition of Endangered Species Act Treatise</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/brian-ferrasci-omalley'>Brian  Ferrasci-O'Malley</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-06-17' class='itemdate'>06.17.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/publications'>Publications</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/aba-publishes-third-edition-of-endangered-species'><img itemprop='image' alt='ABA Publishes Third Edition of Endangered Species Act Treatise' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1314.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>The American Bar Association has published a newly revised edition of its tome <em>Endangered Species Act: Law, Policy, and Perspective</em>.&nbsp; Editors Don Baur and Jake Li pulled together leaders in the field from government, the private sector, and non-profits who penned 18 chapters covering all aspects of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its implementation.&nbsp; The volume also covers related topics including state-level and international efforts to protect wildlife.</p> <p>Steve Quarles, Paul Weiland, and Brian Ferrasci-O&rsquo;Malley contributed a chapter in the volume on the prohibitions&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/aba-publishes-third-edition-of-endangered-species'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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598			<!--/UDMCOMMENT-->
599			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-treatise'>ESA treatise</a>, <a href='/tag/publish'>publish</a></div></div>
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607<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/d-c-circuit-shuts-down-challenge-to'>D.C. Circuit Shuts Down Challenge to Species Status Assessments</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-06-01' class='itemdate'>06.01.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/legal'>Legal</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/d-c-circuit-shuts-down-challenge-to'><img itemprop='image' alt='D.C. Circuit Shuts Down Challenge to Species Status Assessments' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1313.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>In a per curiam decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit dismissed the Center for Biological Diversity&rsquo;s (CBD) challenge to the Fish and Wildlife Service&rsquo;s (Service) process for assessing the status of species to inform regulatory decisions with respect to those species.&nbsp; That process, referred to as <a target="_blank" title="SSA Framework" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/SSA%20Framework%20v3.4-8_10_2016.pdf">species status assessment (SSA)</a>, is akin to a biological risk assessment for the target species.&nbsp; It has been developed by the Service over the past several years and provides a more structured approach to assessing listing, delisting, uplisting, and&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/d-c-circuit-shuts-down-challenge-to'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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613			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/administrative-procedure-act'>Administrative Procedure Act</a>, <a href='/tag/agency-action'>agency action</a>, <a href='/tag/apa'>APA</a>, <a href='/tag/article'>Article</a>, <a href='/tag/center-for-biological-diversity'>center for biological diversity</a>, <a href='/tag/challenge'>Challenge</a>, <a href='/tag/circuit'>Circuit</a>, <a href='/tag/court'>Court</a>, <a href='/tag/court-decision'>court decision</a>, <a href='/tag/d-c'>D.C.</a>, <a href='/tag/downlist'>downlist</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-and-threatened-plants'>endangered and threatened plants</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-litigation'>environmental litigation</a>, <a href='/tag/esa'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/federal-register'>federal register</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-wildlife-service'>Fish and Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/tag/species-status-assessment'>species status assessment</a>, <a href='/tag/ssa'>ssa</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-court-of-appeals-for-the'>U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/united-states-fish-wildlife-service'>United States Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/usfws'>USFWS</a></div></div>
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621<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/ninth-circuit-strikes-down-esa-30-day'>Ninth Circuit Strikes Down ESA 30-Day Listing Petition Rule</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><span itemprop='name'>Jacob Grogin (Summer Law Clerk, Loyola Marymount University Law School J.D. Candidate 2022)</span></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-05-21' class='itemdate'>05.21.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/ninth-circuit-strikes-down-esa-30-day'><img itemprop='image' alt='Ninth Circuit Strikes Down ESA 30-Day Listing Petition Rule' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1356.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On May 17, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) rule requiring that affected states receive a 30-day notice of an intent to file a petition to list a species as endangered or threatened is inconsistent with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). <em>See <a target="_blank" title="Friends of Animals v. Haaland (9th Cir. 2021)" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/20-35318.pdf">Friends of Animals v. Haaland</a></em><a target="_blank" title="Friends of Animals v. Haaland (9th Cir. 2021)" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/20-35318.pdf">, Case No. 20-35318 (9th Cir. May 17, 2021)</a>; 50 C.F.R. &sect; 424.14(b).