US wildlife refuges will keep their old environmental health rules

The US Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew a proposed rule that would have updated how it manages the biological health of national wildlife refuges. This means the existing, older policy for maintaining biological integrity, diversity, and and environmental health will remain in effect.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service tried to update its rules for managing national wildlife refuges. These rules define how the agency protects plants, animals, and ecosystems within the refuges. The withdrawal means the agency will continue to operate under its existing, less specific guidelines, rather than implementing new ones that might have changed how land is managed or what activities are permitted.