Biden admin to uproot Trump ‘critical habitat’ policies
The Biden administration today moved to rescind Trump administration policies that crimped the designation of critical habitat to protect threatened or endangered species. In a pair of long-anticipated moves, the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries proposed getting rid of a Trump-era definition of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act. FWS is also proposing to end a policy that made it easier to exclude territory. Taken together, the two proposed rule changes could significantly alter the much-litigated ESA landscape and, supporters say, enhance conservation and recovery of vulnerable animals or plants.