Fish and Wildlife Service – National Agricultural Law Center
Blog Header

In: Fish and Wildlife Service

  1. Home
  2. The Ag & Food Law Update

Uncertainty in the PPR: Examining FWS 2024 Final Drain Tile Setback Rule

Catalina Clouthier, Research Fellow Brigit Rollins, Staff Attorney   In 2024, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) released a...

Lawsuit Challenges Joint USDA-DOI Grazing Action Plan

On August 13, 2026, the Center for Biological Diversity (“CBD”), an environmental nonprofit organization, filed a lawsuit against the Department of...

Services Rescind ESA “Harm” Definition, Environmental Groups File Suit

On July 14, 2026, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) together with the National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) (collectively,...

Federal Court Strikes Down 2019 & 2024 ESA Regulations

On March 30, 2026, a federal court in California issued a ruling to overturn several Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) regulations adopted...

Department of Interior Seeks to Convene the Endangered Species Committee

The Department of Interior has announced that on March 31, 2026, the Endangered Species Committee (“the Committee”) will meet to discuss...

Top Environmental Law Topics to Watch in 2026

The last year saw significant developments in the arena of environmental law and 2026 is likely to bring more of the...

“Top Ten” Issues in Ag & Env Law: 2025 Edition

In the world of agricultural law, 2025 was a year for significant developments and changes.  In summary below, attorneys at the...

FWS & NMFS Propose New ESA Rules

In late November, the Untied States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) together with the National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) (collectively, “the...

UADA article: Endangered Species Act may be redefined in post-Chevron environment

By Mary Hightower U of A System Division of Agriculture June 2, 2025 Fast facts: FWS says definition ‘runs contrary to...

Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Rescinding Definition of “Harm” Under ESA

On April 17, 2025, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) together with the National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) (collectively,...

NALC news release: Butterfly effect? NALC webinar will discuss impacts of listing monarch butterfly under Endangered Species Act

“When a species is listed, it can impact how agricultural producers are able to operate.” —Brigit Rollins, NALC Staff Attorney By...

FWS Proposes Listing the Monarch Butterfly as “Threatened” Under the ESA

On December 12, 2024, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) released its long-awaited proposed decision to designate the monarch...

Texas Files Suit Against FWS For Decision to List Mussels As Endangered

In late October, 2024, the state of Texas filed a lawsuit against the Department of Interior and the United States Fish...

Ag & the ESA: When a Species is Listed “Wherever Found”

The Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) is widely recognized as one of the strongest wildlife protection laws in the world. The primary...

FWS Streamline ESA Voluntary Conservation Programs

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) have issued a final rule to update the implementing regulations for Section 10...

Federal Court Revokes Florida’s CWA Section 404 Permitting Authority

On February 15, 2024, a federal court in the District of Columbia issued a ruling formally vacating the Environmental Protection Agency’s...

Doctrine of Chevron Deference Challenged at the High Court

Update: On June 28, 2024, the Supreme Court released its final decision in Loper Bright Enters. b. Raimondo, where it overturned...

FWS, NMFS Issue Proposed Rules to Modify Remaining Trump Administration Regulations

During the Trump administration, multiple environmental statutes were subject to regulatory changes, some of them for the first time in decades....

Environmental Groups Challenge EPA Approval of Enlist One and Enlist Duo

On June 6, 2023, a coalition of environmental and agricultural labor groups lead by the Center for Food Safety filed a...

Texas Sues FWS Over Decision to List the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Under the Endangered Species Act

On March 22, 2023, the State of Texas filed a lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) over its recent...