{"abstract":"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.","action":"Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR","name":"Interior Department","id":253,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/interior-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/253","parent_id":null,"slug":"interior-department"},{"raw_name":"Fish and Wildlife Service","name":"Fish and Wildlife Service","id":197,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/fish-and-wildlife-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/197","parent_id":253,"slug":"fish-and-wildlife-service"},{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","id":361,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/361","parent_id":54,"slug":"national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2025/04/17/2025-06746.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"17","title":50},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"222","title":50}],"citation":"90 FR 16102","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2025-05-19","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Comments must be received by May 19, 2025.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034","FXES11110900000-256 FF09E23000","250411-0064"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Proposed Rule 100-word Summary","document_id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-0002"}],"agency_name":"FWS","documents":[{"comment_count":357699,"comment_start_date":"2025-04-17","updated_at":"2025-11-21T00:56:10.903-05:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-0001","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-0001","comment_end_date":"2025-05-20","regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":1,"id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034","title":"Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act"},{"supporting_documents":[],"agency_name":"NOAA","documents":[{"comment_count":0,"comment_start_date":null,"updated_at":"2025-04-17T12:56:43.425-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA_FRDOC_0001-7287","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"NOAA_FRDOC_0001-7287","comment_end_date":null,"regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":0,"id":"NOAA_FRDOC_0001","title":"FR Pending Documents"}],"document_number":"2025-06746","effective_on":null,"end_page":16105,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2025/04/17/2025-06746.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/17/2025-06746/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2025-06746?publication_date=2025-04-17","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2025-04-17/2025-06746/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":4,"page_views":{"count":193143,"last_updated":"2026-05-31 12:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-04-17/pdf/2025-06746.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-06746.pdf?1744810168","publication_date":"2025-04-17","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2025/04/17/2025-06746.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0648-BN93":{"issue":"202504","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-BN93/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act","title":"Rescinding the Definition of \"Harm\" under the Endangered Species Act","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202504&RIN=0648-BN93&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"},"1018-BI38":{"issue":"202504","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1018-BI38/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act","title":"Rescinding the Definition of \"Harm\" Under the Endangered Species Act","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202504&RIN=1018-BI38&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0648-BN93","1018-BI38"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Proposed Rule 100-word Summary","document_id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-0002"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1018-BI38/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act","title":"Rescinding the Definition of \"Harm\" Under the Endangered Species Act"},"comments_count":357699,"agency_id":"FWS","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034","supporting_documents_count":1,"docket_id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034","document_id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-0001","regulation_id_number":"1018-BI38","title":"Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2025-11-22T09:55:04Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":16102,"subtype":null,"title":"Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act","toc_doc":"Rescinding the Definition of Harm under the Endangered Species Act","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Endangered and threatened species","Exports","Imports","Plants","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Transportation","Wildlife"],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":90}