Advocacy Submits Comments on FWS Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Experimental Populations

On June 7, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) proposed a rule to remove language that restricts introduction of experimental populations of endangered and threatened species outside of the species’ “historical range.” The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (Advocacy) respectfully submits the following comments on the proposal. Advocacy does not believe the rule is necessary to accomplish the Service’s intended objectives, as these provisions already exist within the statute. If, however, the Service wishes to proceed, the Service must conduct a proper Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis of the proposed rule that considers the impacts on small entities. The Service should also consider modifications to the proposed rule that would eliminate uncertainty and ambiguity for regulated entities.

Comment Letter