Deadline (5/17/25) to comment on USFWS rule change on Endangered Species

Our statement that the deadline   to comment on USFWS rule change on Endangered species

is 5/17/25 was wrong – it is really May 19th, 2025. We were off by 2 days.

This is an extremely bad rule proposal & must be opposed.

For more than 40 years, the harm definition has protected endangered species by prohibiting acts that result in significant habitat modification or degradation that results in actual death or injury to a species. This prohibition has been absolutely critical to saving species from extinction. It has prevented cutting of old-growth forests where spotted owls nest, stopped development in Florida panther habitat, and so much more because the largest driver of extinction — both in the United States and around the world — continues to be human-caused habitat destruction and degradation.

Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” under the Endangered Species Act – PROPOSING AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce

For Federal Register Notice

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-06746.pdf

Quote from the Agencies:

“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.”

Quote on how to submit comments

You may submit comments by one of the following methods:

(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 04/17/2025 and available online at https://federalregister.gov/d/2025-06746, and on https://govinfo.gov https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0034, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click on the Search button. On the resulting page, in the panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment.”

(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS– HQ–ES–2025–0034, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.

We [Agencies]  request that you send comments only by the methods described above.”

========

We are not sure of the time-of-day deadline but assume it is midnight EST on the 17th.