Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of the Regulations for Prohibitions to Threatened Wildlife and Plants, 83 Fed. Reg. 35,174 (July 25, 2018); Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0007

CH A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E
O F T H E
UN I T E D ST A T E S O F AM E R I C A

1615 H ST R E E T, NW WA S H I N G T O N, DC 20062 ( 2 0 2 ) 463-5310

September 24, 2018

VIA ELECTRONIC FILING

Ms. Bridget Fahey
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation and Classification
U.S. Department of the Interior
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA

RE: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of the Regulations for
Prohibitions to Threatened Wildlife and Plants, 83 Fed. Reg. 35,174 (July 25, 2018);
Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2018-0007

Dear Ms. Fahey:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce submits these comments in support of the Fish and
Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposed revisions to regulations extending to threatened species most of
the prohibitions for activities involving endangered species.1 The Chamber recognizes the need to
protect species threatened with extinction, but urges the FWS to avoid unnecessary impediments to
land and natural resources development. FWS can accomplish this by using sound science and
tailored section 4(d) rules to balance endangered species protection with property rights and
compliance costs when listing species and designating critical habitat.

I. Background

Congress enacted the Endangered Species Act (ESA)2 in 1973 to conserve the ecosystems
upon which endangered and threatened species depend, to provide a program for the conservation
of endangered and threatened species, and to achieve the purposes of certain treaties and
1 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of the Regulations for Prohibitions to Threatened Wildlife
and Plants, 83 Fed. Reg. 35,174 (July 25, 2018).
2 The Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531-1544 (1973).

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
September 24, 2018
Page 2 of 5

conventions.3 The Federal Government must seek to conserve threatened and endangered species
and use its authorities to further the purposes of the Act.4

The ESA “represented the most comprehensive legislation for the preservation of
endangered species ever enacted by any nation.”5 The distinct difference between endangered and
threatened species creates two separate levels of protection for plants, fish, and wildlife.6

The ESA is prohibitive in nature and includes a blanket prohibition on the “take” of
endangered species, but does not extend that prohibition to threatened species.7 A “take” is any
action meant to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to
attempt to engage in any such conduct.”8 Section 9 of the ESA outlines that prohibition and makes
it illegal to:

1. Import any such species into, or export any such species from the United States;
2. Take any such species within the U.S. or the territorial sea of the U.S.;
3. Take any such species on the high seas;
4. Possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship, by any means whatsoever any such species
taken;
5. Deliver, receive, carry transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce and in the course
of commercial activity; or
6. Sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any such species.

Section 4(d) of the ESA allows FWS to establish regulations for the protection of threatened
species. Specifically, the ESA states, “whenever any species is listed as threatened…the Secretary
shall issue such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of
such species.9 In 1978, FWS used this authority to issue a regulation extending the section 9 take
prohibitions to threatened species, unless otherwise modified by a species-specific 4(d) rule.10 The
3 Id. at § 1531(b).
4 Id. at § 1531(c)(1).
5 Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill, 437 U.S. 153, 180 (1978).
6 Congress defined “endangered species” as any species of plant, fish or wildlife “which is in danger of extinction
throughout all or a significant portion of its range” (16 U.S.C. § 1532(6)), and defined “threatened species” as “any
species of plant, fish, or wildlife which is likely to become endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout
all or a significant portion of its range” (Id. at § 1532(20)).
7 See 16 U.S.C. at § 1538 (“Prohibited Acts”).
8 Id. at. § 1532(19).
9 Id. at. § 1533(d).
10 See Protection for Threatened Species of Wildlife, 43 Fed. Reg. 18181 (Apr. 28, 1978) (amending 50 C.F.R. § 17.31).

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
September 24, 2018
Page 3 of 5

4(d) blanket rule affords threatened species with all of the protections that endangered species
automatically receive through section 9.

On February 24, 2017, President Trump published Executive Order 13,777, “Enforcing the
Regulatory Reform Agenda,” which aimed to reduce the regulatory burden on citizens and facilitate
innovation and economic growth.11 The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) solicited comments
as to how it could “improve implementation of regulatory reform initiatives and policies and identify
regulations for repeal, replacement, or modification.”12 Officials from DOI and the U.S.
Department of Commerce then met with FWS and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
officials in December 2017 to discuss improvements to the ESA, deciding to focus on sections 4
and 7 of the Act.

FWS now proposes to revise its approach to exercising discretion under section 4(d) of the
ESA. Specifically, the proposal would rescind current regulations that automatically apply
prohibitions for endangered species to threatened species and would tailor future protections for
threatened species to what is necessary and advisable for that species. These changes would make
no change in existing protections for species currently listed as threatened.

