Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced the withdrawal of their proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health (BIDEH) rule.

“Today's announcement proves something we knew from the beginning, the BIDEH Rule was a terrible idea and should have never been proposed in the first place. I would like to thank Congressman Bentz for his work to fight this disastrous proposal and his continued work to push back against the Biden's administration's radical policies. As a lifelong outdoorsman, I've seen firsthand how our wildlife refuges benefit from collaboration with farmers and communities to ensure the best possible results for conservation, and I’m glad to see one example of common sense in this administration’s dying days.” - House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)

"The BIDEH rule was a completely misguided approach to management of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The rule would have imposed bureaucratic nightmares on refuge managers and opened the door for a wave of anti-farmer and rancher litigation. Under the proposed rule, normal and historic management tools, such as grazing, planting crops, and native predator control, would have required a full NEPA review prior to implementation. This would have severely restricted the discretion of refuge managers and putting at risk the very purpose of individual refuges. I welcome the withdrawal of the rule and will continue to push back on policies that put politics over practical management."  - Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.)

"I am glad that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service decided to withdraw this outlandish rule that would have given Washington bureaucrats the power to undermine the authority of local wildlife conservationists. I’d also like to thank the thousands of Americans who spoke out against this rule and Chairman Westerman for his efforts in this matter. The benefits of our greatest conservationists and American farmers will remain where they belong, on the ground in our local towns.” - U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.)

"I am pleased the Biden Administration has withdrawn their out-of-touch BIDEH rule. This one-size-fits all policy from Washington will only overburden the National Wildlife Refuge System. That is why I joined my colleagues in urging the Fish and Wildlife Service to rescind this rule. This is a victory for wildlife and conservation efforts across the nation." - U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.)

Background

Today, the USFWS announced they are withdrawing their proposed BIDEH rule for the National Wildlife Refuge System. If it had been finalized, the rule would have made sweeping changes to the ability of refuge managers to utilize key management tools. The rule stated that certain practices, such as native predator control and cooperative agriculture, would be prohibited unless refuge managers fully evaluate the potential environmental effects of the management activity in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. In addition, refuge managers would have also been required to complete a comprehensive analysis to justify that utilizing the management practices is necessary to meet statutory responsibilities, fulfill refuge purposes and ensure BIDEH. This would have created management paralysis in the refuge system.

The Committee conducted a series of oversight and legislative efforts on the rule since it was proposed in February. These included an oversight hearing in April held by the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries where representatives from State game and fish agencies, agriculture producers, and conservation organizations testified in opposition to the proposed rule. In June, Chairman Westerman led a bi-partisan letter with 20 other House members calling on the rule to be rescinded. In addition, a legislative hearing was held in September on H.R. 8632, the “BIOSAFE Act” sponsored by Congressman Grothman, which would have required the USFWS to withdraw the proposed rule.

Today's announcement is a return to commonsense policy, which allows land managers to continue working in the best interest of our wildlife refuge system.