July 19, 2026 to July 25, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news regarding the environment, climate change policies, fish and wildlife protection, habitat conservation, environmental activism, and forestry. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: Conservation and Recreation Legislative Business Meeting – July 29: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a business meeting on July 29 to consider multiple bills affecting federal lands, wilderness designations, national park system boundaries, and conservation areas. The agenda includes S.365, S.764, S.791, S.888, S.945, S.1005, S.1088, S.1195, S.1257, S.1341, S.1349, S.1476, S.1737, S.1777, S.1870, S.2498, S.2767, H.R.5254, S.2801, S.2887, S.2933, S.2968, S.3194, S.3313, H.R.6365, S.3409, S.3635, S.3715, and H.R.6380, involving designations and management policies for federal conservation resources.

Federal Government News

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized amendments to its regulations governing the designation of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act. The rule clarifies processes for economic and national security impact analysis and specifies when an exclusion analysis will occur, introducing a “credible information” standard to determine when economic, security, or other relevant factors warrant consideration for exclusion of areas from critical habitat designations. The final rule also codifies requirements for public comment on economic analyses and outlines changes following recent executive and secretarial orders. The rule, effective August 20, 2026, applies only to future habitat designations and does not require retrospective changes.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations Pertaining to Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the "blanket rule" option for newly listed threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Future threatened species will now receive protections through tailored species-specific rules rather than the automatic application of section 9(a) prohibitions that apply to endangered species. This regulatory change does not immediately alter protections for currently listed species. Each new or reclassified threatened species will have a concurrent rulemaking process to determine appropriate protective measures. The final regulations apply to species-specific rules finalized after August 20, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Agency Information Collection Activities: Green Sturgeon 4(d) Rule Take Exceptions and Exemptions

NOAA is seeking public comment on the renewal of an information collection related to the Southern Distinct Population Segment of green sturgeon, listed as threatened since 2006. The collection covers reporting by government agencies, NGOs, researchers, and private organizations for activities such as fish rescue, restoration, FMEPs, and Tribal management plans exempt from take prohibitions under ESA 4(d). The information is used to track take, evaluate cumulative effects, and inform management actions. The public can comment via www.reginfo.gov within 30 days.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Water Act – Florida Water Quality Standards

EPA has issued a notice regarding a proposed consent decree in litigation concerning its obligation under the Clean Water Act to promulgate final human health criteria for Florida waters. The agreement would require EPA to finalize new and revised standards by December 1, 2026, following a December 2022 determination that Florida's criteria did not adequately protect human health. The public may submit comments until August 24, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Listing Endangered or Threatened Species; 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Revise the Critical Habitat Designation for the North Atlantic Right Whale

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service issued a 90-day finding on a petition to revise North Atlantic right whale critical habitat to include migratory areas. The agency concluded that the petition did not present substantial scientific information indicating that revision may be warranted. Current data and submitted references did not clearly describe physical or biological features essential for migration that would support a habitat revision.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026

Bill 9621 aims to address predation on endangered salmon in the Northwest. Subcommittee hearings were held to discuss environmental protection measures under consideration.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Aquatic Invasive Species Control and Prevention Act of 2026

Bill 8876 seeks to control and prevent aquatic invasive species impacting public lands and natural resources. Subcommittee hearings have been held.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Whale CHARTS Act of 2026

Bill 7332, focused on environmental protection for whales, had subcommittee hearings. The bill proposes new requirements or programs for whale conservation.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act

Bill 5063 was ordered to be reported in the nature of a substitute (amended) by unanimous consent. The measure addresses public lands and natural resources, including policies on beach safety.

Sources: www.congress.gov

National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025

Bill 4219 addresses invasive species management on the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was ordered to be reported in the nature of a substitute (amended) by unanimous consent.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Why wildfires pose multiple threats to US power sector: U.S. utilities face increasing risk and operational challenges from wildfires amid hotter, drier conditions.
• Opinion | On This We Can Agree: Let’s Stop Wildfires: Editorial notes the wide consensus on the urgent need to reduce wildfire impacts in the U.S.
• Judge Strips Protections for Imperiled Lizard at Trump Administration’s Behest: A federal judge removed ESA protections for the dunes sagebrush lizard following policy actions during the Trump administration.
• A model Indigenous territory in Brazil's Amazon seeks protection from criminal gangs: Indigenous leaders in Brazil's Amazon call for increased protection from organized crime within their territory.
• NEWSLETTER: Europe’s wildfires and dried-up waterways: A Reuters roundup reviews current wildfires and water shortages across several European regions.
• Europe's climate agenda risks crushing its industry, environment minister warns: European ministers voice concerns on the economic effects of climate regulations on continental industry.
• In Peru hungry pelicans signal broader economic risks from El Niño: Unusual pelican behavior in Peru points to potential broader environmental and economic risks from ongoing El Niño conditions.

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