|

Access
the entire act as a pdf file. You may need to download and install the Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view this file.
Go
to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service home page
Go
to the Endangered Species Program home page
Read
the official U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Privacy/Disclaimer statement
The Endangered Species
Act of 1973*
Contents
* As amended by P.L. 94–325, June 30, 1976; P.L. 94–359, July 12, 1976; P.L. 95–212, December
19, 1977; P.L. 95–632, November 10, 1978; P.L. 96–159, December 28, 1979; 97–304, October
13, 1982; P.L. 98–327, June 25, 1984; and P.L. 100–478, October 7, 1988; P.L. 100–653, November
14, 1988; and P.L. 100–707, November 23, 1988; and P.L. 108-136, November 24, 2003.
Findings, Purposes,
and Policy
SEC. 2.
(a) FINDINGS.-The Congress finds and declares that-
(1) various species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the United States have
been rendered extinct as a consequence of economic growth and development untempered
by adequate concern and conservation;
(2) other species of fish, wildlife, and plants have been so depleted in numbers
that they are in danger of or threatened with extinction;
(3) these species of fish, wildlife, and plants are of aesthetic, ecological,
educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and
its people;
(4) the United States has pledged itself as a sovereign state in the international
community to conserve to the extent practicable the various species of fish
or wildlife and plants facing extinction, pursuant to-
(A) migratory bird treaties with Canada and Mexico;
(B) the Migratory and Endangered Bird Treaty with Japan;
(C) the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western
Hemisphere;
(D) the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries;
(E) the International Convention for the High Seas Fisheries of the North Pacific
Ocean;
(F) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora; and
(G) other international agreements; and
(5) encouraging the States and other interested parties, through Federal financial
assistance and a system of incentives, to develop and maintain conservation
programs which meet national and international standards is a key to meeting
the Nation's international commitments and to better safeguarding, for the benefit
of all citizens, the Nation's heritage in fish, wildlife, and plants.
(b) PURPOSES.-The purposes of this Act are to provide a means whereby the ecosystems
upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved,
to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened
species, and to take such steps as may be appropriate to achieve the purposes
of the treaties and conventions set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) POLICY.-
(1) It Is further declared to be the policy of Congress that all Federal departments
and agencies shall seek to conserve endangered species and threatened species
and shall utilize their authorities in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
(2) It is further declared to be the policy of Congress that Federal agencies
shall cooperate with State and local agencies to resolve water resource issues
in concert with conservation of endangered species.
(back to
top)
Definitions
SEC. 3. For the purposes of this Act-
(1) The term "alternative courses of action" means all alternatives and thus
is not limited to original project objectives and agency jurisdiction.
(2) The term "commercial activity" means all activities of industry and trade,
including, but not limited to, the buying or selling of commodities and activities
conducted for the purpose of facilitating such buying and selling: Provided,
however, that it does not include exhibitions of commodities by museums or similar
cultural or historical organizations.
(3) The terms "conserve," "conserving," and "conservation" mean to use and the
use of all methods and procedures which are necessary to bring any endangered
species or threatened species to the point at which the measures provided pursuant
to this Act are no longer necessary. Such methods and procedures include, but
are not limited to, all activities associated with scientific resources management
such as research, census, law enforcement, habitat acquisition and maintenance,
propagation, live trapping, and transplantation, and, in the extraordinary
case where population pressures within a given ecosystem cannot be otherwise
relieved, may include regulated taking.
(4) The term "Convention" means the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, signed on March 3, 1973, and the appendices
thereto.
(5)(A) The term "critical habitat" for a threatened or endangered species means-
(i) the specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the species,
at the time it is listed in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of this
Act, on which are found those physical or biological features (I) essential
to the conservation of the species and (II) which may require special management
considerations or protection; and
(ii) specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at
the time it is listed in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of this
Act, upon a determination by the Secretary that such areas are essential for
the conservation of the species.
(B) Critical habitat may be established for those species now listed as threatened
or endangered species for which no critical habitat has heretofore been established
as set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(C) Except in those circumstances determined by the Secretary, critical habitat
shall not include the entire geographical area which can be occupied by the
threatened or endangered species.
(6) The term "endangered species" means any species which is in danger of extinction
throughout all or a significant portion of its range other than a species of
the Class Insecta determined by the Secretary to constitute a pest whose protection
under the provisions of this Act would present an overwhelming and overriding
risk to man.
(7) The term "Federal agency" means any department, agency, or instrumentality
of the United States.
(8) The term "fish or wildlife" means any member of the animal kingdom, including
without limitation any mammal, fish, bird (including any migratory, nonmigratory,
or endangered bird for which protection is also afforded by treaty or other
international agreement), amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod
or other invertebrate, and includes any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof,
or the dead body or parts thereof.
(9) The term "foreign commerce" includes, among other things, any transaction-
(A) between persons within one foreign country;
(B) between persons in two or more foreign countries;
(C) between a person within the United States and a person in a foreign country;
or
(D) between persons within the United States, where the fish and wildlife in
question are moving in any country or countries outside the United States.
(10) The term "import" means to land on, bring into, or introduce into, or attempt
to land on, bring into, or introduce into, any place subject to the jurisdiction
of the United States, whether or not such landing, bringing, or introduction
constitutes an importation within the meaning of the customs laws of the United
States.
(11) The term "permit or license applicant" means, when used with respect to an action of a Federal agency for which exemption is sought under section 7, any person whose application to such agency for a permit or license has been denied primarily because of the application of section 7(a) to such agency action.
(12) "The term person means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust,
association, or any other private entity; or any officer, employee, agent, department,
or instrumentality of the Federal Government, of any State, municipality, or
political subdivision of a State, or of any foreign government; any State, municipality,
or political subdivision of a State; or any other entity subject to the jurisdiction
of the United States."
(13) The term "plant" means any member of the plant kingdom, including seeds,
roots and other parts thereof.
(14) The term "Secretary" means, except as otherwise herein provided, the Secretary
of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce as program responsibilities are
vested pursuant to the provisions of Reorganization Plan Numbered 4 of 1970;
except that with respect to the enforcement of the provisions of this Act and
the Convention which pertain to the importation or exportation of terrestrial
plants, the term also means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(15) The term "species" includes any subspecies of fish or wildlife or plants,
and any distinct population segment of any species or vertebrate fish or wildlife
which interbreeds when mature.
(16) The term "State" means any of the several States, the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(17) The term "State agency" means any State agency, department, board, commission,
or other governmental entity which is responsible for the management and conservation
of fish, plant, or wildlife resources within a State.
(18) The term "take" means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill,
trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.
(19) The term "threatened species" means any species which is likely to become
an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant
portion of its range.
(20) The term "United States," when used in a geographical context, includes
all States.
(back to
top)
Determination of Edangered
Species and Threatened Species
Sec. 4.
(a) GENERAL.-
(1) The Secretary shall by regulation promulgated in accordance with subsection
(b) determine whether any species is an endangered species or a threatened species
because of any of the following factors:
(A) the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its
habitat or range;
(B) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational
purposes;
(C) disease or predation;
(D) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms;
(E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence.
(2) With respect to any species over which program responsibilities have been
vested in the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Reorganization Plan Numbered
4 of 1970-
(A) in any case in which the Secretary of Commerce determines that such species
should-
(i) be listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, or
(ii) be changed in status from a threatened species to an endangered species,
he shall so inform the Secretary of the Interior, who shall list such species
in accordance with this section;
(B) in any case in which the Secretary of Commerce determines that such species
should-
(i) be removed from any list published pursuant to subsection (c) of this section,
or
(ii) be changed in status from an endangered species to a threatened species,
he shall recommend such action to the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary
of the Interior, if he concurs in the recommendation, shall implement such action;
and
(C) the Secretary of the Interior may not list or remove from any list any such
species, and may not change the status of any such species which are listed,
without a prior favorable determination made pursuant to this section by the
Secretary of Commerce.
(3)(A) The Secretary, by regulation promulgated in accordance with subsection (b) and to the maximum extent prudent and determinable-
(i) shall, concurrently with making a determination under paragraph (1) that a species is an endangered species or a threatened species, designate any habitat of such species which is then considered to be critical habitat; and
(ii) may, from time-to-time thereafter as appropriate, revise such designation.
(B)(i) The Secretary shall not designate as critical habitat any lands or other geographical areas owned or controlled by the Department of Defense, or designated for its use, that are subject to an integrated natural resources management plan prepared under section 101 of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a), if the Secretary determines in writing that such plan provides a benefit to the species for which critical habitat is proposed for designation.
(ii) Nothing in this paragraph affects the requirement to consult under section 7(a)(2) with respect to an agency action (as that term is defined in that section).
(iii)
Nothing in this paragraph affects the obligation of the Department of Defense to comply with section 9, including the prohibition preventing extinction and taking of endangered species and threatened species.
(b) BASIS FOR DETERMINATIONS.-
(1)(A) The Secretary shall make determinations required by subsection (a)(1)
solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available to
him after conducting a review of the status of the species and after taking
into account those efforts, if any, being made by any State or foreign nation,
or any political subdivision of a State or foreign nation, to protect such species,
whether by predator control, protection of habitat and food supply, or other
conservation practices, within any area under its jurisdiction, or on the high
seas.
(B) In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall give consideration to
species which have been-
(i) designated as requiring protection from unrestricted commerce by any foreign
nation, or pursuant to any international agreement; or
(ii) identified as in danger of extinction, or likely to become so within the
foreseeable future, by any State agency or by any agency of a foreign nation
that is responsible for the conservation of fish or wildlife or plants.
(2) The Secretary shall designate critical habitat, and make revisions thereto,
under subsection (a)(3) on the basis of the best scientific data available and
after taking into consideration the economic impact, the impact on national security, and any other relevant
impact, of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary
may exclude any area from critical habitat if he determines that the benefits
of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying such area as part of the
critical habitat, unless he determines, based on the best scientific and commercial
data available, that the failure to designate such area as critical habitat
will result in the extinction of the species concerned.
(3)(A) To the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving the
petition of an interested person under section 553(e) of title 5, United States
Code, to add a species to, or to remove a species from, either of the lists
published under subsection (c), the Secretary shall make a finding as to whether
the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating
that the petitioned action may be warranted. If such a petition is found to
present such information, the Secretary shall promptly commence a review of
the status of the species concerned. The Secretary shall promptly publish each
finding made under this subparagraph in the Federal Register.
