The Trump administration finalized a major change on Friday to how threatened species are considered in agency actions, removing regulatory language aimed at preventing damage to wildlife habitats.
The change limits the reach of the 50-year-old Endangered Species Act, which is credited with helping to save the bald eagle, California condor and numerous other animals and plants from extinction.
The departments of Interior and Commerce said the final rule will reduce permitting and compliance costs for energy producers, farms, fishing interests and more. The move is aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump’s goal to reduce regulations that he says constrain American businesses.
“This action restores common sense, respects private property, provides much-needed certainty for landowners and follows the statute Congress actually passed,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.
The Endangered Species Act is a key regulatory consideration for government agencies when considering whether to grant permits for oil and gas, mining, electric transmission and other operations on federal lands and water. The law requires agencies to evaluate the impact of proposed operations on threatened and endangered species.
The new rule removes habitat destruction from the definition of the word “harm” in the ESA, meaning project developers would be allowed to impair places where species live so long as wildlife is not injured directly or killed.
It was proposed in April of last year.
