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: 2026-02-15 to 2026-02-21

📋 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 on Water and Power – Hearing on Water and Power Legislation: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee will hold a hearing on February 24, 2026, at 15:30 ET, Dirksen 366, reviewing bills on water system feasibility, storage programs, water recycling, and endangered species conservation, including S.1034, S.1242, S.3409, S.3500, among others.
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment – Hearing on Drinking Water Challenges: On February 24, 2026, at 15:15 ET, Rayburn 2123, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will examine safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water topics during 'From Source to Tap' hearing.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources – Legislative Hearing on Mining and Resource Bills: Scheduled for February 24, 2026, at 15:30 ET, Longworth 1334, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee will review H.R. 1501 (Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025), H.R. 2969, H.R. 4781, H.R. 5929, and H.R. 7126.

Federal Government News

EPA Initiates Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Contaminated Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Lands

EPA Region 10 announced its intent to prepare a programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Contaminated Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Lands Assistance Program. Funding supports eligible Alaska Native corporations and Tribes in investigating and remediating contamination present at conveyance. The agency has begun public scoping and Section 106 consultation with the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer, Tribes, and relevant parties to establish programwide procedures for archaeological and cultural resource compliance. The EA will consider potential direct, indirect, and reasonably foreseeable impacts of representative cleanup actions and will inform whether a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is warranted. Public comments and requests to participate as consulting parties are due March 20, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

BLM Announces Revision to Resource Management Plans for Northwestern and Southwestern Oregon

The Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington State Office unveiled its plan to revise the Northwestern and Coastal Oregon and Southwestern Oregon Resource Management Plans, initiating the scoping period for public comment on land use designations and planning criteria. Motivated by recent devastating wildfire impacts, threats to forest health including barred owl management, and reduced timber production, BLM is seeking to address statutory requirements for sustained yield and economic stability. The revision aims to increase timber harvest aligned with the O&C Act, reevaluate Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), and consider wildlife, hydrology, and other resource issues over approximately 2.46 million acres. Comments on alternatives and nominations for new ACECs are due by March 23, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

NOAA: 12-Month Finding on Petition to List Washington Coast Chinook Salmon Under the ESA

NOAA Fisheries completed a comprehensive review of the Washington Coast (WC) Chinook salmon population in response to a petition requesting ESA listing. After evaluating abundance, productivity, spatial structure, diversity, and threats including habitat modification, disease, and harvest, the agency determined WC Chinook salmon do not warrant ESA listing as either threatened or endangered. Populations remain stable, regulatory mechanisms are viewed as adequate, and anticipated environmental changes are assessed to pose low-to-moderate risks. No portion of the range was found to be both biologically significant and subject to higher extinction risk. This decision concludes current review activity for the ESU.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FWS Receives Incidental Take Permit Application and Habitat Conservation Plan for Sand Skink, Marion County, FL

The Fish and Wildlife Service announced receipt of an application by Marion County Public Schools for an incidental take permit under the ESA related to construction on 7.06 acres in Florida. The project includes direct impacts to approximately 2.51 acres of sand skink habitat, with mitigation proposed through purchase of credits in a Service-approved conservation bank. The FWS has issued a draft NEPA screening form and statement, preliminarily determining that the permit action may qualify for categorical exclusion. Public comment is requested by March 23, 2026, prior to final permit evaluation.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

DOE Western Area Power Administration Updates Collection Procedures for Central Valley Project Restoration

The Western Area Power Administration, Department of Energy, confirmed updated collection procedures for Restoration Payments from Central Valley Project Power Contractors in California, consistent with the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992. The procedures, effective April 1, 2026, clarify notification, allocation, monthly billing, late payment charges, deposit, and annual reconciliation processes. First Preference Customers are excluded based on facility reoperation benefits. The action received no public comments and aligns with DOE NEPA categorical exclusions for rate changes. Administrative documents and determinations are available online.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Legislative Updates

H.R. 1501 – Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025

The Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025 (H.R. 1501) was referred to the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. The bill focuses on energy and domestic mineral extraction policy and is currently awaiting subcommittee review.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• He Was a Climate Activist. One Day, the F.B.I. Came Knocking.: Report details federal investigation of climate activists following regulatory protests.
• Trump climate health rollback likely to hit poor, minority areas hardest, experts say: Experts predict regulatory changes will disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
• Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Repeal of Climate Finding: Environmental organizations filed litigation challenging EPA's reversal of climate risk findings.
• Big windmills mean big money for a small town: Rural Indiana sees significant financial benefits from new wind energy installations.
• Teddy Roosevelt’s Family Urges G.O.P. to Protect Public Lands: Roosevelt family members advocate for conservation of U.S. public lands amid mining debates.
• Mississippi holds hearing on xAI data center amid environmental lawsuit threat: Mississippi conducted a hearing on environmental challenges for a planned AI data center.
• Trump EPA to weaken rule limiting harmful mercury, air toxins from coal plants: EPA plans to ease restrictions on mercury and air toxics emissions from coal-fired power plants.

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