(B) Within 12 months after receiving a petition that is found under subparagraph
(A) to present substantial information indicating that the petitioned action
may be warranted, the Secretary shall make one of the following findings:
(i) The petitioned action is not warranted, in which case the Secretary shall
promptly publish such finding in the Federal Register.
(ii) The petitioned action is warranted in which case the Secretary shall promptly
publish in the Federal Register a general notice and the complete text of a
proposed regulation to implement such action in accordance with paragraph (5).
(iii) The petitioned action is warranted but that-
(I) the immediate proposal and timely promulgation of a final regulation implementing
the petitioned action in accordance with paragraphs (5) and (6) is precluded
by pending proposals to determine whether any species is an endangered species
or a threatened species, and
(II) expeditious progress is being made to add qualified species to either of
the lists published under subsection (c) and to remove from such lists species
for which the protec- tions of the Act are no longer necessary, in which case
the Secretary shall promptly publish such finding in the Federal Register, together
with a description and evaluation of the reasons and data on which the finding
is based.
(C)(i) A petition with respect to which a finding is made under subparagraph
(B)(iii) shall be treated as a petition that is resubmitted to the Secretary
under subparagraph (A) on the date of such finding and that presents substantial
scientific or commercial information that the petitioned action may be warranted.
(ii) Any negative finding described in subparagraph (A) and any finding described
in subparagraph (B) (i) or (iii) shall be subject to judicial review.
(iii) The Secretary shall implement a system to monitor effectively the status
of all species with respect to which a finding is made under subparagraph (B)(iii)
and shall make prompt use of the authority under paragraph 71 to prevent a significant
risk to the well being of any such species.
(D)(i) To the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving the
petition of an interested person under section 553(e) of title 5, United States
Code, to revise a critical habitat designation, the Secretary shall make a finding
as to whether the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating
that the revision may be warranted. The Secretary shall promptly publish such
finding in the Federal Register.
(ii) Within 12 months after receiving a petition that is found under clause
(i) to present substantial information indicating that the requested revision
may be warranted, the Secretary shall determine how he intends to proceed with
the requested revision, and shall promptly publish notice of such intention
in the Federal Register.
(4) Except as provided in paragraphs (5) and (6) of this subsection, the provisions
of section 553 of title 5, United States Code (relating to rulemaking procedures),
shall apply to any regulation promulgated to carry out the purposes of this
Act.
(5) With respect to any regulation proposed by the Secretary to implement a
determination, designation, or revision referred to in subsection (a) (1) or
(3), the Secretary shall-
(A) not less than 90 days before the effective date of the regulation-
(i) publish a general notice and the complete text of the proposed regulation
in the Federal Register, and
(ii) give actual notice of the proposed regulation (including the complete text
of the regulation) to the State agency in each State in which the species is
believed to occur, and to each county or equivalent jurisdiction in which the
species is believed to occur, and invite the comment of such agency, and each
such jurisdiction, thereon;
(B) insofar as practical, and in cooperation with the Secretary of State, give
notice of the proposed regulation to each foreign nation in which the species
is believed to occur or whose citizens harvest the species on the high seas,
and invite the comment of such nation thereon;
(C) give notice of the proposed regulation to such professional scientific organizations
as he deems appropriate;
(D) publish a summary of the proposed regulation in a newspaper of general circulation
in each area of the United States in which the species is believed to occur;
and
(E) promptly hold one public hearing on the proposed regulation if any person
files a request for such a hearing within 45 days after the date of publication
of general notice.
(6)(A) Within the one-year period beginning on the date on which general notice
is published in accordance with paragraph (5)(A)(i) regarding a proposed regulation,
the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register-
(i) if a determination as to whether a species is an endangered species or a
threatened species, or a revision of critical habitat, is involved, either-
(I) a final regulation to implement such determination,
(II) a final regulation to implement such revision or a finding that such revision
should not be made,
(III) notice that such one-year period is being extended under subparagraph
(B)(i), or
(IV) notice that the proposed regulation is being withdrawn under subparagraph
(B)(ii), together with the finding on which such withdrawal is based; or
(ii) subject to subparagraph (C), if a designation of critical habitat is involved,
either-
(I) a final regulation to implement such designation, or
(II) notice that such one-year period is being extended under such subparagraph.
(B)(i) If the Secretary finds with respect to a proposed regulation referred
to in subparagraph (A)(i) that there is substantial disagreement regarding the
sufficiency or accuracy of the available data relevant to the determination
or revision concerned the Secretary may extend the one-year period specified
in subparagraph (A) for not more than six months for purposes of soliciting
additional data.
(ii) If a proposed regulation referred to in subparagraph (a)(i) is not promulgated
as a final regulation within such one-year period (or longer period if extension
under clause (i) applies) because the Secretary finds that there is not sufficient
evidence to justify the action proposed by the regulation the Secretary shall
immediately withdraw the regulation. The finding on which a withdrawal is based
shall be subject to judicial review. The Secretary may not propose a regulation
that has previously been withdrawn under this clause unless he determines that
sufficient new information is available to warrant such proposal.
(iii) If the one-year period specified in subparagraph (A) is extended under
clause (i) with respect to a proposed regulation, then before the close of such
extended period the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register either a
final regulation to implement the determination or revision concerned, a finding
that the revision should not be made, or a notice of withdrawal of the regulation
under clause (ii), together with the finding on which the withdrawal is based.
(C) A final regulation designating critical habitat of an endangered species
or a threatened species shall be published concurrently with the final regulation
implementing the determination that such species is endangered or threatened,
unless the Secretary deems that-
(i) it is essential to the conservation of such species that the regulation
implementing such determination be promptly published; or
(ii) critical habitat of such species is not then determinable, in which case
the Secretary, with respect to the proposed regulation to designate such habitat,
may extend the one-year period specified in subparagraph (A) by not more than
one additional year, but not later than the close of such additional year the
Secretary must publish a final regulation, based on such data as may be available
at that time, designating, to the maximum extent prudent, such habitat.
(7) Neither paragraph (4), (5), or (6) of this subsection nor section 553 of
title 5, United States Code, shall apply to any regulation issued by the Secretary
in regard to any emergency posing a significant risk to the well-being of any
species of fish and wildlife or plants, but only if-
(A) at the time of publication of the regulation in the Federal Register the
Secretary publishes therein detailed reasons why such regulation is necessary;
and
(B) in the case such regulation applies to resident species of fish or wildlife,
or plants, the Secretary gives actual notice of such regulation to the State
agency in each State in which such species is believed to occur.
Such regulation shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, take effect immediately
upon the publication of the regulation in the Federal Register. Any regulation
promulgated under the authority of this paragraph shall cease to have force
and effect at the close of the 240-day period following the date of publication
unless, during such 240-day period, the rulemaking procedures which would apply
to such regulation without regard to this paragraph are complied with. If at
any time after issuing an emergency regulation the Secretary determines, on
the basis of the best appropriate data available to him, that substantial evidence
does not exist to warrant such regulation, he shall withdraw it.
(8) The publication in the Federal Register of any proposed or final regulation
which is necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act shall
include a summary by the Secretary of the data on which such regulation is based
and shall show the relationship of such data to such regulation; and if such
regulation designates or revises critical habitat, such summary shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, also include a brief description and evaluation
of those activities (whether public or private) which, in the opinion of the
Secretary, if undertaken may adversely modify such habitat, or may be affected
by such designation.
(c) LISTS.-
(1) The Secretary of the Interior shall publish in the Federal Register a list
of all species determined by him or the Secretary of Commerce to be endangered
species and a list of all species determined by him or the Secretary of Commerce
to be threatened species. Each list shall refer to the species contained therein
by scientific and common name or names, if any, specify with respect to such
species over what portion of its range it is endangered or threatened, and specify
any critical habitat within such range. The Secretary shall from time to time
revise each list published under the authority of this subsection to reflect
recent determinations, designations, and revisions made in accordance with subsections
(a) and (b).
(2) The Secretary shall-
(A) conduct, at least once every five years, a review of all species included
in a list which is published pursuant to paragraph (1) and which is in effect
at the time of such review; and
(B) determine on the basis of such review whether any such species should-
(i) be removed from such list;
(ii) be changed in status from an endangered species to a threatened species;
or
(iii) be changed in status from a threatened species to an endangered species.
Each determination under subparagraph (B) shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (a) and (b).
(d) PROTECTIVE REGULATIONS.-Whenever any species is listed as a threatened species
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary shall issue such regulations
as he deems necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of such
species. The Secretary may by regulation prohibit with respect to any threatened
species any act prohibited under section 9(a)(1), in the case of fish or wildlife,
or section 9(a)(2), in the case of plants, with respect to endangered species;
except that with respect to the taking of resident species of fish or wildlife,
such regulations shall apply in any State which has entered into a cooperative
agreement pursuant to section 6(c) of this Act only to the extent that such
regulations have also been adopted by such State.
(e) SIMILARITY OF APPEARANCE CASES.-The Secretary may, by regulation of commerce
or taking, and to the extent he deems advisable, treat any species as an endangered
species or threatened species even though it is not listed pursuant to section
4 of this Act if he finds that-
(A) such species so closely resembles in appearance, at the point in question,
a species which has been listed pursuant to such section that enforcement personnel
would have substantial difficulty in attempting to differentiate between the
listed and unlisted species;
(B) the effect of this substantial difficulty is an additional threat to an
endangered or threatened species; and
(C) such treatment of an unlisted species will substantially facilitate the
enforcement and further the policy of this Act.
(f)(1) RECOVERY PLANS.-The Secretary shall develop and implement plans (hereinafter
in this subsection referred to as "recovery plans") for the conservation and
survival of endangered species and threatened species listed pursuant to this
section, unless he finds that such a plan will not promote the conservation
of the species. The Secretary, in development and implementing recovery plans,
shall, to the maximum extent practicable-
(A) give priority to those endangered species or threatened species, without
regard to taxonomic classification, that are most likely to benefit from such
plans, particularly those species that are, or may be, in conflict with construction
or other development projects or other forms of economic activity; and
(B) incorporate in each plan-
(i) a description of such site-specific management actions as may be necessary
to achieve the plan's goal for the conservation and survival of the species;
(ii) objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination,
in accordance with the provisions of this section, that the species be removed
from the list; and
(iii) estimates of the time required and the cost to carry out those measures
needed to achieve the plan's goal and to achieve intermediate steps toward that
goal.