</p> <p>In reaching its decision, the Ninth Circuit reviewed the Service&rsquo;s rulemaking under a two-step framework established by the Supreme Court in the landmark case <em>Chevron U. S&nbsp;... </em></p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/ninth-circuit-strikes-down-esa-30-day'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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627			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/30-day-notice'>30-day notice</a>, <a href='/tag/90-day-finding'>90-day finding</a>, <a href='/tag/agency'>agency</a>, <a href='/tag/agency-action'>agency action</a>, <a href='/tag/chevron-deference'>chevron deference</a>, <a href='/tag/circuit'>Circuit</a>, <a href='/tag/friends'>Friends</a>, <a href='/tag/friends-of-animals'>friends of animals</a>, <a href='/tag/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/tag/listing-petition'>listing petition</a>, <a href='/tag/petition-for-listing'>petition for listing</a>, <a href='/tag/state-input'>state input</a>, <a href='/tag/wild-horse'>wild horse</a></div></div>
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635<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/webinar-the-first-100-days-of-president-bidens-environmental-policy'>WEBINAR: The First 100 Days of President Biden’s Environmental Policy: Revolution or Back to Basics?</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/brooke-marcus'>Brooke  Marcus</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-04-01' class='itemdate'>04.01.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/government-administration'>Government Administration</a>, <a href='/category/event'>Event</a>, <a href='/category/ceqa'>CEQA</a>, <a href='/category/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/category/congress'>Congress</a>, <a href='/category/budget'>Budget</a>, <a href='/category/nepa'>NEPA</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/webinar-the-first-100-days-of-president-bidens-environmental-policy'><img itemprop='image' alt='WEBINAR: The First 100 Days of President Biden’s Environmental Policy: Revolution or Back to Basics?' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1322.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>The first 100 days of a new administration can define what lies ahead for the next four years. Join our panel of Nossaman Environment &amp; Land Use attorneys from across the U.S. on April 15, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. &ndash; 12:30 p.m. PT as we review and evaluate the Biden administration&rsquo;s first 100 days of policy moves involving environmental and natural resources management.</p> <p>We will discuss efforts to fill leadership roles at CEQ, EPA, Interior, DOT and other federal agencies. Updates and analysis will be provided regarding key areas of policy, legislation and regulation, including:</p> <ul> <li>Climate&nbsp;... </li></ul></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/webinar-the-first-100-days-of-president-bidens-environmental-policy'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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641			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/ceq'>CEQ</a>, <a href='/tag/council-on-environmental-quality-es2'>Council on Environmental Quality</a>, <a href='/tag/epa-'>EPA</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-protection-agency-'>Environmental Protection Agency</a>, <a href='/tag/interior'>Interior</a>, <a href='/tag/department-of-interior'>Department of The Interior</a>, <a href='/tag/dot-elu'>DOT</a>, <a href='/tag/department-of-transportation-elu'>Department of Transportation</a>, <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/climate-change'>Climate Change</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-enforcement'>environmental enforcement</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-review-'>environmental review</a>, <a href='/tag/wildlife'>Wildlife</a>, <a href='/tag/natural-resource-laws'>natural resource laws</a>, <a href='/tag/nepa_'>NEPA</a>, <a href='/tag/national-environmental-policy-act'>National Environmental Policy Act</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-assessment'>Environmental Assessment</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-permitting-'>environmental permitting</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-regulations'>environmental regulations</a>, <a href='/tag/event'>event</a>, <a href='/tag/first-100-days-'>First 100 Days</a>
641, <a href='/tag/infrastructure-'>infrastructure</a>, <a href='/tag/land-use-'>Land Use</a>, <a href='/tag/-legislation-'>legislation</a>, <a href='/tag/mcle-'>MCLE</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-policy'>environmental policy</a>, <a href='/tag/natural-resources'>natural resources</a>, <a href='/tag/new-administration'>new administration</a>, <a href='/tag/on-demand-recording'>on-demand recording</a>, <a href='/tag/regulation'>Regulation</a>, <a href='/tag/renewable-energy-'>renewable energy</a>, <a href='/tag/status-review'>status review</a>, <a href='/tag/-webinar-'>webinar</a></div></div>
