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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261118T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261118T215900
DTSTAMP:20261112T203127Z
CREATED:20261112T203127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261112T203127Z
UID:23456-1795035600-1795039140@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:EPA – Offshore pollution discharge (NPDES) permits rule
DESCRIPTION:Written comments due: Wednesday\, Nov 18\, 2026 (extended from Oct 19) – before midnight Washington DC time \nPublic hearing: none scheduled. \nPHAS Priority: MEDIUM (ties to PHAS deep seabed mining comments & T & E species & Rice’s Whale concerns) \nFederal Register: Updates to the NPDES Definitions and Exclusions\, Sept 4\, 2026 (2026-18134) \nPortal: regulations.gov\, Docket EPA-HQ-OW-2026-6965. Email also accepted: OW-docket@epa.gov (put the docket number in the subject line). \nSnail mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\, EPA Docket Center\, Office of Water Docket\, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-6965\, Mail Code 28221T\, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\, Washington\, DC 20460 (verify mail code) \nIssue: EPA proposes to rewrite the Clean Water Act definition of “discharge of a pollutant” so that discharges from mobile vessels more than three nautical miles offshore no longer need an NPDES permit. Today that covers offshore seafood processing ships\, which would lose the best-management-practice requirements in their permits\, and EPA would stop collecting discharge data from them. EPA says outright that the change would also apply to future activities such as deep seabed mining. That means mining ships processing ore at sea (for example under The Metals Company USA application now before NOAA) could release sediment plumes and processing wastewater with no Clean Water Act permit. It’s a quiet but significant gap in ocean protection. \nPre-fab letters: Ocean groups (Earthjustice\, Center for Biological Diversity\, ocean conservation coalitions working on seabed mining) are likely to object. Check for a sign-on or pre-written letter before writing our own.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/epa-offshore-pollution-discharge-npdes-permits-rule/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261118T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261118T215900
DTSTAMP:20261113T160659Z
CREATED:20261113T160522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261113T160659Z
UID:23465-1795035600-1795039140@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline send comments EPA on Offshore discharge (NPDES) permits rule
DESCRIPTION:EPA – Offshore discharge (NPDES) permits rule\nWritten comments due: Wednesday\, Nov 18\, 2026 (extended from Oct 19) \nPublic hearing: none scheduled. \nPHAS Priority: MEDIUM (ties to former PHAS comments on –  the deep seabed mining\, Blue Marlin off shore fossil fuel loading dock\,  which PHAS submitted and our concern for Rice’s whale survival) \nFederal Register: Updates to the NPDES Definitions and Exclusions\, Sept 4\, 2026 (2026-18134) \nPortal: regulations.gov\, Docket EPA-HQ-OW-2026-6965. Email also accepted: OW-docket@epa.gov (put the docket number in the subject line). \nSnail mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\, EPA Docket Center\, Office of Water Docket\, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-6965\, Mail Code 28221T\, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\, Washington\, DC 20460 (verify mail code) \nIssue: EPA proposes to rewrite the Clean Water Act definition of “discharge of a pollutant” so that discharges from mobile vessels more than three nautical miles offshore no longer need an NPDES permit. Today that covers offshore seafood processing ships\, which would lose the best-management-practice requirements in their permits\, and EPA would stop collecting discharge data from them. EPA says outright that the change would also apply to future activities such as deep seabed mining. That means mining ships processing ore at sea (for example under The Metals Company USA application now before NOAA) could release sediment plumes and processing wastewater with no Clean Water Act permit. It’s a quiet but significant gap in ocean protection. \nPre-fab letters: Ocean groups (Earthjustice\, Center for Biological Diversity\, ocean conservation coalitions working on seabed mining) are likely to object. Check for a sign-on or pre-written letters when closer to the date\, if you wish such.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-send-comments-epa-on-offshore-discharge-npdes-permits-rule/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261118T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261118T215900