(2) The Secretary, in developing and implementing recovery plans, may procure
the services of appropriate public and private agencies and institutions, and
other qualified persons. Recovery teams appointed pursuant to this subsection
shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
(3) The Secretary shall report every two years to the Committee on Environment
and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
of the House of Representatives on the status of efforts to develop and implement
recovery plans for all species listed pursuant to this section and on the status
of all species for which such plans have been developed.
(4) The Secretary shall, prior to final approval of a new or revised recovery
plan, provide public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment
on such plan. The Secretary shall consider all information presented during
the public comment period prior to approval of the plan.
(5) Each Federal agency shall, prior to implementation of a new or revised recovery
plan, consider all information presented during the public comment period under
paragraph (4).
(g) MONITORING.-
(1) The Secretary shall implement a system in cooperation with the States to
monitor effectively for not less than five years the status of all species which
have recovered to the point at which the measures provided pursuant to this
Act are no longer necessary and which, in accordance with the provisions of
this section, have been removed from either of the lists published under subsection
(c).
(2) The Secretary shall make prompt use of the authority under paragraph 7 of
subsection (b) of this section to prevent a significant risk to the well being
of any such recovered species.
(h) AGENCY GUIDELINES.-The Secretary shall establish, and publish in the Federal
Register, agency guidelines to insure that the purposes of this section are
achieved efficiently and effectively. Such guidelines shall include, but are
not limited to-
(1) procedures for recording the receipt and the disposition of petitions submitted
under subsection (b)(3) of this section;
(2) criteria for making the findings required under such subsection with respect
to petitions;
(3) a ranking system to assist in the identification of species that should
receive priority review under subsection (a)(1) of the section; and
(4) a system for developing and implementing, on a priority basis, recovery
plans under subsection (f) of this section. The Secretary shall provide to the
public notice of, and opportunity to submit written comments on, any guideline
(including any amendment thereto) proposed to be established under this subsection.
(i) If, in the case of any regulation proposed by the Secretary under the authority
of this section, a State agency to which notice thereof was given in accordance
with subsection
(b)(5)(A)(ii) files comments disagreeing with all or part of the proposed regulation,
and the Secretary issues a final regulation which is in conflict with such comments,
or if the Secretary fails to adopt a regulation pursuant to an action petitioned
by a State agency under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall submit to the
State agency a written justification for his failure to adopt regulations consistent
with the agency's comments or petition.
(back to
top)
Land Acquisition
SEC. 5.
(a) PROGRAM.-The Secretary, and the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to
the National Forest System, shall establish and implement a program to conserve
fish, wildlife, and plants, including those which are listed as endangered species
or threatened species pursuant to section 4 of this Act. To carry out such a
program, the appropriate Secretary-
(1) shall utilize the land acquisition and other authority under the Fish and
Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as
amended, and the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, as appropriate; and
(2) is authorized to acquire by purchase, donation, or otherwise, lands, waters,
or interest therein, and such authority shall be in addition to any other land
acquisition vested in him.
(b) ACQUISITIONS.-Funds made available pursuant to the Land and Water Conservation
Fund Act of 1965, as amended, may be used for the purpose of acquiring lands,
waters, or interests therein under subsection (a) of this section.
(back to
top)
Cooperation with the
States
SEC. 6.
(a) GENERAL.-In carrying out the program authorized by this Act, the Secretary
shall cooperate to the maximum extent practicable with the States. Such cooperation
shall include consultation with the States concerned before acquiring any land
or water, or interest therein, for the purpose of conserving any endangered
species or threatened species.
(b) MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS.-The Secretary may enter into agreements with any
State for the administration and management of any area established for the
conservation of endangered species or threatened species. Any revenues derived
from the administration of such areas under these agreements shall be subject
to the provisions of section 401 of the Act of June 15, 1935 (49 Stat. 383;
16 U.S.C. 715s).
(c)(1) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.-In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the
Secretary is authorized to enter into a cooperative agreement in accordance
with this section with any State which establishes and maintains an adequate
and active program for the conservation of endangered species and threatened
species. Within one hundred and twenty days after the Secretary receives a certified
copy of such a proposed State program, he shall make a determination whether
such program is in accordance with this Act. Unless he determines, pursuant
to this paragraph, that the State program is not in accordance with this Act,
he shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the State for the purpose of
assisting in implementation of the State program. In order for a State program
to be deemed an adequate and active program for the conservation of endangered
species and threatened species, the Secretary must find, and annually thereafter
reconfirm such finding, that under the State program-
(A) authority resides in the State agency to conserve resident species of fish
or wildlife determined by the State agency or the Secretary to be endangered
or threatened;
(B) the State agency has established acceptable conservation programs, consistent
with the purposes and policies of this Act, for all resident species of fish
or wildlife in the State which are deemed by the Secretary to be endangered
or threatened, and has furnished a copy of such plan and program together with
all pertinent details, information, and data requested to the Secretary;
(C) the State agency is authorized to conduct investigations to determine the
status and requirements for survival of resident species of fish and wildlife;
(D) the State agency is authorized to establish programs, including the acquisition
of land or aquatic habitat or interests therein, for the conservation of resident
endangered or threat- ened species of fish or wildlife; and
(E) provision is made for public participation in designating resident species
of fish or wildlife as endangered or threatened, or that under the State program-
(i) the requirements set forth in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of this subsection
are complied with, and
(ii) plans are included under which immediate attention will be given to those
resident species of fish and wildlife which are determined by the Secretary
or the State agency to be endangered or threatened and which the Secretary and
the State agency agree are most urgently in need of conservation programs; except
that a cooperative agreement entered into with a State whose program is deemed
adequate and active pursuant to clause (i) and this clause and this subparagraph
shall not affect the applicability of prohibitions set forth in or authorized
pursuant to section 4(d) or section 9(a)(1) with respect to the taking of any
resident endangered or threatened species.
(2) In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the Secretary is authorized
to enter into a cooperative agreement in accordance with this section with any
State which establishes and maintains an adequate and active program for the
conservation of endangered species and threatened species of plants. Within
one hundred and twenty days after the Secretary receives a certified copy of
such a proposed State program, he shall make a determination whether such program
is in accordance with this Act. Unless he determines, pursuant to this paragraph,
that the State program is not in accordance with this Act, he shall enter into
a cooperative agreement with the State for the purpose of assisting in implementation
of the State program. In order for a State program to be deemed an adequate
and active program for the conservation of endangered species of plants and
threatened species of plants, the Secretary must find, and annually thereafter
reconfirm such finding, that under the State program-
(A) authority resides in the State agency to conserve resident species of plants
determined by the State agency or the Secretary to be endangered or threatened;
(B) the State agency has established acceptable conservation programs, consistent
with the purposes and policies of this Act, for all resident species of plants
in the State which are deemed by the Secretary to be endangered or threatened,
and has furnished a copy of such plan and program together with all pertinent
details, information, and data requested to the Secretary;
(C) the State agency is authorized to conduct investigations to determine the
status and requirements for survival of resident species of plants; and
(D) provision is made for public participation in designating resident species
of plants as endangered or threatened; or that under the State program-
(i) the requirements set forth in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this paragraph
are complied with, and
(ii) plans are included under which immediate attention will be given to those
resident species of plants which are determined by the Secretary or the State
agency to be endangered or threatened and which the Secretary and the State
agency agree are most urgently in need of conservation programs; except that
a cooperative agreement entered into with a State whose program is deemed adequate
and active pursuant to clause (i) and this clause shall not affect the applicability
of prohibitions set forth in or authorized pursuant to section 4(d) or section
9(a)(1) with respect to the taking of any resident endangered or threatened
species.
(d) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.-
(1) The Secretary is authorized to provide financial assistance to any State,
through its respective State agency, which has entered into a cooperative agreement
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section to assist in development of programs
for the conservation of endangered and threatened species or to assist in monitoring
the status of candidate species pursuant to subparagraph (C) of section 4(b)(3)
and recovered species pursuant to section 4(g). The Secretary shall allocate
each annual appropriation made in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(i) of this section to such States based on consideration of-
(A) the international commitments of the United States to protect endangered
species or threatened species;
(B) the readiness of a State to proceed with a conservation program consistent
with the objectives and purposes of this Act;
(C) the number of endangered species and threatened species within a State;
(D) the potential for restoring endangered species and threatened species within
a State;
(E) the relative urgency to initiate a program to restore and protect an endangered
species or threatened species in terms of survival of the species;
(F) the importance of monitoring the status of candidate species within a State
to prevent a significant risk to the well being of any such species; and
(G) the importance of monitoring the status of recovered species within a State
to assure that such species do not return to the point at which the measures
provided pursuant to this Act are again necessary.
So much of the annual appropriation made in accordance with provisions of subsection
(i) of this section allocated for obligation to any State for any fiscal year
as remains unobligated at the close thereof is authorized to fie made available
to that State until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. Any amount allocated
to any State which is unobligated at the end of the period during which it is
available for expenditure is authorized to be made available for expenditure
by the Secretary in conducting programs under this section.
(2) Such cooperative agreements shall provide for-
(A) the actions to be taken by the Secretary and the States;
(B) the benefits that are expected to be derived in connection with the conservation
of endangered or threatened species;
(C) the estimated cost of these actions; and
(D) the share of such costs to be borne by the Federal Government and by the
States; except that-
(i) the Federal share of such program costs shall not exceed 75 percent of the
estimated program cost stated in the agreement; and
(ii) the Federal share may be increased to 90 percent whenever two or more States
having a common interest in one or more endangered or threatened species, the
conservation of which may be enhanced by cooperation of such States, enter jointly
into agreement with the Secretary.
The Secretary may, in his discretion, and under such rules and regulations as
he may prescribe, advance funds to the State for financing the United States
pro rata share agreed upon in the cooperative agreement. For the purposes of
this section, the non-Federal share may, in the discretion of the Secretary,
be in the form of money or real property, the value of which will be determined
by the Secretary whose decision shall be final.
(e) REVIEW OF STATE PROGRAMS.-Any action taken by the Secretary under this section
shall be subject to his periodic review at no greater than annual intervals.