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649<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/the-role-of-conceptual-ecological-models-in'>The Role of Conceptual Ecological Models in Implementing the Federal Endangered Species Act</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-03-25' class='itemdate'>03.25.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/ceqa'>CEQA</a>, <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/endangered-species-act'>Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/nepa'>NEPA</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/the-role-of-conceptual-ecological-models-in'><img itemprop='image' alt='The Role of Conceptual Ecological Models in Implementing the Federal Endangered Species Act' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1314.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>This week, I published a post on the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management&rsquo;s <em><a href="https://calwatercenter.org/posts/">DeltaCurrents</a></em> blog discussing the role of conceptual ecological models in implementing the federal Endangered Species Act. Conceptual ecological models are a specialized subset of conceptual models generally intended to describe the environmental factors that affect an ecological community, a species, or a population. Conceptual ecological models are useful in a variety of contexts ranging from development of research proposals and monitoring schemes, to regulatory&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/the-role-of-conceptual-ecological-models-in'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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655			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/cem'>CEM</a>, <a href='/tag/conceptual-ecological-model'>conceptual ecological model</a>, <a href='/tag/driver-stressor-response-relationships'>driver-stressor-response relationships</a>, <a href='/tag/ecosystem-descriptor'>ecosystem descriptor</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-'>endangered species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-consultation-handbook'>Endangered Species Consultation Handbook</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-regulatory-decision-making'>Environmental Regulatory Decision Making</a>, <a href='/tag/habitat'>habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/habitat-conservation-plan'>Habitat Conservation Plan</a>, <a href='/tag/interagency-consultation'>interagency consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/listed-species'>listed species</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers'>U.S. Army Corps of Engineers</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-services-habitat'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service’s Habitat Conservation Planning and Incidental Take Permitting Processing Handbook</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-geological-survey'>U.S. Geological Survey</a>, <a href='/tag/wildlife'>Wildlife</a></div></div>
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663<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/department-of-interior-takes-steps-toward-reversal'>Department of the Interior Takes Steps Toward Reversal of Position on Migratory Birds Protections</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2021-02-08' class='itemdate'>02.08.2021</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/migratory-bird'>Migratory Bird</a>, <a href='/category/regulatory-reform'>Regulatory Reform</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/department-of-interior-takes-steps-toward-reversal'><img itemprop='image' alt='Department of the Interior Takes Steps Toward Reversal of Position on Migratory Birds Protections' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1226.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>Recently, the Department of the Interior released a <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2021-02667.pdf?utm_source=federalregister.gov&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list">pre-publication version</a> of a Federal Register notice delaying the effective date of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) take definitional rule to March 8, 2021, and opening a 20-day public comment period, which will close March 1, 2021.&nbsp; The MBTA was enacted in 1918 to implement an international convention for the protection of migratory birds in response to declines in populations of a number of species of birds resulting from widespread hunting and poaching.&nbsp; The take definitional rule states in full:</p> <blockquote class="blockQuote">&ldquo;The prohibitions of the&nbsp;... </blockquote></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/department-of-interior-takes-steps-toward-reversal'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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669			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/-department-of-justice-'>Department of Justice</a>, <a href='/tag/department-of-interior'>Department of The Interior</a>, <a href='/tag/doi'>DOI</a>, <a href='/tag/doj-'>DOJ</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/hunting-and-poaching'>hunting and poaching</a>, <a href='/tag/mbta'>MBTA</a>, <a href='/tag/migratory-bird'>migratory bird</a>, <a href='/tag/migratory-bird-treaty-act'>Migratory Bird Treaty Act</a></div></div>