DTSTAMP:20261113T163307Z
CREATED:20261113T163130Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261113T163307Z
UID:23470-1795035600-1795039140@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Comment Deadline on rule for Communication towers and ESA & NHPA oversight thereof
DESCRIPTION:Comment Deadline on rule for Communication towers and ESA & NHPA oversight thereof \nWritten comments due: Wednesday\, Nov 18\, 2026. Reply comments due Thursday\, Dec 3\, 2026. \nPublic hearing: none. \nPriority: LOW to MEDIUM (bird-collision and ESA angle) \nFederal Register: Modernizing the Commission’s NEPA Rules\, Oct 19\, 2026 (2026-21347) \nPortal: FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)\, fcc.gov/ecfs. File in WT Docket No. 25-217. Regulations.gov also accepts comments on this notice. \nSnail mail: Office of the Secretary\, Federal Communications Commission\, 45 L Street NE\, Washington\, DC 20554. Reference WT Docket No. 25-217. (verify: the FCC sends courier and overnight paper filings to a separate Annapolis Junction\, MD address\, and USPS mail to L Street) \nIssue: On Sept 30 the FCC already adopted a final order saying spectrum licenses no longer make privately built towers a “major federal action” under NEPA. That takes most tower sites out of environmental review\, eliminates local public notice\, and cuts the time to seek review of a tower Environmental Assessment from 30 to 20 days. This follow-up notice asks two more questions. First\, how to further streamline National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) review\, which matters to tribes and sacred sites. Second\, whether communications infrastructure deployments are “agency actions” subject to the Endangered Species Act at all. A “no” would end ESA consultation for towers. Towers and guy wires kill large numbers of migratory birds\, and bird groups have challenged the FCC on this before. \nPre-fab letters: Possible from American Bird Conservancy\, NAS and tribal/historic preservation groups. Mainstream environmental groups may not mobilize on this one. \n\n\n\n=
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comment-deadline-on-rule-for-communication-towers-and-esa-nhpa-oversight-thereof/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261119T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261119T160000
DTSTAMP:20261112T202308Z
CREATED:20261112T201235Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261112T202308Z
UID:23453-1795078800-1795104000@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Board of Minerals and Environment November Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Board of Minerals and Environment November Meeting\,  Foss Building\, Matthew Training Center\, Pierre. \n10 am -5 pm Central Time \nIt will be live streamed.  The is a public comment opportunity limited to 3 minutes. \nFor  agenda\, board packet and details go to to –  boardsandcommissions.sd.gov/Meetings.aspz?BoardID=67 \nThey will be discussion a permit applicant for solid waste facility at Madison\, mining issues consent calendar  and there will be an executive session to talk about litigation. \nContact Brian Walsh for more info – 605-773-5559
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/board-of-minerals-and-environment-november-meeting/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261130T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261130T215900
DTSTAMP:20261112T235357Z
CREATED:20261112T235357Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261112T235357Z
UID:23460-1796072400-1796075940@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Fish & Wildlife Service – Comment deadline - revised list of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
