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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Dates: 2026-02-02 to 2026-02-08

📋 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 Subcommittee: Conservation, Mining, and Public Land Hearings: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining will convene February 12 at 3:00 p.m. on over a dozen bills affecting conservation, mineral withdrawals, wilderness designation, wildfire risk reduction, and land conveyances; location is Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 366.
• House Natural Resources Committee: Markup of Conservation and Grazing Bills: On February 11 at 1:45 p.m., the House Natural Resources Committee will mark up bills ranging from the Critical Mineral Consistency Act to the Grasslands Grazing Act of 2025 and the SUSHI Act; session in Longworth House Office Building, Room 1324.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands: Hearing on Land Conveyance and Wildfire Bills: Scheduled for February 10 at 2:00 p.m., the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands will review six bills, including the LASSO Act, BRUSH Fires Act, and S. 282 for monument access, in Longworth House Office Building, Room 1324.

Federal Government News

Trump Revokes Commercial Fishing Ban in Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Monument

On February 6, President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation rescinding Proclamation 10287, restoring regulated commercial fishing in the 4,913-square-mile Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The move reverts management to Proclamation 10049, arguing federal statutes such as the Magnuson-Stevens Act and Endangered Species Act provide adequate protections. Trump stated well-managed commercial fishing aligns with the public interest and does not threaten the monument's protected objects. The proclamation ensures any provision found invalid will not affect the remainder.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Fact Sheet: Reopening Atlantic Monument to Commercial Fishing

President Trump announced restoration of commercial fishing access to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The reversal affects 4,913 square miles off New England, nullifying prohibitions imposed in 2016 and reinstated in 2021. The administration maintains existing laws safeguard migratory fish species and the monument's resources. This action is characterized as supporting coastal economies, longline and lobster fisheries, and is accompanied by broader regulatory and trade measures, including opposing offshore wind installations affecting fishing grounds.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery: Proposed Rule for Gear Marking and Entanglement Risk Reduction

NOAA proposes mandatory gear marking and risk reduction measures for commercial pot and bottom longline fisheries under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. All buoys must carry gear-specific colored tags ('P' for pots, 'L' for longline), and the top 20 fathoms of vertical lines must be continuously marked in designated colors. Temporary marks are allowed for three years. The rule also limits surface line length to 10 fathoms, modifies escape panel requirements for pots, and revises terminology for regulatory consistency. Public comments are requested by March 9, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Takes of Marine Mammals Authorized for Navy Construction in San Diego Bay

NMFS proposes issuing two Incidental Harassment Authorizations to the U.S. Navy for pier replacement and quay wall repair at Naval Base Point Loma and Naval Base San Diego. Construction activities may cause Level A and Level B harassment of six marine mammal species due to pile driving noise. Mitigation measures include shutdown zones, soft-start procedures, and monitoring by protected species observers. NMFS preliminarily finds negligible impact on affected stocks and requests public comments on proposed authorizations and potential renewal.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Environmental Impact Statements Published: Final and Draft Notices Across Multiple Agencies

The EPA Office of Federal Activities issued public notice of new environmental impact statements filed from January 26 to February 2, 2026. Recent EISs include hydropower licenses in Vermont and Massachusetts, mining projects in Oregon, and a SpaceX launch vehicle in Florida, among others. EPA comment letters are available online, and contact information for each EIS is listed for review periods and inquiries.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

SALAMANDER Act Introduced for Environmental Protection

Bill 6693, the SALAMANDER Act, focuses on environmental protection and has been referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment for possible amendments and review.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Affordable Clean Water Infrastructure Act Advances to Subcommittee

Bill 6464, the Affordable Clean Water Infrastructure Act, aims to improve clean water infrastructure and has been referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment for further consideration.

Sources: www.congress.gov

PFAS Research and Development Reauthorization Act Referred

Bill 6667, the PFAS Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2025, seeks to extend research on PFAS contamination. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 Sent to Subcommittee

Bill 6432 would reauthorize the Brownfields program, aiming to support cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites. Latest action is referral to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Local Water Protection Act Referred for Subcommittee Review

Bill 7376, named the Local Water Protection Act, proposes improvements in water protection strategy. The measure was referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Trump ends Obama-era restrictions on commercial fishing in protected area off New England: Commercial fishing reinstated in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument after policy reversal.
• Environmental groups sue EU commission over Portugal's lithium mine: NGOs pursue legal action against European Commission regarding environmental impacts of lithium mining in Portugal.
• US environmental enforcement by Trump's EPA drops to record low: Data shows decreased environmental enforcement actions by EPA during the Trump administration.
• Trump vows to ‘unleash’ commercial fishing off New England, reversing Obama-era Atlantic restrictions: President Trump announces reopening New England Atlantic fishing grounds to commercial operations.
• Company that ‘resurrected’ dire wolf announces frozen biovault for endangered species: A biotech firm unveils a biovault intended to preserve genetic material for endangered species.
• Climate ‘Superfund’ Bills Spread Nationwide, Despite Legal Battles: States introduce climate-related Superfund bills amid ongoing court challenges.

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