This Week at the Department of the Interior — week of July 13, 2026

This week, the Department of the Interior took several steps on wildlife protections, updated coal mine reclamation rules in Montana, and refined how it assesses damage from hazardous spills. Most of the actions are administrative, but a few matter directly to people following species recovery and local mining oversight.

Wildlife protections and species reviews

• The Fish and Wildlife Service began formal status reviews for seven animals after reviewing ten petitions to add them to the endangered or threatened species list. The petitions for the other three were closed out. This is a routine step that moves the seven species closer to a final decision on federal protection.
• The agency revised the designated critical habitat areas for the Canada lynx. The update changes which geographic areas are considered essential for the species’ survival and is meant to resolve a legal settlement over how much land is protected.
• The razorback sucker, a type of fish, was reclassified from “endangered” to “threatened.” The change reflects signs of recovery and alters how the fish is managed under federal law.
• A previous proposal on how grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are protected was updated. This procedural change allows for more public feedback before a final decision is made.

Montana coal mining reclamation rules

• The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement approved a Montana amendment tied to state House Bill 616. It changes what evidence coal companies must provide to prove land has been restored before they can get their bond money back, and it lets the state hold onto some funds longer in specific cases.
• A separate Montana amendment, stemming from state Senate Bill 365, was also approved. It gives mining companies a specific exception for sediment ponds during extreme weather events that exceed the ponds’ intended capacity.

Hazardous spill damage assessments

• The Interior Department issued a final rule updating its “Type A” procedures for assessing natural resource damages after a hazardous substance is released. The change is an administrative cleanup intended to keep internal procedures consistent and streamline how certain spill damage assessments are handled.

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This weekly agency digest is generated from federal records (the Federal Register and Congress.gov) and summarized in plain English. It may simplify or omit detail — follow the linked official sources before relying on any item. Part of The Boring Parts.