{"abstract":"We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS; collectively referred to as the \"Services\") rescind the regulatory definition of \"harm\" in our Endangered Species Act (ESA or the Act) regulations. This rescission removes the regulatory definition of \"harm\" from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in Title 50 parts 17 and 222.","action":"Final rule.","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/2026/07/14/2026-14195.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"17","title":50},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"222","title":50}],"citation":"91 FR 43300","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This final rule is effective September 14, 2026.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034","FXES11160900000-267-FF09E23000","Docket No. NMFS-250411-0064"],"dockets":[{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Categorical Exclusion for NEPA Compliance","document_id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-242905"},{"title":"NEPA Environmental Action Statement","document_id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-242904"},{"title":"Proposed Rule 100-word Summary","document_id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-0002"}],"agency_name":"FWS","documents":[{"comment_count":0,"comment_start_date":null,"updated_at":"2026-07-14T09:56:58.310-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-242903","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034-242903","comment_end_date":null,"regulations_dot_gov_open_for_comment":false}],"supporting_documents_count":3,"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":"2026-07-14","updated_at":"2026-07-14T08:57:57.639-04:00","comment_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA_FRDOC_0001-7624","allow_late_comments":false,"id":"NOAA_FRDOC_0001-7624","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":"2026-14195","effective_on":"2026-09-14","end_page":43317,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2026/07/14/2026-14195.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/14/2026-14195/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2026-14195?publication_date=2026-07-14","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2026-07-14/2026-14195/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":18,"page_views":{"count":16890,"last_updated":"2026-08-25 18:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-14/pdf/2026-14195.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-14195.pdf?1783717208","publication_date":"2026-07-14","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/14/2026-14195.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":[],"comments_count":0,"agency_id":"NOAA","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=NOAA_FRDOC_0001","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"NOAA_FRDOC_0001","document_id":"NOAA_FRDOC_0001-7624","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"FR Pending Documents","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2026-07-15T15:55:04Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":43300,"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":"Rule","volume":91}