DESCRIPTION:Fish & Wildlife Service – Comment deadline – revised list of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act \nWritten comments due: Monday\, Nov 30\, 2026 (received or postmarked by that date) \nPublic hearing: none. \nPriority:  PHAS might comment \nFederal Register: General Provisions; Revised List of Birds Protected by the MBTA\, Oct 1\, 2026 (2026-20123) \nPortal: regulations.gov\, Docket FWS-HQ-MB-2026-0133 \nSnail mail: Public Comments Processing\, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2026-0133\, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\, MS: PRB/3W\, 5275 Leesburg Pike\, Falls Church\, VA 22041-3803 (verify) \nIssue: This is the periodic update that brings the MBTA list in line with the American Ornithological Society checklist. It would add 32 species and remove 7\, for a net gain of 25 and a new total of 1\,131 protected species: \n• 13 species are added because of new U.S. records\, such as Hen Harrier in Alaska. \n• 19 species are added because of taxonomic splits\, such as Hudsonian Whimbrel split from Whimbrel\, and Marsh Wren split into eastern and western species. \n• All 7 removals are taxonomic: the species was merged with another\, or a split left a form that doesn’t occur in the U.S. \nFWS also proposes not to add the Graylag Goose. Nothing here looks like a rollback. The threat is from the other side: CFACT is organizing college students to argue that list updates must not “extend regulatory jurisdiction beyond the MBTA’s original intent.” Please note that this administration no longer enforces MBTA incidental take. \nPre-fab letters: Maybe NAS or ABC will do an alert or write a letter or something. CFACT is organizing student comments from the industry side.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/fish-wildlife-service-comment-deadline-revised-list-of-birds-protected-by-the-migratory-bird-treaty-act/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261203T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261204T110000
DTSTAMP:20261112T200329Z
CREATED:20261112T200329Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261112T200329Z
UID:23450-1796299200-1796382000@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:SD Game\,Fish and Parks Dec. Commission meeting 12/3/26-12/4/26\, hybrid Pierre and Zoom
DESCRIPTION:SD Game\,Fish and Parks Dec. Commission meeting 12/3/26-12/4/26. It is a hybrid meeting – in person in Pierre SD and remotely by Zoom \nDetails on this will become available closer to the meeting…If agenda items are low\, it may become a 1 day meeting. \nThe deadline for written comments is the Sunday 11/29/26\, submitted on-line before midnight CT at gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions \nGo to Current Meeting Overview web page – gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/ when closer the date for the agenda and Zoom/teleconference details. There will be an opportunity for 3 minutes of  oral testimony on Thursday afternoon at 2 pm CT\, you can testify by Zoom or in persons\, \nThere were no proposals presented in Nov\, but there was a petition\, so there may or may not be a hearing on a rule change. We need to see the agenda.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-gamefish-and-parks-dec-commission-meeting-12-3-26-12-4-26-hybrid-pierre-and-zoom/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261207T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261207T215900
DTSTAMP:20261113T163723Z
CREATED:20261113T163723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261113T163723Z
UID:23472-1796677200-1796680740@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Comments to Fish & Wildlife Service – Technical corrections for 43 listed species (direct final rule)
DESCRIPTION:Comments to Fish & Wildlife Service – Technical corrections for 43 listed species (direct final rule) \nSignificant adverse comment due: Monday\, Dec 7\, 2026. If none is received\, the rule takes effect Feb 4\, 2027. \nPublic hearing: none. \nPHAS Priority: LOW (calendar only\, or skip) \nFederal Register: Technical Corrections for 43 Wildlife and Plant Species\, Nov 6\, 2026 (2026-22682) \nPortal: regulations.gov\, Docket FWS-R8-ES-2026-0530 \nSnail mail: Public Comments Processing\, Attn: FWS-R8-ES-2026-0530\, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\, MS: PRB/3W\, 5275 Leesburg Pike\, Falls Church\, VA 22041-3803 \nIssue: These are editorial and taxonomic name changes on the endangered and threatened lists\, mostly California and Nevada plants plus 7 animals. For example\, the western snowy plover’s scientific name changes\, and six old listings get a missing 1969 citation added. FWS says no species’ protections or status change. I saw no Northern Plains species in the portion of the list I could read. Worth a two-minute look  to confirm no name change quietly splits or narrows a listed entity. \nPre-fab letters: None expected.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comments-to-fish-wildlife-service-technical-corrections-for-43-listed-species-direct-final-rule/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261212T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261212T210000