These changes would align FWS’ regulatory approach for future listing determinations with
that of NMFS, which has the authority to promulgate 4(d) rules for marine species.13 Rather than
extend section 9 take prohibitions to threatened species, NMFS promulgates separate regulations
regarding prohibitions, protections, or restrictions for each threatened species listed.14

The Chamber supports FWS’ proposal to align its approach with that of NMFS. This
approach would allow FWS to evaluate each species on a case-by-case basis, an approach that has
shown to benefit species tremendously. Moreover, it would remove duplicative and overly
burdensome permitting requirements, better facilitate the implementation of conservation actions,
and allow FWS to focus its limited personnel and fiscal resources on areas where they are needed
most. Congress provided both FWS and NMFS the authority to promulgate 4(d) rules, so it would
be prudent for the services to operate in as consistent a manner as possible.

II. FWS’ Change in Approach Would Provide for Multiple Regulatory Benefits

FWS and NMFS operating under the same 4(d) regulatory framework would ensure
consistency and transparency for affected stakeholders. In our experience, NMFS’ framework is the
better approach, and FWS should adopt it by promulgating species-specific 4(d) rules. Rather than
extend section 9 protections in a blanket fashion to all threatened species, FWS should develop a
11 Exec. Order 13,777, Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, 82 Fed. Reg. 12,285 (Mar. 1, 2017).
12 Regulatory Reform, 82 Fed. Reg. 28,429 (June 22, 2017).
13 See 16 U.S.C. § 1532(12), citing the Reorganization Plan Numbered 4 of 1970.
14 83 Fed. Reg. at 35,175.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
September 24, 2018
Page 4 of 5

species-specific rule for each threatened species. This approach would provide three main benefits,
listed in detail below:

1. It would allow FWS to tailor its listing decisions to address those threats identified for
each species. FWS currently imposes section 9 take prohibitions on threatened species
regardless of whether those prohibitions are necessary for the conservation of the
species. This approach burdens project developers and requires FWS to focus its limited
resources on potentially unnecessary regulatory hurdles.

In changing its practice, FWS would be in a much better position to balance species
conservation with project development. For example, in January 2016, FWS finalized a
4(d) rule for the threatened northern long-eared bat. The 4(d) rule tailors the section 9
take prohibitions to only those areas affected by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease
that affects many hibernating U.S. bat species.15 The rule exempts incidental take from
all activities in those areas where the disease has not affected local bats and incidental
take for certain specific activities in those areas where the disease does exist.16

FWS based this tailored approach on its analysis of a number of threat factors and only
imposed the section 9 take prohibitions to the extent needed to conserve the northern
long-eared bat. Under this approach, as additional data is collected, FWS can alter the
application of its take prohibitions to additional areas where white-nose syndrome may
become present in the future. This flexibility would provide for additional project
development pivotal to economic growth, and allow FWS to focus its limited resources
on conservation efforts within the areas where a specific species is most in decline.

2. It would allow FWS to incentivize and recognize conservation efforts made prior to a
threatened species listing. FWS regularly recognizes pre-listing state and private
conservation efforts when promulgating 4(d) rules. These regulatory assurances provide
for increased participation in the conservation of threatened species while providing
economic incentives to the regulated community. For example, FWS has exempted
incidental take from activities conducted by participants in range-wide conservation
plans.17 Adopting an approach allowing for increased use of such exemptions would
recognize state planning efforts, as well as incentivize private pre-listing conservation
efforts designed to benefit the species.

15 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 4(d) Rule for the Northern Long-Eared Bat, 81 Feg. Reg. 1900, 1901
(Jan. 14, 2016).
16 Id.
17 See, e.g., Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Special Rule for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, 79 Fed. Reg.
20,073-74 (Apr. 10, 2014) (Providing an exemption for the incidental take of the species during activities conducted by
participants in the Lesser Prairie Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan).

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
September 24, 2018
Page 5 of 5

3. It would allow FWS and stakeholders to prioritize resources. One benefit of an
increased use of species-specific 4(d) rules is that prescriptive protection measures
provide for the effective conservation of species without imposing unnecessary
regulatory burdens on private landowners and the FWS.

In instances other than the use of species-specific 4(d) rules, private landowners typically
have to apply for an incidental take permit under section 10 of the ESA, which
authorizes the taking of federally listed species if it occurs incidentally to otherwise legal
activities.18 This application process involves the submission of a habitat conservation
plan, which requires both the private landowner and FWS to dedicate valuable time,
money, and resources. Often, even in the case of “low-effect” HCPs, this process can
take years. Section 4(d) rules that are clear and can be easily implemented provide for a
much more effective conservation of species than other mechanisms contained under
the ESA.

III. Conclusion

The Chamber appreciates FWS’ consideration of these comments and urges FWS to act in
an expeditious and thorough manner. If you have questions regarding these comments, please
contact me at (202) 463-5558 or at kharbert@uschamber.com.

Sincerely,

Karen A. Harbert

18 See 16 U.S.C. § 1539.