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677<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/federal-wildlife-agencies-release-final-rule-defining'>Federal Wildlife Agencies Release Final Rule Defining “Habitat”</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/brooke-marcus'>Brooke  Marcus</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2020-12-16' class='itemdate'>12.16.2020</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/category/supreme-court'>Supreme Court</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/federal-wildlife-agencies-release-final-rule-defining'><img itemprop='image' alt='Federal Wildlife Agencies Release Final Rule Defining “Habitat”' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/611.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On December 15, 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (collectively, the agencies) released a pre-publication version of a final rule providing a definition of &ldquo;habitat&rdquo; for the purpose of informing designation of areas as &ldquo;critical habitat&rdquo; under the Endangered Species Act.&nbsp; The agencies released a proposed rule defining habitat in August 2020 in response to a unanimous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2019 overturning a lower court decision that upheld a controversial determination of critical habitat by the U.S. Fish and&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/federal-wildlife-agencies-release-final-rule-defining'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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683			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/biden-administration'>Biden Administration</a>, <a href='/tag/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/dusky-gopher-frog'>dusky gopher frog</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/environmental-litigation'>environmental litigation</a>, <a href='/tag/ephemeral-habitat'>ephemeral habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-eslp'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/habitat'>habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/life-processes'>life processes</a>, <a href='/tag/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-supreme-court--'>U.S. Supreme Court</a>, <a href='/tag/weyerhaeuser'>Weyerhaeuser</a>, <a href='/tag/weyerhaeuser-co-v-u-s-fish-and'>Weyerhaeuser Co. v. U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/wildlife'>Wildlife</a></div></div>
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691<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/fish-and-game-commission-violated-law-by-seeking-to-protect-bees-under-CESA'>Fish and Game Commission Violated Law by Seeking to Protect Bees under CESA</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/robert-thornton'>Robert  Thornton</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/ben-rubin'>Benjamin  Rubin</a></span>, <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/samantha-savoni'>Samantha  Savoni</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2020-11-23' class='itemdate'>11.23.2020</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/fish-and-game-commission-violated-law-by-seeking-to-protect-bees-under-CESA'><img itemprop='image' alt='Fish and Game Commission Violated Law by Seeking to Protect Bees under CESA' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1176.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p><span>The Sacramento Superior Court upheld a challenge to a decision by the California Fish and Game Commission to designate four subspecies of bumble bees as candidates for protection under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/assets/htmldocuments/NewBlogs/EndangeredSpecies/FinalRulinggrantingPetitionforWritofMandate.pdf">decision</a> in <em>Almond Alliance et al. v. California Fish and Game Commission</em> reinforces a long line of authority dating back several decades suggesting that insects are not subject to protection under CESA. It also reflects respect for the role of the coordinate branches of government in formulating, executing and interpreting the laws that the&nbsp;... </span></p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/fish-and-game-commission-violated-law-by-seeking-to-protect-bees-under-CESA'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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697			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/bees'>bees</a>, <a href='/tag/bumble-bee'>Bumble Bee</a>, <a href='/tag/ca-fish-game'>CA Fish &amp; Game</a>, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/cesa'>CESA</a></div></div>
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705<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/california-fish-and-game-commission-defers-decision-on-joshua-tree'>California Fish and Game Commission Defers Decision on Joshua Tree</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2020-08-24' class='itemdate'>08.24.2020</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/listing'>Listing</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/california-fish-and-game-commission-defers-decision-on-joshua-tree'><img itemprop='image' alt='California Fish and Game Commission Defers Decision on Joshua Tree' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/705.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>The California Fish and Game Commission deferred the decision on whether to make the western Joshua tree a candidate for listing to a special meeting in September 2020. In a hearing on August 20, 2020, the Commission heard a wide variety of perspectives on whether listing the species may be warranted. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife&rsquo;s 90-day evaluation recommended a &ldquo;may be warranted&rdquo; finding but at the hearing Director Bonham indicated he was open to deferring the decision in order to work with the stakeholders ...&nbsp;</p>