DTSTAMP:20261113T165507Z
CREATED:20261113T164937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261113T165507Z
UID:23474-1797109200-1797109200@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Comment Deadline - Forest Service - Rangeland Management (grazing) rule
DESCRIPTION:Forest Service – Rangeland Management (grazing) rule ★\nWritten comments due: Monday\, Dec 14\, 2026 (only 30 days) \nPublic hearing or meeting: none announced as of Nov 12. Watch the Forest Service grazing rule page in case one is added. This is the one where an in-person or virtual session would be worth sending volunteers to. \nPHAS Priority: HIGH (Will effect – Black Hills National Forest\, Custer-Gallatin National Forest and the SD/WY/ND/NE national grasslands) \nFederal Register: Rangeland Management\, Nov 12\, 2026 (2026-23033) \nPortal: regulations.gov. Search “RIN 0596-AD75”. (The docket number hadn’t been posted yet when I checked.) \nhttps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/12/2026-23033/rangeland-managementSnail mail: USDA Forest Service\, Director\, Forest Management\, Range Management and Vegetation Ecology\, 201 14th Street SW\, Washington\, DC 20250-1124. Reference RIN 0596-AD75. (verify: this is the Forest Service range staff’s usual comment address; I couldn’t see this notice’s ADDRESSES paragraph) \nIssue: This is USDA’s first major rewrite of Forest Service grazing regulations since 1977. It covers about 95 million acres of national forests and grasslands in 16 Western states. It revises who can get grazing permits and how they are issued\, and it locks the low federal grazing fee into regulation. According to critics who have read it\, it would: \n• create temporary permits of up to 5 years\, open to people who aren’t current permittees\, in currently ungrazed areas\, in areas recovering from past livestock damage\, and in designated Wilderness; \n• authorize “outcome-based” permits that let permittees set their own benchmarks; \n• define “livestock” so that bison and other conservation herds can’t hold grazing permits\, which shuts out tribes and groups like American Prairie. \nUSDA put the rule under a NEPA categorical exclusion\, so there is no EA or EIS. Alongside the rule\, the Forest Service is posting 165 vacant allotments for applications and aims to add 500\,000 animal unit months of grazing by 2028. For PHAS this reaches the Black Hills National Forest (SD/WY) and the Buffalo Gap &  Fort Pierre (SD) \, Pine Ridge and Oglala (NE) \, Grand River (SD & ND)\, Thunder Basin (WY) \, Little Missouri (ND) national grassland districts: prairie dogs\, black-footed ferret\, sage grouse\, grassland birds and riparian areas. Strong points to make: the categorical exclusion is inappropriate for a rule of this scope\, 30 days is too short\, vacant allotments should stay retired for wildlife\, no grazing on recovering ground or in Wilderness\, and bison conservation herds should be allowed. \nPre-fab letters: YES\, expected. Western Watersheds Project\, Wilderness Watch and Kettle Range Conservation Group put out statements the day the rule was released. Expect alerts and pre-written letters (also from CBD\, The Wilderness Society\, WildEarth Guardians) once they’ve read it\, and likely a coalition request to extend the 30-day comment period.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comment-deadline-forest-service-rangeland-management-grazing-rule/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261216T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261216T215900
DTSTAMP:20261113T170200Z
CREATED:20261113T170200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261113T170200Z
UID:23480-1797454800-1797458340@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Written Comment deadline  – Oil and gas methane standards rollback - send to  EPA
DESCRIPTION:EPA – Oil and gas methane rollback (OOOOb / OOOOc)\nWritten comments due: Wednesday\, Dec 16\, 2026\nPublic hearing: virtual\, Monday\, Nov 16\, 2026. \nSpeaker registration was reported full. Groups are asking EPA to add a day.\nPHAS Priority: MEDIUM (ND Bakken and WY oil fields; climate)\nFederal Register: 91 FR 68234\, Oct 29\, 2026\, “Additional Reconsideration … Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review.” Search that title at federalregister.gov for the page.\nPortal: regulations.gov\, Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163. Email also accepted: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov (docket number in the subject line).