WASHINGTON, April 7 -- A coalition of 233 marine and environmental scientists, researchers and academics has submitted a public comment letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management urging the agency not to proceed with leasing the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for minerals mining. The letter, addressed to BOEM's Alaska Region Office of Leasing and Plans, calls for a comprehensive review of scientific knowledge concerning the potential environmental impacts of seabed mining in the regio  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- A coalition of eight Alaska conservation organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management expressing opposition to the agency's proposal for commercial leasing of seabed mineral extraction areas offshore Alaska. The letter urges the U.S. Department of the Interior's BOEM Alaska Region not to proceed with plans to open new areas for deep sea mining on the Outer Continental Shelf. Representing multiple environmental and community   more

SEATTLE, April 7 -- Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, issued the following news release: * * * Alaska Airlines, Seattle Kraken and One Roof Foundation give back to their Seattle hometown with South Park community cleanup Summary * Kicking off Earth Month 2026 with a spirit of care, Alaska Airlines teamed up with two of its partners to beautify Seattle's South Park neighborhood, pulling weeds, helping build green walls and collecting 140 pounds of trash. * Caring for people  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Alaska Wilderness League submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior expressing opposition to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Request for Information on deep sea mining in Alaska. Representing 3,652 members, the organization raised concerns about potential ecological, economic, and cultural impacts should this initiative proceed. The League emphasized the limited scientific understanding of deep sea mining's consequences and the li  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal Consortium submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management opposing any commercial leasing for mineral extraction on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The letter addresses BOEM's Request for Information and Interest concerning potential seabed mineral leasing, urging the agency not to advance lease sales in areas including the Gulf of Alaska Seamounts, Aleutian Arc, Chukchi Borderlands, Canada Basin,  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news release: * * * Coast Guard Cutter Waesche Seizes over $65,000 in unreported pollock roe in Dutch Harbor * JUNEAU, Alaska - The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesch e (WMSL 751) seized approximately 5.4 metric tons of unreported pollock roe, valued at over $65,000, after uncovering significant violations of federal fishing regulations aboard the catcher-processor vessel Northern Eagle.   more

NEWARK, New Jersey, April 7 -- The New Jersey Institute of Technology issued the following news: * * * Engineers Center Sustainability at NJIT, Launch New Seminar Series Written by: Mindy Weisberger Environmental and natural disasters challenge engineers to think about designs that not only withstand damage, but also protect the environment and communities. To that end, a new seminar series at the New Jersey Institute of Technology encourages students to consider sustainability-based solutio  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-552) on the Airport Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 6427). The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on March 16, 2026. The House passed the bill on March 24, 2026, and it has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 6427, as amended, is to amend title 49, United States Code,   more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-549) on the Recreational Drone Empowerment Act (H.R. 6460). The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on March 16, 2026. The House passed the bill on March 24, 2026, and it has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose of Legislation The purpose of H.R. 6460 is to amend title 49, United States Code, to clari  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-550) on the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act (H.R. 3410). The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on March 16, 2026. The House passed the bill on March 24, 2026, and it has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION The purpose of H.R. 3410, as amended, is to allow for the operation of c  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-548) on the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act (H.R. 6618). The report was advanced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, on March 16, 2026. The House passed the bill on March 24, 2026, and it has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION The purpose of H.R. 6618, as amended, is to require the Administrator of t  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Internal Revenue Service issued the following notice (No. 2026-22) on April 6, 2026, entitled "2026 Calendar Year Resident Population Figures". * * * 2026 Calendar Year Resident Population Figures This notice advises State and local housing credit agencies that allocate low-income housing tax credits under Sec. 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, and States and other issuers of tax-exempt private activity bonds under Sec. 141, of the population figures to use in calcul  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release: * * * Legal Action Aims to Prevent Alaska Bear-Killing Program While Lawsuit Proceeds * ANCHORAGE, Alaska-Alaska Wildlife Alliance and the Center for Biological Diversity filed an emergency legal motion today seeking to prevent the state from killing an unlimited number of brown and black bears across roughly 40,000 square miles in southwest Alaska this summer. "The court has a  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Turtle Island Restoration Network has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regarding its request for information and interest in commercial leasing for Outer Continental Shelf minerals offshore Alaska. TIRN strongly opposes the prospect of deep-sea mining in these waters, citing the risks it poses to ocean health, biodiversity, and coastal communities. TIRN emphasized that deep-sea mining is a costl  more