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712			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/12-month-finding'>12-Month Finding</a>, <a href='/tag/california-endangered-species-act'>California Endangered Species Act</a>, <a href='/tag/cdfw'>CDFW</a>, <a href='/tag/department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-eslp'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-game-code'>Fish and Game Code</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-game-commission'>Fish and Game Commission</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/tag/usfws'>USFWS</a></div></div>
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720<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/federal-wildlife-agencies-propose-rule-to-define-habitat'>Federal Wildlife Agencies Propose Rule to Define Habitat</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2020-08-04' class='itemdate'>08.04.2020</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/federal-wildlife-agencies-propose-rule-to-define-habitat'><img itemprop='image' alt='Federal Wildlife Agencies Propose Rule to Define Habitat' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/913.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>The Departments of Commerce and the Interior (Departments) have completed a <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-17002.pdf">
720proposed rule</a> to define the term &ldquo;habitat&rdquo; as that term is used in the context of designating &ldquo;critical habitat&rdquo; under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed rule will soon be published in the Federal Register. Upon publication, the public will be given 30 days to submit comments. If finalized, the definition will be included in the joint regulations developed by the two Departments to implement section 4(a)(3)(A)(i) of the ESA. The ESA, itself, defines the term &ldquo;critical habitat&rdquo; but&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/federal-wildlife-agencies-propose-rule-to-define-habitat'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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726			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/critical-habitat'>Critical Habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered'>Endangered</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species'>Endangered Species</a>, <a href='/tag/endangered-species-act'>endangered species act</a>, <a href='/tag/esa-eslp'>ESA</a>, <a href='/tag/habitat'>habitat</a>, <a href='/tag/proposed-rule'>Proposed Rule</a>, <a href='/tag/section-4'>Section 4</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7'>Section 7</a>, <a href='/tag/section-7-consultation'>section 7 consultation</a>, <a href='/tag/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service'>U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a></div></div>
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734<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/klamath-dam-removal-now-in-question'>Klamath Dam Removal Now in Question</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2020-07-20' class='itemdate'>07.20.2020</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/construction-projects'>Construction Projects</a>, <a href='/category/legal'>Legal</a>, <a href='/category/pacific-northwest'>Pacific Northwest</a>, <a href='/category/project'>project</a>, <a href='/category/water-elu'>Water Issues</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/klamath-dam-removal-now-in-question'><img itemprop='image' alt='Klamath Dam Removal Now in Question' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/1053.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>Over the past decade, proponents of an effort to remove four dams on the lower Klamath River have hit a series of roadblocks.&nbsp;&nbsp;The most recent came on July 16, 2020, when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted 3-0 to partially transfer the license for the four dams to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) but also required PacifiCorp, the current owner and operator of the dams, to remain a co-licensee.&nbsp;&nbsp;FERC determined that retaining PacifiCorp as co-licensee is in the public interest because of significant uncertainty regarding the proposed dam&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/klamath-dam-removal-now-in-question'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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740			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/chinook-salmon'>chinook salmon</a>, <a href='/tag/coho-salmon'>Coho Salmon</a>, <a href='/tag/dams'>dams</a>, <a href='/tag/ferc'>FERC</a>, <a href='/tag/klamath-river'>Klamath River</a></div></div>
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748<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/california-fish-and-game-commission-adopts-delta-fisheries-management-policy'>California Fish and Game Commission Adopts Delta Fisheries Management Policy and Revises Striped Bass Policy</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2020-03-03' class='itemdate'>03.03.2020</span></div><div class='blogcategory'></div><div class='image'><a href='/california-fish-and-game-commission-adopts-delta-fisheries-management-policy'>
749							<figure>