(f) CONFLICTS BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS.-Any State law or regulation which
applies with respect to the importation or exportation of, or interstate or
foreign commerce in, endangered species or threatened species is void to the
extent that it may effectively
(1) permit what is prohibited by this Act of by any regulation which implements
this Act, or
(2) prohibit what is authorized pursuant to an exemption or permit provided
for in this Act or in any regulation which implements this Act. This Act shall
not otherwise be construed to void any State law or regulation which is intended
to conserve migratory, resident, or introduced fish or wildlife, or to permit
or prohibit sale of such fish or wildlife. Any State law or regulation respecting
the taking of an endangered species or threatened species may be more restrictive
than the exemptions or permits provided for in this Act or in any regulation
which implements this Act but not less restrictive than the prohibitions so
defined.
(g) TRANSITION.-
(1) For purposes of this subsection, the term "establishment period" means,
with respect to any State, the period beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act and ending on whichever of the following dates first occurs:
(A) the date of the close of the 120-day period following the adjournment of
the first regular session of the legislature of such State which commences after
such date of enactment, or
(B) the date of the close of the 15 month period following such date of enactment.
(2) The prohibitions set forth in or authorized pursuant to sections 4(d) and
9(a)(1)(B) of this Act shall not apply with respect to the taking of any resident
endangered species or threatened species (other than species listed in Appendix
I to the Convention or otherwise specifically covered by any other treaty or
Federal law) within any State-
(A) which is then a party to a cooperative agreement with the Secretary pursuant
to section 6(c) of this Act (except to the extent that the taking of any such
species is contrary to the law of such State); or
(B) except for any time within the establishment period when-
(i) the Secretary applies such prohibition to such species at the request of
the State, or
(ii) the Secretary applies such prohibition after he finds, and publishes his
finding, that an emergency exists posing a significant risk to the well-being
of such species and that the prohibition must be applied to protect such species.
The Secretary's finding and publication may be made without regard to the public
hearing or comment provisions of section 553 of title 5, United States Code,
or any other provision of this Act; but such prohibition shall expire 90 days
after the date of its imposition unless the Secretary further extends such prohibition
by publishing notice and a statement of justification of such extension.
(h) REGULATIONS.-The Secretary is authorized to promulgate such regulations
as may be appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section relating to
financial assistance to States.
(i) APPROPRIATIONS.-
(1) To carry out the provisions of this section for fiscal years after September
30, 1988, there shall be deposited into a special fund known as the cooperative
endangered species conservation fund, to be administered by the Secretary, an
amount equal to five percent of the combined amounts covered each fiscal year
into the Federal aid to wildlife restoration fund under section 3 of the Act
of September 2, 1937, and paid, transferred, or otherwise credited each fiscal
year to the Sport Fishing Restoration Account established under 1016 of the
Act of July 18, 1984.
(2) Amounts deposited into the special fund are authorized to be appropriated
annually and allocated in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.
(back to top)
Interagency Cooperation
SEC. 7.
(a) FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIONS AND CONSULTATIONS.-
(1) The Secretary shall review other programs administered by him and utilize
such programs in furtherance of the purposes of this Act. All other Federal
agencies shall, in consultation with and with the assistance of the Secretary,
utilize their authorities in furtherance of the purposes of this Act by carrying
out programs for the conservation of endangered species and threatened species
listed pursuant to section 4 of this Act.
(2) Each Federal agency shall, in consultation with and with the assistance
of the Secretary, insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out
by such agency (hereinafter in this section referred to as an "agency action")
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species
or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of
habitat of such species which is determined by the Secretary, after consultation
as appropriate with affected States, to be critical, unless such agency has
been granted an exemption for such action by the Committee pursuant to subsection
(h) of this section. In fulfilling the requirements of this paragraph each agency
shall use the best scientific and commercial data available.
(3) Subject to such guidelines as the Secretary may establish, a Federal agency
shall consult with the Secretary on any prospective agency action at the request
of, and in cooperation with, the prospective permit or license applicant if
the applicant has reason to believe that an endangered species or a threatened
species may be present in the area affected by his project and that implementation
of such action will likely affect such species.
(4) Each Federal agency shall confer with the Secretary on any agency action
which is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species proposed
to be listed under section 4 or result in the destruction or adverse modification
of critical habitat proposed to be designated for such species. This paragraph
does not require a limitation on the commitment of resources as described in
subsection (d).
(b) OPINION OF SECRETARY.-
(1)(A) Consultation under subsection (a)(2) with respect to any agency action
shall be concluded within the 90-day period beginning on the date on which initiated
or, subject to subparagraph (B), within such other period of time as is mutually
agreeable to the Secretary and the Federal agency;
(B) in the case of an agency action involving a permit or license applicant,
the Secretary and the Federal agency may not mutually agree to conclude consultation
within a period exceeding 90 days unless the Secretary, before the close of
the 90th day referred to in subparagraph (A)-
(i) if the consultation period proposed to be agreed to will end before the
150th day after the date on which consultation was initiated, submits to the
applicant a written statement setting forth-
(I) the reasons why a longer period is required;
(II) the information that is required to complete the consultation; and
(III) the estimated date on which consultation will be completed; or
(ii) if the consultation period proposed to be agreed to will end 150 or more
days after the date on which consultation was initiated, obtains the consent
of the applicant to such period. The Secretary and the Federal agency may mutually
agree to extend a consultation period established under the preceding sentence
if the Secretary, before the close of such period, obtains the consent of the
applicant to the extension.
(2) Consultation under subsection (a)(3) shall be concluded within such period
as is agreeable to the Secretary, the Federal agency, and the applicant concerned.
(3)(A) Promptly after conclusion of consultation under paragraph (2) or (3)
of subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide to the Federal agency and the
applicant, if any, a written statement setting forth the Secretary's opinion,
and a summary of the information on which the opinion is based, detailing how
the agency action affects the species or its critical habitat. If jeopardy or
adverse modification is found, the Secretary shall suggest those reasonable
and prudent alternatives which he believes would not violate subsection (a)(2)
and can be taken by the Federal agency or applicant in implementing the agency
action.
(B) Consultation under subsection (a)(3), and an opinion based by the Secretary
incident to such consultation, regarding an agency action shall be treated respectively
as a consultation under subsection (a)(2), and as an opinion issued after consultation
under such subsection, regarding that action if the Secretary reviews the action
before it is commenced by the Federal agency and finds, and notifies such agency,
that no significant changes have been made with respect to the action and that
no significant change has occurred regarding the information used during the
initial consultation.
(4) If after consultation under subsection (a)(2) of this section, the Secretary
concludes that-
(A) the agency action will not violate such subsection, or offers reasonable
and prudent alternatives which the Secretary believes would not violate such
subsection;
(B) the taking of an endangered species or a threatened species incidental to
the agency action will not violate such subsection; and
(C) if an endangered species or threatened species of a marine mammal is involved,
the taking is authorized pursuant to section 1371(a)(5) of this title; the Secretary
shall provide the Federal agency and the applicant concerned, if any, with a
written statement that-
(i) specifies the impact of such incidental taking on the species,
(ii) specifies those reasonable and prudent measures that the Secretary considers
necessary or appropriate to minimize such impact,
(iii) in the case of marine mammals, specifies those measures that are necessary
to comply with section 1371(a)(5) of this title with regard to such taking,
and
(iv) sets forth the terms and conditions (including, but not limited to, reporting
requirements) that must be complied with by the Federal agency or applicant
(if any), or both, to implement the measures specified under clauses (ii) and
(iii).
(c) BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT.-
(1) To facilitate compliance with the requirements of subsection (a)(2) each
Federal agency shall, with respect to any agency action of such agency for which
no contract for construction has been entered into and for which no construction
has begun on the date of enactment of the Endangered Species Act Amendments
of 1978, request of the Secretary information whether any species which is listed
or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of such proposed action.
If the Secretary advises, based on the best scientific and commercial data available,
that such species may be present, such agency shall conduct a biological assessment
for the purpose of identifying any endangered species or threatened species
which is likely to be affected by such action. Such assessment shall be completed
within 180 days after the date on which initiated (or within such other period
as is mutually agreed to by the Secretary and such agency, except that if a
permit or license applicant is involved, the 180-day period may not be extended
unless such agency provides the applicant, before the close of such period,
with a written statement setting forth the esti- mated length of the proposed
extension and the reasons therefor) and, before any contract for construction
is entered into and before construction is begun with respect to such action.
Such assessment may be undertaken as part of a Federal agency's compliance with
the requirements of section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
(2) Any person who may wish to apply for an exemption under subsection (g) of
this section for that action may conduct a biological assessment to identify
any endangered species or threatened species which is likely to be affected
by such action. Any such bio- logical assessment must, however, be conducted
in cooperation with the Secretary and under the supervision of the appropriate
Federal agency.
(d) LIMITATION ON COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES.-After initiation of consultation
required under subsection (a)(2), the Federal agency and the permit or license
applicant shall not make any irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources
with respect to the agency action which has the effect of foreclosing the formulation
or implementation of any reasonable and prudent alternative measures which would
not violate subsection (a)(2).
(e)(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.-There is established a committee to be known
as the Endangered Species Committee (hereinafter in this section referred to
as the "Committee").
(2) The Committee shall review any application submitted to it pursuant to this
section and determine in accordance with subsection (h) of this section whether
or not to grant an exemption from the requirements of subsection (a)(2) of this
action for the action set forth in such application.
(3) The Committee shall be composed of seven members as follows:
(A) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(B) The Secretary of the Army.
(C) The Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors.
(D) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Agency.
(E) The Secretary of the Interior.
(F) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(G) The President, after consideration of any recommendations received pursuant
to subsection (g)(2)(B) shall appoint one individual from each affected State,
as determined by the Secretary, to be a member of the Committee for the consideration
of the application for exemption for an agency action with respect to which
such recommendations are made, not later than 30 days after an application is
submitted pursuant to this section.
(4)(A) Members of the Committee shall receive no additional pay on account of
their service on the Committee.
(B) While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance
of services for the Committee, members of the Committee shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons
employed inter- mittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under
section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code.
(5)(A) Five members of the Committee or their representatives shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of any function of the Committee, except that,
in no case shall any representative be considered in determining the existence
of a quorum for the transaction of any function of the Committee if that function
involves a vote by the Committee on any matter before the Committee.
(B) The Secretary of the Interior shall be the Chairman of the Committee.
(C) The Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman or five of its members.
(D) All meetings and records of the Committee shall be open to the public.
