Proposed Rule
17 Apr 2025
endangered species act, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, wildlife regulations, plants, imports, administrative practice and procedure, transportation, endangered and threatened species, deregulation, compliance, exports, small business impact, wildlife
🦏Rescinding "Harm" Definition in Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively referred to as the Services or we) are proposing to rescind the regulatory definition of "harm" in our Endangered Species Act (ESA or the Act) regulations. The existing regulatory definition of "harm," which includes habitat modification, runs contrary to the best meaning of the statutory term "take." We are undertaking this change to adhere to the single, best meaning of the ESA.
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