750								<img itemprop='image' alt='California Fish and Game Commission Adopts Delta Fisheries Management Policy and Revises Striped Bass Policy' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/908.webp' />
751								<figcaption>
752									<p><em>Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)&nbsp;</em></p>
753								</figcaption>
754							</figure>
755							</a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On February 21, 2020, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) voted 4-0 to adopt a new Delta fisheries management policy and a revised Striped bass policy supported by Commission staff and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department).&nbsp; The Delta fisheries management policy is notable because:</p>  <ul>  <li>it provides that the Commission and Department will rely on &ldquo;credible science&rdquo; (a term defined in the Fish and Game Code) to develop strategies and recommendations to manage fisheries;</li>  <li>it includes the express recognition that listed species have highest priority; ...</li>  </ul>
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762			</div><div class='blogtag'>Tags: <a href='/tag/department-of-fish-and-wildlife'>Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>, <a href='/tag/fish-and-game-commission'>Fish and Game Commission</a>, <a href='/tag/sacramento-san-joaquin-river-delta'>Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta</a></div></div>
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770<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/california-files-challenge-to-federal-biological-opinions-for-water-projects'>California Files Challenge to Federal Decisions Governing Operation of California Water Projects</a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2020-02-26' class='itemdate'>02.26.2020</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/legal'>Legal</a>, <a href='/category/litigation'>Litigation</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/california-files-challenge-to-federal-biological-opinions-for-water-projects'><img itemprop='image' alt='California Files Challenge to Federal Decisions Governing Operation of California Water Projects' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/903.webp' /></a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>The State of California recently sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue to the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior and concurrently filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California challenging the biological opinions and associated environmental impact statement (EIS) for operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project (collectively, the &ldquo;Projects&rdquo;).&nbsp; The Projects provide water to more than 25 million water users in northern, central, and southern California, and are one of the primary sources of water for wholesale water&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/california-files-challenge-to-federal-biological-opinions-for-water-projects'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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784<div itemscope itemprop='blogPost' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'><div class='title'><a href='/changes-to-central-valley-project-and-state-water-project-operations'>Changes to Central Valley Project and State Water Project Operations </a></div><div class='byline'><span class='bio'>By <span itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'><a itemprop='name url' href='/author/paul-weiland'>Paul  Weiland</a></span></span> on <span itemprop='datePublished' content='2020-02-25' class='itemdate'>02.25.2020</span></div><div class='blogcategory'>Posted in <a href='/category/conservation'>Conservation</a>, <a href='/category/fish-wildlife-service'>Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a>, <a href='/category/national-marine-fisheries-service'>National Marine Fisheries Service</a></div><div class='image'><a href='/changes-to-central-valley-project-and-state-water-project-operations'>
785							<figure>
786								<img itemprop='image' alt='Changes to Central Valley Project and State Water Project Operations ' src='/assets/images-t1790894849/901.webp' />
787								<figcaption>
788									<p>Delta smelt, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act that is covered in the biological opinions for CVP and SWP operations.&nbsp;</p>
789								</figcaption>
790							</figure>
791							</a></div><div itemprop='description' class='abstract'><p>On February 19, 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on the reinitiation of consultation on the coordinated long-term operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.&nbsp; At the same time, the President signed a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-developing-delivering-water-supplies-california">memorandum</a> on developing and delivering more water supplies in California. The Department of the Interior issued a <a href="https:/www.doi.gov/pressreleases/trump-administration-optimizes-water-delivery-and-increases-species-protection">press release</a> describing these actions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The execution of the ROD signals the shift from operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project under the biological opinions issued by the U.S. Fish and&nbsp;... </p></div><div class='viewMore'><a href='/changes-to-central-valley-project-and-state-water-project-operations'>Continue</a></div><div class='shareTags'><div class='socialshare'>
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