The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service are proposing to list nearly 9,000 acres of beaches and 428,000 square miles of coastal waters as critical habitat for six distinct populations of green sea turtles.
The proposal stems from an agreement made with environmental groups that filed a lawsuit in 2020 to see the critical habitat proposed.
https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2023/07/critical-habitat-proposed-green-sea-turtles
Pride flags could not be flown at any facilities operated by the Interior Department or EPA, including the 424 sites owned by the National Park Service, under a spending bill by House Republicans that’s set for a committee vote on Wednesday.
The bill, which also calls for deep spending cuts for the agencies, would only allow “official flags,” including U.S. flags, POW/MIA flags and those that represent a state, tribe or agency. The measure cleared a subcommittee on a voice vote Thursday and now heads to the full House Appropriations Committee.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/fight-over-pride-flag-lgbtq-rights-lands-at-national-parks/
Timber companies faced another blow in court this week, after a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Southern Oregon.
The decision on Tuesday rejects claims by the timber trade group American Forest Resource Council that expansion of the monument in 2017 conflicts with laws requiring the government to set aside land for timber production.
https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2023-07-18/a-second-u-s-appeals-court-affirms-expansion-of-cascade-siskiyou-national-monument
