U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Finalizes Changes to Voluntary Endangered Species Act Programs and Related Permitting Process
On Friday, April 12, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) issued a Final Rule making changes to 50 CFR part 13 to clarify and expedite the process for issuing enhancement of survival permits and incidental take permits pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(A) and (B), respectively, of the Endangered Species Act. The regulatory changes are intended to provide the Service greater flexibility in implementing the permitting process and generate greater conservation results by encouraging additional engagement in voluntary programs associated with these permits, including safe harbor agreements (SHAs), candidate conservation agreements with assurances (CCAAs), and habitat conservation plans (HCPs).
U.S. EPA Memo Offers Direction on Lithium Battery Recycling—Essential to the Future Supply Chain for Battery Electric Vehicles
Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in a wide variety of applications, from medical devices to laptops — and now, increasingly, in electric vehicles (EVs). With the market for personal and commercial EVs growing, it is essential for U.S. manufacturers to have a secure, reliable supply chain of the critical minerals needed to produce EV batteries, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. Indeed, a recent study highlights the growing demand for these minerals — and the challenges the U.S. faces to meet this demand from mined sources.
