Home / Agencies / Commerce / 2026-14195
Final Rule

Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act

Agency
Commerce
Document Number
2026-14195
Published
July 14, 2026
Effective Date
September 14, 2026

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.

Federal Register Source

This document is published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration. Access the full regulatory text, preamble, and docket comments below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2026-14195 Federal Register document?
Document 2026-14195 is a Final Rule published by the Department of Commerce in the Federal Register on July 14, 2026, with an effective date of September 14, 2026. 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. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/14/2026-14195/rescinding-the-definition-of-harm-under-the-endangered-species-act.
Is document 2026-14195 an economically significant rule?
No. Document 2026-14195 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.

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