FWS issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on voluntary conservation actions to reduce or eliminate the need to list species as endangered or threatened under the ESA.

FWS determined endangered status under the ESA for the spectaclecase and the sheepnose mussels throughout their ranges without critical habitat designation.

FWS proposed to designate approximately 13,962,449 acres in California, Oregon, and Washington as critical habitat for the northern spotted owl under the ESA; certain federal, state, and privately owned land could be excluded from the final designation for economic, national security, or scientific considerations. 

FWS initiated five-year reviews for nine northeastern species under the ESA.

FWS initiated five-year reviews for 46 species in Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and the Northern Mariana Islands under the ESA.

FWS reclassified the status of the spikedace and loach minnow under the ESA from threatened to endangered and revised the designated critical habitats for both species.

FWS determined endangered status for the rayed bean and snuffbox mussels throughout their ranges under the ESA. 

FWS designated approximately 4,216 acres in Bexar County, Texas, as critical habitat for nine invertebrates and denied removal of one area from critical habitat designation. 

OSM approved several amendments to Texas' regulatory program under SMCRA regarding permit requirements.

The federal agencies issued their semiannual regulatory agendas providing specific information on the status of regulations under development and revision. Rulemaking actions are grouped according to prerulemaking, proposed rules, final rules, long-term actions, and rulemaking actions completed since the summer 2011 agenda. EPA's agenda can be found at 77 FR 8004.