(6) Upon request of the Committee, the head of any Federal agency is authorized
to detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to
the Committee to assist it in carrying out its duties under this section.
(7)(A) The Committee may for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this
section hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Committee deems advisable.
(B) When so authorized by the Committee, any member or agent of the Committee
may take any action which the Committee is authorized to take by this paragraph.
(C) Subject to the Privacy Act, the Committee may secure directly from any Federal
agency information necessary to enable it to carry out its duties under this
section. Upon request of the Chairman of the Committee, the head of such Federal
agency shall furnish such information to the Committee.
(D) The Committee may use the United States mails in the same manner and upon
the same conditions as a Federal agency.
(E) The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Committee on
a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the Committee may
request.
(8) In carrying out its duties under this section, the Committee may promulgate
and amend such rules, regulations, and procedures, and issue and amend such
orders as it deems necessary.
(9) For the purpose of obtaining information necessary for the consideration
of an application for an exemption under this section the Committee may issue
subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of
relevant papers, books, and documents.
(10) In no case shall any representative, including a representative of a member
designated pursuant to paragraph (3)(G) of this subsection, be eligible to cast
a vote on behalf of any member.
(f) REGULATIONS.-Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Endangered
Species Act Amendments of 1978, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations which
set forth the form and manner in which applications for exemption shall be submitted
to the Secretary and the information to be contained in such applications. Such
regulations shall require that information submitted in an application by the
head of any Federal agency with respect to any agency action include but not
be limited to-
(1) a description of the consultation process carried out pursuant to subsection
(a)(2) of this section between the head of the Federal agency and the Secretary;
and
(2) a statement describing why such action cannot be altered or modified to
conform with the requirements of subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(g) APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION AND REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE.-
(1) A Federal agency, the Governor of the State in which an agency action will
occur, if any, or a permit or license applicant may apply to the Secretary for
an exemption for an agency action of such agency if, after consultation under
subsection (a)(2), the Secretary's opinion under subsection (b) indicates that
the agency action would violate subsection (a)(2). An application for an exemption
shall be considered initially by the Secretary in the manner provided for in
this subsection, and shall be considered by the Committee for a final determination
under subsection (h) after a report is made pursuant to paragraph (5). The applicant
for an exemption shall be referred to as the "exemption applicant" in this section.
(2)(A) An exemption applicant shall submit a written application to the Secretary,
in a form prescribed under subsection (f), not later than 90 days after the
completion of the consultation process; except that, in the case of any agency
action involving a permit or license applicant, such application shall be submitted
not later than 90 days after the date on which the Federal agency concerned
takes final agency action with respect to the issuance of the permit or license.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "final agency action" means
(i) a disposition by an agency with respect to the issuance of a permit or license
that is subject to administrative review, whether or not such disposition is
subject to judicial review; or (ii) if administrative review is sought with
respect to such disposition, the decision resulting after such review. Such
application shall set forth the reasons why the exemption applicant considers
that the agency action meets the requirements for an exemption under this subsection.
(B) Upon receipt of an application for exemption for an agency action under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall promptly
(i) notify the Governor of each affected State, if any, as determined by the
Secretary, and request the Governors so notified to recommend individuals to
be appointed to the Endangered Species Committee for consideration of such application;
and
(ii) publish notice of receipt of the application in the Federal Register, including
a summary of the information contained in the application and a description
of the agency action with respect to which the application for exemption has
been filed.
(3) The Secretary shall within 20 days after the receipt of an application for
exemption, or within such other period of time as is mutually agreeable to the
exemption applicant and the Secretary
(A) determine that the Federal agency concerned and the exemption applicant
have-
(i) carried out the consultation responsibilities described in subsection (a)
in good faith and made a reasonable and responsible effort to develop and fairly
consider modifications or reasonable and prudent alternatives to the proposed
agency action which would not violate subsection (a)(2);
(ii) conducted any biological assessment required by subsection (c); and
(iii) to the extent determinable within the time provided herein, refrained
from making any irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources prohibited
by subsection (d); or
(B) deny the application for exemption because the Federal agency concerned
or the exemption applicant have not met the requirements set forth in subparagraph
(A) (i), (ii), and (iii). The denial of an application under subparagraph (B)
shall be considered final agency action for purposes of chapter 7 of title 5,
United States Code.
(4) If the Secretary determines that the Federal agency concerned and the exemption
applicant have met the requirements set forth in paragraph (3)(A) (i), (ii)
and (iii) he shall, in consultation with the Members of the Committee, hold
a hearing on the application for exemption in accordance with sections 554,
555, and 556 (other than subsection (b) (1) and (2) thereof) of title 5, United
States Code, and prepare the report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (5).
(5) Within 140 days after making the determinations under paragraph (3) or within
such other period of time as is mutually agreeable to the exemption applicant
and the Secretary, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee a report discussing-
(A) the availability of reasonable and prudent alternatives to the agency action,
and the nature and extent of the benefits of the agency action and of alternative
courses of action consistent with conserving the species of the critical habitat;
(B) a summary of the evidence concerning whether or not the agency action is
in the public interest and is of national or regional significance;
(C) appropriate reasonable mitigation and enhancement measures which should
be considered by the Committee; and
(D) whether the Federal agency concerned and the exemption applicant refrained
from making any irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources prohibited
by subsection (d).
(6) To the extent practicable within the time required for action under subsection
(g) of this section, and except to the extent inconsistent with the requirements
of this section, the consideration of any application for an exemption under
this section and the conduct of any hearing under this subsection shall be in
accordance with sections 554, 555, and 556 (other than subsection (b)(3) of
section 556) of title 5, United States Code.
(7) Upon request of the Secretary, the head of any Federal agency is authorized
to detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to
the Secretary to assist him in carrying out his duties under this section.
(8) All meetings and records resulting from activities pursuant to this subsection
shall be open to the public.
(h) EXEMPTION.-
(1) The Committee shall make a final determination whether or not to grant an
exemption within 30 days after receiving the report of the Secretary pursuant
to subsection (g)(5). The Committee shall grant an exemption from the requirements
of subsection (a)(2) for an agency action if, by a vote of not less than five
of its members voting in person-
(A) it determines on the record, based on the report of the Secretary, the record
of the hearing held under subsection (g)(4), and on such other testimony or
evidence as it may receive, that-
(i) there are no reasonable and prudent alternatives to the agency action;
(ii) the benefits of such action clearly outweigh the benefits of alternative
courses of action consistent with conserving the species or its critical habitat,
and such action is in the public interest;
(iii) the action is of regional or national significance; and
(iv) neither the Federal agency concerned nor the exemption applicant made any
irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources prohibited by subsection
(d); and
(B) it establishes such reasonable mitigation and enhancement measures, including,
but not limited to, live propagation, transplantation, and habitat acquisition
and improvement, as are necessary and appropriate to minimize the adverse effects
of the agency action upon the endangered species, threatened species, or critical
habitat concerned.
Any final determination by Committee under this subsection shall be considered
final agency action for purposes of chapter 7 of title 5 of the United States
Code.
(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an exemption for an agency action
granted under paragraph (1) shall constitute a permanent exemption with respect
to all endangered or threatened species for the purposes of completing such
agency action-
(i) regardless whether the species was identified in the biological assessment;
and
(ii) only if a biological assessment has been conducted under subsection (c)
with respect to such agency action.
(B) An exemption shall be permanent under subparagraph (A) unless-
(i) the Secretary finds, based on the best scientific and commercial data available,
that such exemption would result in the extinction of a species that was not
the subject of consultation under subsection (a)(2) or was not identified in
any biological assessment conducted under subsection (c), and
(ii) the Committee determines within 60 days after the date of the Secretary's
finding that the exemption should not be permanent.
If the Secretary makes a finding described in clause (i), the Committee shall
meet with respect to the matter within 30 days after the date of the finding.
(i) REVIEW BY SECRETARY OF STATE.-Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Act, the Committee shall be prohibited from considering for exemption any application
made to it, if the Secretary of State, after a review of the proposed agency
action and its potential implications, and after hearing, certifies, in writing,
to the Committee within 60 days of any application made under this section that
the granting of any such exemption and the carrying out of such action would
be in violation of an international treaty obli- gation or other international
obligation of the United States. The Secretary of State shall, at the time of
such certification, publish a copy thereof in the Federal Register.
(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Committee shall grant
an exemption for any agency action if the Secretary of Defense finds that such
exemption is necessary for reasons of national security.
(k) SPECIAL PROVISIONS.-An exemption decision by the Committee under this section
shall not be a major Federal action for purposes of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.): Provided, That an environmental
impact statement which discusses the impacts upon endangered species or threatened
species or their critical habitats shall have been previously prepared with
respect to any agency action exempted by such order.
(l) COMMITTEE ORDERS.-
(1) If the Committee determines under subsection (h) that an exemption should
be granted with respect to any agency action, the Committee shall issue an order
granting the exemption and specifying the mitigation and enhancement measures
established pursuant to subsection (h) which shall be carried out and paid for
by the exemption applicant in implementing the agency action. All necessary
mitigation and enhancement measures shall be authorized prior to the implementing
of the agency action and funded concurrently with all other project features.
(2) The applicant receiving such exemption shall include the costs of such mitigation
and enhancement measures within the overall costs of continuing the proposed
action. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence the costs of such measures shall
not be treated as project costs for the purpose of computing benefit-cost or
other ratios for the proposed action. Any applicant may request the Secretary
to carry out such mitigation and enhancement measures. The costs incurred by
the Secretary in carrying out any such measures shall be paid by the applicant
receiving the exemption. No later than one year after the granting of an exemption,
the exemption applicant shall submit to the Council on Environmental Quality
a report describing its compliance with the mitigation and en- hancement measures
prescribed by this section. Such report shall be submitted annually until all
such mitigation and enhancement measures have been completed. Notice of the
public availability of such reports shall be published in the Federal Register
by the Council on Environmental Quality.
(m) NOTICE.-The 60-day notice requirement of section 11(g) of this Act shall
not apply with respect to review of any final determination of the Committee
under subsection (h) of this section granting an exemption from the requirements
of subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(n) JUDICIAL REVIEW.-Any person, as defined by section 3(13) of this Act, may
obtain judicial review, under chapter 7 of title 5 of the United States Code,
of any decision of the Endangered Species Committee under subsection (h) in
the United States Court of Appeals for
(1) any circuit wherein the agency action concerned will be, or is being, carried
out, or
(2) in any case in which the agency action will be, or is being, carried out
outside of any circuit, the District of Columbia, by filing in such court within
90 days after the date of issuance of the decision, a written petition for review.
