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: 2026-03-08 to 2026-03-14

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee: ESA Implementation Challenges and Opportunities Hearing – Mar 18: The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water will examine challenges and opportunities with implementing the Endangered Species Act. The hearing is scheduled for March 18, 2026, at 2:00 pm EST in Dirksen 562.
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Hearing on Water, Power, and Conservation Measures – Mar 17: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power will convene March 17, 2026, at 2:00 pm EST in Dirksen 366 to discuss legislation on watershed pilots, water supply forecasting, storage infrastructure, and water project coordination.
• House Rules Committee: Scheduled Action on Hunting, Immigration, and Animals Bills – Mar 16: The House Rules Committee will consider H.R. 1958 (Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026), H.R. 4638 (BOWOW Act of 2025), and H.R. 556 (Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act) at a meeting set for March 16, 2026, at 8:00 pm EDT in Capitol H-313.
• House Appropriations Subcommittee: American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Sessions – Mar 17–18: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies will hear public witness testimony from tribal leaders, focused on environment and resource matters. Sessions are scheduled for March 17, 18 (morning and afternoon), 2026, in Rayburn 2008.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands: Legislative Hearing on Park and Public Lands Bills – Mar 18: On March 18, 2026, at 2:00 pm EST, the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold a legislative hearing on bills addressing National Park boundaries, public land transfers, and related conservation initiatives.

Federal Government News

Northeast Multispecies Fishery: Final Rule Implements Framework Adjustment 69

The National Marine Fisheries Service approved Framework Adjustment 69 for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, effective March 9, 2026. The final rule sets specifications and management measures for several groundfish stocks for fishing years 2025-2027, including revised quotas for U.S./Canada shared stocks, American plaice, pollock, witch flounder, and other key species. Notably, the Georges Bank haddock ABC was increased from the proposed amount based on updated realized catch data. The rule removes certain sector reporting requirements, updates common pool possession limits, and modifies accountability measures for non-target bycatch in the scallop fishery. Public comments showed support as well as concern over quota levels and implementation timing. The action is expected to increase flexibility for sector fishing operations while maintaining required conservation standards.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Executive Order Seeks to Remove Regulatory Barriers to Housing Construction

A new executive order directs federal agencies to review and revise regulations affecting stormwater, wetlands, and other environmental standards that affect housing construction costs. The order requires elimination of burdensome rules, especially those hindering affordable single-family and manufactured housing, and mandates a review of energy and water-use requirements. It also calls for streamlining of federal permitting under environmental and historic preservation laws for residential development and related infrastructure. The order supports the adoption of state and local regulatory best practices such as capping permitting timelines and removing zoning restrictions on manufactured housing and suburban growth. It encourages residential investment within Opportunity Zones and directs agencies to align federal tax and grant programs to support housing construction.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

EPA Publishes Weekly Environmental Impact Statement Receipt Notice

The Environmental Protection Agency announced the receipt of three Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) between March 2, 2026, and March 9, 2026, covering a major transmission line and substation modifications in Georgia, the Link Union Station Project in California, and a draft EIS for container terminal redevelopment at the Port of Los Angeles. Each notice lists review periods and federal contacts for comments, with additional EPA analyses posted online per Clean Air Act requirements.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Fish and Wildlife Service Initiates 5-Year Status Reviews for 56 Pacific Southwest Species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has opened 5-year status reviews for 56 species in the Pacific Southwest, including 22 animal species—spanning mammals, fish, amphibians, and insects—and 34 plant species. Stakeholders are invited to submit new scientific or commercial data on factors affecting these species, such as population trends, habitat conditions, or taxonomic updates. Comments are due by May 8, 2026, for consideration in the reviews, although submissions are accepted year-round. These reviews are required by Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Agency Information Collection for USFWS Preliminary Land Acquisition Process Open for Comment

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting public comment on its information collection procedures for the preliminary land acquisition process under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The process utilizes forms to collect permission to inspect and appraise property and to issue waivers of appraisal requirements for real estate transactions supporting conservation and recreation access. Comments are due by May 12, 2026, and the annual respondent burden is estimated at 362 hours.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• U.N. Body Fights for Relevance as It Struggles to Devise a Deep Sea Mining Code: The International Seabed Authority faces mounting pressure to finalize a deep sea mining code.
• Sustainable Switch: Global renewables alliance calls for urgent clean‑energy shift: Global renewables group urges an expedited transition to clean energy sources.
• How a ‘polluted, dysfunctional’ farm let wildlife back in: A former intensive farm in the UK has documented wildlife resurgence following restoration.
• Company to cease production of toxic herbicide banned in more than 70 countries: A chemical manufacturer will end production of a controversial herbicide banned in dozens of countries.
• Louisiana’s alligator farms raise the reptiles for meat, skins — and conservation: Louisiana’s alligator farming sector produces meat and skins while supporting species recovery.
• From groundfish recovery to ghost gear removal: Coverage details efforts from rebuilding groundfish stocks to tackling derelict fishing gear.
• Haddock quota opens amid menhaden debate & Coast Guard loss: The opening of the new haddock quota coincides with ongoing fisheries management debates over menhaden.

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