\nSnail mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\, EPA Docket Center\, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0163\, Mail Code 28221T\, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\, Washington\, DC 20460 (verify)\nIssue: This is EPA’s second rollback package for the 2024 Biden methane standards for oil and gas wells and equipment. It would:\n– eliminate the Super Emitter Program\, which let third parties flag big leaks for the operator to fix;\n– create a lighter-regulated subcategory for “marginal” wells producing 15 barrels of oil equivalent a day or less (EDF notes low-producing wells are about 7% of supply but about 60% of the sector’s methane);\n– loosen leak-detection and repair requirements; \nSuggest commenting on whether the 2024 rules were even lawful\, which sets up broader repeal later.\nEPA’s own numbers show a large increase in methane emissions. \nPre-fab letters: YES\, already available. EDF and Earthjustice have alerts\, and Earthjustice has a public-comment guide with sample language. Link one in the calendar notice.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/written-comment-deadline-oil-and-gas-methane-standards-rollback-send-to-epa/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20270109T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20270109T215900
DTSTAMP:20261113T175515Z
CREATED:20261113T175208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261113T175515Z
UID:23488-1799528400-1799531940@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Comment Deadline - BLM – Land use planning rule rewrite ★
DESCRIPTION:BLM – Land use planning rule rewrite ★ \nWritten comments due: about Friday\, Jan 8th or Sat 9th\, 2027 (60 days after Nov 10 publication; Earthjustice gives Jan 9\, which is a Saturday). Comments on the paperwork (information collection) part go to OMB by about Dec 10. \nPublic meeting: BLM will hold a virtual public information session in early December (date not yet announced). An information session\, not a hearing. \nPHAS Priority: HIGH (BLM South Dakota Field Office and Wyoming plans; ACECs) \nFederal Register: BLM land use planning proposed rule\, Nov 10\, 2026 (2026-22860) \nPortal: regulations.gov\, Docket BLM-2026-0298 (RIN 1004-AF53) \nSnail mail: U.S. Department of the Interior\, Director (630)\, Bureau of Land Management\, 1849 C St. NW\, Room 5646\, Washington\, DC 20240\, Attention: 1004-AF53 \nIssue: BLM proposes to rewrite the land-use planning regulations it has followed since 1979\, which govern the Resource Management Plans for about 245 million acres. Key changes: \n• Areas of Critical Environmental Concern: BLM would no longer have to identify ACECs in a draft plan\, would drop the separate 60-day ACEC comment period\, and would narrow ACECs to areas needing protection from “irreparable damage” (Interior calls this “right-sizing”). \n• Public comment: the minimum comment period on EIS-backed plans would drop from 90 days to 30\, with extensions capped at 30 more\, and a public meeting could sometimes replace a comment period. \n• NEPA and emergencies: NEPA-specific procedures would be stripped from the planning rules\, and a new emergency subpart would allow fast-tracked plan amendments. \n• State and local governments: governor consistency review would be cut from 60 to 30 days with no appeal\, and a new local-government consistency review would be added\, giving counties more leverage. \nIt would affect future revisions of the South Dakota Field Office plan (Belle Fourche) and the Newcastle\, WY plan. \nPre-fab letters: YES\, expected. Earthjustice has already blasted it\, and The Wilderness Society\, Center for Western Priorities\, Conservation Lands Foundation\, Western Watersheds Project\, WildEarth Guardians\, Center for Biological Diversity\, Defenders of Wildlife and similar groups will almost certainly produce alerts and pre-written letters\, probably in December after they’ve analyzed it. \nRelated\, no comment period \n• Forest Service NEPA comment/objection rule took effect Nov 12\, 2026. Project comment periods are now 15 days for an EA and 30 days for an EIS\, with no extensions. Objections are 10 or 20 days and limited to 15 or 30 pages. This affects every future Black Hills project comment. \n• ESA “harm” memos: 42 Democratic members of Congress asked Interior and Commerce to answer by Nov 30 about the Sept 14 memos reinterpreting “incidental take” and “harm.” Useful background for ESA alerts.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/blm-land-use-planning-rule-rewrite-%e2%98%85/
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