A copy of such petition shall be transmitted by the clerk of the court to the
Committee and the Committee shall file in the court the record in the proceeding,
as provided in section 2112, of title 28, United States Code. Attorneys designated
by the Endangered Species Committee may appear for, and represent the Committee
in any action for review under this subsection.
(o) EXEMPTION AS PROVIDING EXCEPTION ON TAKING OF ENDANGERED SPECIES.-Notwithstanding
sections 1533(d) and 1538(a)(1)(B) and (C) of this title, sections 1371 and
1372 of this title, or any regulation promulgated to implement any such section-
(1) any action for which an exemption is granted under subsection (h) of this
section shall not be considered to be a taking of any endangered species or
threatened species with respect to any activity which is necessary to carry
out such action; and
(2) any taking that is in compliance with the terms and conditions specified
in a written statement provided under subsection (b)(4)(iv) of this section
shall not be considered to be a prohibited taking of the species concerned.
(p) EXEMPTIONS IN PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTER AREAS. In any area which
has been declared by the President to be a major disaster area under the Disaster
Relief Act of 1974, the President is authorized to make the determinations required
by subsections (g) and (h) of this section for any project for the repair or
replacement of a public facility substantially as it existed prior to the disaster
under section 401 or 402 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, and which the President
determines
(1) is necessary to prevent the recurrence of such a natural disaster and to
reduce the potential loss of human life, and
(2) to involve an emergency situation which does not allow the ordinary procedures
of this section to be followed. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
section, the Committee shall accept the determinations of the President under
this subsection.
(back to
top)
International Cooperation
SEC. 8.
(a) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.-As a demonstration of the commitment of the United
States to the worldwide protection of endangered species and threatened species,
the President may, subject to the provisions of section 1415 of the Supplemental
Appropriation Act, 1953 (31 U.S.C. 724), use foreign currencies accruing to
the United States Government under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance
Act of 1954 or any other law to provide to any foreign country (with its consent)
assistance in the development and management of programs in that country which
the Secretary determines to be necessary or useful for the conservation of any
endangered species or threatened species listed by the Secretary pursuant to
section 4 of this Act. The President shall provide assistance (which includes,
but is not limited to, the acquisition, by lease or otherwise, of lands, waters,
or interests therein) to foreign countries under this section under such terms
and conditions as he deems appropriate. Whenever foreign currencies are available
for the provision of assistance under this section, such currencies shall be
used in preference to funds appropriated under the authority of section 15 of
this Act.
(b) ENCOURAGEMENT OF FOREIGN PROGRAMS.-In order to carry out further the provisions
of this Act, the Secretary, through the Secretary of State shall encourage-
(1) foreign countries to provide for the conservation of fish or wildlife and
plants including endangered species and threatened species listed pursuant to
section 4 of this Act;
(2) the entering into of bilateral or multilateral agreements with foreign countries
to provide for such conservation; and
(3) foreign persons who directly or indirectly take fish or wildlife or plants
in foreign countries or on the high seas for importation into the United States
for commercial or other purposes to develop and carry out with such assistance
as he may provide, conservation practices designed to enhance such fish or wildlife
or plants and their habitat.
(c) PERSONNEL.-After consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary
may-
(1) assign or otherwise make available any officer or employee of his department
for the purpose of cooperating with foreign countries and international organizations
in developing personnel resources and programs which promote the conservation
of fish or wildlife or plants, and
(2) conduct or provide financial assistance for the educational training of
foreign personnel, in this country or abroad, in fish, wildlife, or plant management,
research and law enforcement and to render professional assistance abroad in
such matters.
(d) INVESTIGATIONS.-After consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary
of the Treasury, as appropriate, the Secretary may conduct or cause to be conducted
such law enforcement investigations and research abroad as he deems necessary
to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(back to
top)
Convention Implementation
SEC. 8A.
(a) MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY AND SCIENTIFIC AUTHORITY.-The Secretary of the Interior
(hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Secretary") is designated as
the Management Authority and the Scientific Authority for purposes of the Convention
and the respective functions of each such Authority shall be carried out through
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(b) MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY FUNCTIONS.-The Secretary shall do all things necessary
and appropriate to carry out the functions of the Management Authority under
the Convention.
(c) SCIENTIFIC AUTHORITY FUNCTIONS.-
(1) The Secretary shall do all things necessary and appropriate to carry out
the functions of the Scientific Authority under the Convention.
(2) The Secretary shall base the determinations and advice given by him under
Article IV of the Convention with respect to wildlife upon the best available
biological information derived from professionally accepted wildlife management
practices; but is not required to make, or require any State to make, estimates
of population size in making such determinations or giving such advice.
(d) RESERVATIONS BY THE UNITED STATES UNDER CONVENTION.-If the United States
votes against including any species in Appendix I or II of the Convention and
does not enter a reservation pursuant to paragraph (3) of Article XV of the
Convention with respect to that species, the Secretary of State, before the
90th day after the last day on which such a reservation could be entered, shall
submit to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives,
and to the Committee on the Environment and Public Works of the Senate, a written
report setting forth the reasons why such a reservation was not entered.
(e) WILDLIFE PRESERVATION IN WESTERN HEMISPHERE.-
(1) The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter in this subsection referred to
as the "Secretary"), in cooperation with the Secretary of State, shall act on
behalf of, and represent, the United States in all regards as required by the
Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere
(56 Stat. 1354, T.S. 982, hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the
"Western Convention"). In the discharge of these responsibilities, the Secretary
and the Secretary of State shall consult with the Secretary of Agriculture,
the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other agencies with respect to matters
relating to or affecting their areas of responsibility.
(2) The Secretary and the Secretary of State shall, in cooperation with the
contracting parties to the Western Convention and, to the extent feasible and
appropriate, with the participation of State agencies, take such steps as are
necessary to implement the Western Convention. Such steps shall include, but
not be limited to
(A) cooperation with contracting parties and international organizations for
the purpose of developing personnel resources and programs that will facilitate
implementation of the Western Convention;
(B) identification of those species of birds that migrate between the United
States and other contracting parties, and the habitats upon which those species
depend, and the implementation of cooperative measures to ensure that such species
will not become endangered or threatened; and
(C) identification of measures that are necessary and appropriate to implement
those provisions of the Western Convention which address the protection of wild
plants.
(3) No later than September 30, 1985, the Secretary and the Secretary of State
shall submit a report to Congress describing those steps taken in accordance
with the requirements of this subsection and identifying the principal remaining
actions yet necessary for comprehensive and effective implementation of the
Western Convention.
(4) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as affecting the
authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the several States to manage,
control, or regulate resident fish or wildlife under State law or regulations.
(back to
top)
Prohibited Acts
SEC. 9.
(a) GENERAL.-
(1) Except as provided in sections 6(g)(2) and 10 of this Act, with respect
to any endangered species of fish or wildlife listed pursuant to section 4 of
this Act it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States to-
(A) import any such species into, or export any such species from the United
States;
(B) take any such species within the United States or the territorial sea of
the United States;
(C) take any such species upon the high seas;
(D) possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship, by any means whatsoever,
any such species taken in violation of subparagraphs (B) and (C);
(E) deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce,
by any means whatsoever and in the course of a commercial activity, any such
species;
(F) sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any such species;
or
(G) violate any regulation pertaining to such species or to any threatened species
of fish or wildlife listed pursuant to section 4 of this Act and promulgated
by the Secretary pursuant to authority provided by this Act.
(2) Except as provided in sections 6(g)(2) and 10 of this Act, with respect
to any endangered species of plants listed pursuant to section 4 of this Act,
it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States
to-
(A) import any such species into, or export any such species from, the United
States;
(B) remove and reduce to possession any such species from areas under Federal
jurisdiction; maliciously damage or destroy any such species on any such area;
or remove, cut, dig up, or damage or destroy any such species on any other area
in knowing violation of any law or regulation of any state or in the course
of any violation of a state criminal trespass law;
(C) deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce,
by any means whatsoever and in the course of a commercial activity, any such
species;
(D) sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any such species;
or
(E) violate any regulation pertaining to such species or to any threatened species
of plants listed pursuant to section 4 of this Act and promulgated by the Secretary
pursuant to authority provided by this Act.
(b)(1) SPECIES HELD IN CAPTIVITY OR CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT. The provisions of
subsections (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(G) of this section shall not apply to any fish
or wildlife which was held in captivity or in a controlled environment on
(A) December 28, 1973, or
(B) the date of the publication in the Federal Register of a final regulation
adding such fish or wildlife species to any list published pursuant to subsection
(c) of section 4 of this Act: Provided, That such holding and any subsequent
holding or use of the fish or wildlife was not in the course of a commercial
activity. With respect to any act prohibited by subsections (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(G)
of this section which occurs after a period of 180 days from
(i) December 28, 1973, or
(ii) the date of publication in the Federal Register of a final regulation adding
such fish or wildlife species to any list published pursuant to subsection (c)
of section 4 of this Act, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the fish
or wildlife involved in such act is not entitled to the exemption contained
in this subsection.
(2)(A) The provisions of subsections (a)(1) shall not apply to-
(i) any raptor legally held in captivity or in a controlled environment on the
effective date of the Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1978; or
(ii) any progeny of any raptor described in clause (i); until such time as any
such raptor or progeny is intentionally returned to a wild state.
(B) Any person holding any raptor or progeny described in subparagraph (A) must
be able to demonstrate that the raptor or progeny does, in fact, qualify under
the provisions of this paragraph, and shall maintain and submit to the Secretary,
on request, such inventories, documentation, and records as the Secretary may
by regulation require as being reasonably appropriate to carry out the purposes
of this paragraph. Such requirements shall not unnecessarily duplicate the requirements
of other rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary.
(c) VIOLATION OF CONVENTION.-
(1) It is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States to engage in any trade in any specimens contrary to the provisions of
the Convention, or to possess any specimens traded contrary to the provisions
of the Convention, including the definitions of terms in article I thereof
(2) Any importation into the United States of fish or wildlife shall, if-
(A) such fish or wildlife is not an endangered species listed pursuant to section
4 of this Act but is listed in Appendix II of the Convention;
(B) the taking and exportation of such fish or wildlife is not contrary to the
provisions of the Convention and all other applicable requirements of the Convention
have been satisfied;
(C) the applicable requirements of subsections (d), (e), and (f) of this section
have been satisfied; and
(D) such importation is not made in the course of a commercial activity; be
presumed to be an importation not in violation of any provision of this Act
or any regulation issued pursuant to this Act.
