National Wildlife Refuge System; Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), withdraw the proposed rule (proposal) published on February 2, 2024, that proposed new regulations addressing the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health (BIDEH) of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) and updates to the existing BIDEH policy. The Service has determined that withdrawing the proposal is justified based on the significant number of public comments received, the complexity of the substantive comments received and the issues involved, as well as the requests from the public for further opportunities to review and engage with the Service on the substance of this proposal. With this action, the existing BIDEH policy remains in effect.