(d) IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.-
(1) IN GENERAL.-It is unlawful for any person, without first having obtained
permission from the Secretary, to engage in business-
(A) as an importer or exporter of fish or wildlife (other than shellfish and
fishery products which
(i) are not listed pursuant to section 4 of this Act as endangered species or
threatened species, and
(ii) are imported for purposes of human or animal consumption or taken in waters
under the jurisdiction of the United States or on the high seas for recreational
purposes) or plants; or
(B) as an importer or exporter of any amount of raw or worked African elephant
ivory.
(2) REQUIREMENTS.-Any person required to obtain permission under paragraph (1)
of this subsection shall-
(A) keep such records as will fully and correctly disclose each importation
or exportation of fish, wildlife, plants, or African elephant ivory made by
him and the subsequent disposition made by him with respect to such fish, wildlife,
plants, or ivory;
(B) at all reasonable times upon notice by a duly authorized representative
of the Secretary, afford such representative access to his place of business,
an opportunity to ex- amine his inventory of imported fish, wildlife, plants,
or African elephant ivory and the records required to be kept under subparagraph
(A) of this paragraph, and to copy such records; and
(C) file such reports as the Secretary may require.
(3) REGULATIONS.-The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary
and appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(4) RESTRICTION ON CONSIDERATION OF VALUE OR AMOUNT OF AFRICAN
ELEPHANT IVORY IMPORTED OR EXPORTED.-In granting permission under this subsection
for importation or exportation of African elephant ivory, the Secretary shall
not vary the requirements for obtaining such permission on the basis of the
value or amount of ivory imported or exported under such permission.
(e) REPORTS.-It is unlawful for any person importing or exporting fish or wildlife
(other than shellfish and fishery products) which
(1) are not listed pursuant to section 4 of this Act as endangered or threatened
species, and
(2) are imported for purposes of human or animal consumption or taken in waters
under the jurisdiction of the United States or on the high seas for recreational
purposes) or plants to fail to file any declaration or report as the Secretary
deems necessary to facilitate enforcement of this Act or to meet the obligations
of the Convention.
(f) DESIGNATION OF PORTS.-
(1) It is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States to import into or export from the United States any fish or wildlife
(other than shellfish and fishery products which
(A) are not listed pursuant to section 4 of this Act as endangered species or
threatened species, and
(B) are imported for purposes of human or animal consumption or taken in waters
under the jurisdiction of the United States or on the high seas for recreational
purposes) or plants, except at a port or ports designated by the Secretary of
the Interior. For the purposes of facilitating enforcement of this Act and reducing
the costs thereof, the Secretary of the Interior, with approval of the Secretary
of the Treasury and after notice and opportunity for public hearing, may, by
regulation, designate ports and change such designations. The Secretary of the
Interior, under such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, may permit the
importation or exportation at nondesignated ports in the interest of the health
or safety of the fish or wildlife or plants, or for other reasons if, in his
discretion, he deems it appropriate and consistent with the purpose of this
subsection.
(2) Any port designated by the Secretary of the Interior under the authority
of section 4(d) of the Act of December 5, 1969 (16 U.S.C. 666cc 4(d), shall,
if such designation is in effect on the day before the date of the enactment
of this Act, be deemed to be a port designated by the Secretary under paragraph
(1) of this subsection until such time as the Secretary otherwise provides.
(g) VIOLATIONS.-It is Unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of
the United States to attempt to commit, solicit another to commit, or cause
to be committed, any offense defined in this section.
(back to
top)
Exceptions
SEC. 10.
(a) PERMITS.-
(1) The Secretary may permit, under such terms and conditions as he shall prescribe-
(A) any act otherwise prohibited by section 9 for scientific purposes or to
enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species, including, but
not limited to, acts necessary for the establishment and maintenance of experimental
populations pursuant subsection (j); or
(B) any taking otherwise prohibited by section 9(a)(1)(B) if such taking is
incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise lawful
activity.
(2)(A) No permit may be issued by the Secretary authorizing any taking referred
to in paragraph (1)(B) unless the applicant therefor submits to the Secretary
a conservation plan that specifies-
(i) the impact which will likely result from such taking;
(ii) what steps the applicant will take to minimize and mitigate such impacts,
and the funding that will be available to implement such steps;
(iii) what alternative actions to such taking the applicant considered and the
reasons why such alternatives are not being utilized; and
(iv) such other measures that the Secretary may require as being necessary or
appropriate for purposes of the plan.
(B) If the Secretary finds, after opportunity for public comment, with respect
to a permit application and the related conservation plan that-
(i) the taking will be incidental;
(ii) the applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize and mitigate
the impacts of such taking;
(iii) the applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the plan will be provided;
(iv) the taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and
recovery of the species in the wild; and
(v) the measures, if any, required under subparagraph (A)(iv) will be met; and
he has received such other assurances as he may require that the plan will be
implemented, the Secretary shall issue the permit. The permit shall contain
such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems necessary or appropriate to
carry out the purposes of this paragraph, including, but not limited to, such
reporting requirements as the Secretary deems necessary for determining whether
such terms and conditions are being complied with.
(C) The Secretary shall revoke a permit issued under this paragraph if he finds
that the permittee is not complying with the terms and conditions of the permit.
(b) HARDSHIP EXEMPTIONS.-
(1) If any person enters into a contract with respect to a species of fish or
wildlife or plant before the date of the publication in the Federal Register
of notice of consideration of that species as an endangered species and the
subsequent listing of that species as an endangered species pursuant to section
4 of this Act will cause undue hardship to such person under the contract, the
Secretary, in order to minimize such hardship, may exempt such person from the
application of section 9(a) of this Act to the extent the Secretary deems appropriate
if such person applies to him for such exemption and includes with such application
such information as the Secretary may require to prove such hardship; except
that (A) no such exemption shall be for a duration of more than one year from
the date of publication in the Federal Register of notice of consideration of
the species concerned, or shall apply to a quantity of fish or wildlife or plants
in excess of that specified by the Secretary; (B) the one-year period for those
species of fish or wildlife listed by the Secretary as endangered prior to the
effective date of this Act shall expire in accordance with the terms of section
3 of the Act of December 5, 1969 (83 Stat. 275); and (C) no such exemption may
be granted for the importation or exportation of a specimen listed in Appendix
I of the Convention which is to be used in a commercial activity.
(2) As used in this subsection, the term "undue economic hardship" shall include,
but not be limited to:
(A) substantial economic loss resulting from inability caused by this Act to
perform contracts with respect to species of fish and wildlife entered into
prior to the date of publication in the Federal Register of a notice of consideration
of such species as an endangered species;
(B) substantial economic loss to persons who, for the year prior to the notice
of consideration of such species as an endangered species, derived a substantial
portion of their income from the lawful taking of any listed species, which
taking would be made unlawful under this Act; or
(C) curtailment of subsistence taking made unlawful under this Act by persons
(i) not reasonably able to secure other sources of subsistence; and
(ii) dependent to a substantial extent upon hunting and fishing for subsistence;
and
(iii) who must engage in such curtailed taking for subsistence purposes.
(3) The Secretary may make further requirements for a showing of undue economic
hardship as he deems fit. Exceptions granted under this section may be limited
by the Secretary in his discretion as to time, area, or other factor of applicability.
(c) NOTICE AND REVIEW.-The Secretary shall publish notice in the Federal Register
of each application for an exemption or permit which is made under this section.
Each notice shall invite the submission from interested parties, within thirty
days after the date of the notice, of written data, views, or arguments with
respect to the application; except that such thirty-day period may be waived
by the Secretary in an emergency situation where the health or life of an endangered
animal is threatened and no reasonable alternative is available to the applicant,
but notice of any such waiver shall be published by the Secretary in the Federal
Register within ten days following the issuance of the exemption or permit.
Information received by the Secretary as part of any application shall be available
to the public as a matter of public record at every stage of the proceeding.
(d) PERMIT AND EXEMPTION POLICY.-The Secretary may grant exceptions under subsections
(a)(1)(A) and (b) of this section only if he finds and publishes his finding
in the Federal Register that
(1) such exceptions were applied for in good faith,
(2) if granted and exercised will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered
spe- cies, and
(3) will be consistent with the purposes and policy set forth in section 2 of
this Act.
(e) ALASKA NATIVES.-
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection the provisions of
this Act shall not apply with respect to the taking of any endangered species
or threatened species, or the importation of any such species taken pursuant
to this section, by-
(A) any Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo who is an Alaskan Native who resides in Alaska;
or
(B) any non-native permanent resident of an Alaskan native village; if such
taking is primarily for subsistence purposes. Non-edible byproducts of species
taken pursuant to this section may be sold in interstate commerce when made
into authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing; except that the
provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any non-native resident of
an Alaskan native village found by the Secretary to be not primarily dependent
upon the taking of fish and wildlife for consumption or for the creation and
sale of authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing.
(2) Any taking under this subsection may not be accomplished in a wasteful manner.
(3) As used in this subsection-
(i) The term "subsistence" includes selling any edible portion of fish or wildlife
in native villages and towns in Alaska for native consumption within native
villages or towns; and
(ii) The term "authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing" means
items composed wholly or in some significant respect to natural materials, and
which are produced, decorated or fashioned in the exercise of traditional native
handicrafts without the use of pantographs, multiple carvers, or other mass
copying devices. Traditional native handicrafts include, but are not limited
to, weaving, carving, stitching, sewing, lacing, beading, drawing, and painting.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, whenever
the Secretary determines that any species of fish or wildlife which is subject
to taking under the provisions of this subsection is an endangered species or
threatened species, and that such taking materially and negatively affects the
threatened or endangered species, he may prescribe regulations upon the taking
of such species by any such Indian, Aleut, Eskimo, or non-native Alaskan resident
of an Alaskan native village. Such regulations may be established with reference
to species, geographical description of the area included, the season for taking,
or any other factors related to the reason for establishing such regulations
and consistent with the policy of this Act. Such regulations shall be prescribed
after a notice and hearings in the affected judicial districts of Alaska and
as otherwise required by section 103 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of
1972, and shall be removed as soon as the Secretary determines that the need
for their impositions has disappeared.
(f)(1) As used in this subsection-
(A) The term "Pre-Act endangered species part" means-
(i) any sperm whale oil, including derivatives thereof, which was lawfully held
within the United States on December 28, 1973, in the course of a commercial
activity; or
(ii) any finished scrimshaw product, if such product or the raw material for
such product was lawfully held within the United States on December 28, 1973,
in the course of a commercial activity.
(B) The term "scrimshaw product" means any art form which involves the substantial
etching or engraving of designs upon, or the substantial carving of figures,
patterns, or designs from, any bone or tooth of any marine mammal of the order
Cetacea. For purposes of this subsection, polishing or the adding of minor superficial
markings does not constitute substantial etching, engraving, or carving.
(2) The Secretary, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, may exempt,
if such exemption is not in violation of the Convention, any pre-Act endangered
species part from one or more of the following prohibitions:
(A) The prohibition on exportation from the United States set forth in section
9(a)(1)(A) of this Act.
(B) Any prohibition set forth in section 9(a)(1) (E) or (F) of this Act.
(3) Any person seeking an exemption described in paragraph (2) of this subsection
shall make application therefor to the Secretary in such form and manner as
he shall prescribe, but no such application may be considered by the Secretary
unless the application-
(A) is received by the Secretary before the close of the one year period beginning
on the date on which regulations promulgated by the Secretary to carry out this
subsection first take effect;
(B) contains a complete and detailed inventory of all pre-Act endangered species
parts for which the applicant seeks exemption;
(C) is accompanied by such documentation as the Secretary may require to prove
that any endangered species part or product claimed by the applicant to be a
pre-Act endangered species part is in fact such a part; and
(D) contains such other information as the Secretary deems necessary and appropriate
to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(4) If the Secretary approves any application for exemption made under this
subsection, he shall issue to the applicant a certificate of exemption which
shall specify-
(A) any prohibition in section 9(a) of this Act which is exempted;
(B) the pre-Act endangered species parts to which the exemption applies;
(C) the period of time during which the exemption is in effect, but no exemption
made under this subsection shall have force and effect after the close of the
three-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the certificate unless
such exemption is renewed under paragraph (8); and
(D) any term or condition prescribed pursuant to paragraph (5)(A) or (B), or
both, which the Secretary deems necessary or appropriate.
(5) The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as he deems necessary and
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection. Such regulations may
set forth-
(A) terms and conditions which may be imposed on applicants for exemptions under
this subsection (including, but not limited to, requirements that applicants
register inventories, keep complete sales records, permit duly authorized agents
of the Secretary to inspect such inventories and records, and periodically file
appropriate reports with the Secretary); and
(B) terms and conditions which may be imposed on any subsequent purchaser of
any pre-Act endangered species part covered by an exemption granted under this
subsection; to insure that any such part so exempted is adequately accounted
for and not disposed of contrary to the provisions of this Act. No regulation
prescribed by the Secretary to carry out the purposes of this subsection shall
be subject to section 4(f)(2)(A)(i) of this Act.
(6)(A) Any contract for the sale of pre-Act endangered species parts which is
entered into by the Administrator of General Services prior to the effective
date of this subsection and pursuant to the notice published in the Federal
Register on January 9, 1973, shall not be rendered invalid by virtue of the
fact that fulfillment of such contract may be prohibited under section 9(a)(1)(F).
(B) In the event that this paragraph is held invalid, the validity of the remainder
of the Act, including the remainder of this subsection, shall not be affected.
(7) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to-
(A) exonerate any person from any act committed in violation of paragraphs (1)(A),
(1)(E), or (1)(F) of section 9(a) prior to the date of enactment of this subsection;
or
(B) immunize any person from prosecution for any such act.
(8)(A)(i) Any valid certificate of exemption which was renewed after October
13, 1982, and was in effect on March 31, 1988, shall be deemed to be renewed
for a 6-month period beginning on the date of enactment of the Endangered Species
Act Amendments of 1988. Any person holding such a certificate may apply to the
Secretary for one additional renewal of such certificate for a period not to
exceed 5 years beginning on the date of such enactment.
(B) If the Secretary approves any application for renewal of an exemption under
this paragraph, he shall issue to the applicant a certificate of renewal of
such exemption which shall provide that all terms, conditions, prohibitions,
and other regulations made applicable by the previous certificate shall remain
in effect during the period of the renewal.
(C) No exemption or renewal of such exemption made under this subsection shall
have force and effect after the expiration date of the certificate of renewal
of such exemption issued under this paragraph.
(D) No person may, after January 31, 1984, sell or offer for sale in interstate
or foreign commerce, any pre-Act finished scrimshaw product unless such person
holds a valid certificate of exemption issued by the Secretary under this subsection,
and unless such product or the raw material for such product was held by such
person on October 13, 1982.
(g) In connection with any action alleging a violation of section 9, any person
claiming the benefit of any exemption or permit under this Act shall have the
burden of proving that the exemption or permit is applicable, has been granted,
and was valid and in force at the time of the alleged violation.
(h) CERTAIN ANTIQUE ARTICLES.-
(1) Sections 4(d), 9(a), and 9(c) do not apply to any article which-
(A) is not less than 100 years of age;
(B) is composed in whole or in part of any endangered species or threatened
species listed under section 4;
(C) has not been repaired or modified with any Dart of any such species on or
after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(D) is entered at a port designated under paragraph (3).
(2) Any person who wishes to import an article under the exception provided
by this subsection shall submit to the customs officer concerned at the time
of entry of the article such documentation as the Secretary of the Treasury,
after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall by regulation require
as being necessary to establish that the article meets the requirements set
forth in paragraph (1) (A), (B), and (C).
(3) The Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretary of
the Interior, shall designate one port within each customs region at which articles
described in paragraph
(1) (A), (B), and (C) must be entered into the customs territory of the United
States.
(4) Any person who imported, after December 27, 1973, and on or before the date
of the enactment of the Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1978, any article
described in paragraph (1) which-
(A) was not repaired or modified after the date of importation with any part
of any endangered species or threatened species listed under section 4;
(B) was forfeited to the United States before such date of the enactment, or
is subject to forfeiture to the United States on such date of enactment, pursuant
to the assessment of a civil penalty under section 11; and
(C) is in the custody of the United States on such date of enactment; may, before
the close of the one-year period beginning on such date of enactment make application
to the Secretary for return of the article. Application shall be made in such
form and manner, and contain such documentation, as the Secretary prescribes.
If on the basis of any such application which is timely filed, the Secretary
is satisfied that the requirements of this paragraph are met with respect to
the article concerned, the Secretary shall return the arti- cle to the applicant
and the importation of such article shall, on and after the date of return,
be deemed to be a lawful importation under this Act.
(i) NONCOMMERCIAL TRANSSHIPMENTS.-Any importation into the United States of
fish or wildlife shall, if-
(1) such fish or wildlife was lawfully taken and exported from the country of
origin and country of reexport, if any;
(2) such fish or wildlife is in transit or transshipment through any place subject
to the jurisdiction of the United States enroute to a country where such fish
or wildlife may be lawfully imported and received;
(3) the exporter or owner of such fish or wildlife gave explicit instructions
not to ship such fish or wildlife through any place subject to the jurisdiction
of the United States, or did all that could have reasonably been done to prevent
transshipment, and the circumstances leading to the transshipment were beyond
the exporter's or owner's control;
(4) the applicable requirements of the Convention have been satisfied; and
(5) such importation is not made in the course of a commercial activity, be
an importation not in violation of any provision of this Act or any regulation
issued pursuant to this Act while such fish or wildlife remains in the control
of the United States Customs Service.
(j) EXPERIMENTAL POPULATIONS.-
(1) For purposes of this subsection, the term "experimental population" means
any population (including any offspring arising solely therefrom) authorized
by the Secretary for release under paragraph (2), but only when, and at such
times as, the population is wholly separate geographically from nonexperimental
populations of the same species.
(2)(A) The Secretary may authorize the release (and the related transportation)
of any population (including eggs, propagules, or individuals) of an endangered
species or a threatened species outside the current range of such species if
the Secretary determines that such release will further the conservation of
such species.
(B) Before authorizing the release of any population under subparagraph (A),
the Secretary shall by regulation identify the population and determine, on
the basis of the best available information, whether or not such population
is essential to the continued existence of an endangered species or a threatened
species.
(C) For the purposes of this Act, each member of an experimental population
shall be treated as a threatened species; except that-
(i) solely for purposes of section 7 (other than subsection (a)(1) thereof),
an experimental population determined under subparagraph (B) to be not essential
to the continued existence of a species shall be treated, except when it occurs
in an area within the National Wildlife Refuge System or the National Park System,
as a species proposed to be listed under section 4; and
(ii) critical habitat shall not be designated under this Act for any experimental
population determined under subparagraph (B) to be not essential to the continued
existence of a species.
(3) The Secretary, with respect to populations of endangered species or threatened
species that the Secretary authorized, before the date of the enactment of this
subsection, for release in geographical areas separate from the other populations
of such species, shall de- termine by regulation which of such populations are
an experimental population for the purposes of this subsection and whether or
not each is essential to the continued existence of an endangered species or
a threatened species.
(back to
top)
Penalties and Enforcement
SEC. 11.
(a) CIVIL PENALTIES.-
(1) Any person who knowingly violates, and any person engaged in business as
an importer or exporter of fish, wildlife, or plants who violates, any provision
of this Act, or any provision of any permit or certificate issued hereunder,
or of any regulation issued in order to implement subsection (a)(1)(A), (B),
(C), (D), (E), or (F), (a)(2)(A), (B), (C), or (D), (c), (d) (other than regulation
relating to recordkeeping or filing of reports), (f), or (g) of section 9 of
this Act, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than
$25,000 for each violation. Any person who knowingly violates, and any person
engaged in business as an importer or exporter of fish, wildlife, or plants
who violates, any pro- vision of any other regulation issued under this Act
may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $12,000 for
each such violation. Any person who otherwise violates any provision of this
Act, or any regulation, permit, or certificate issued hereunder, may be assessed
a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $500 for each such violation.
No penalty may be assessed under this subsection unless such person is given
notice and opportunity for a hearing with respect to such violation. Each violation
shall be a separate offense. Any such civil penalty may be remitted or mitigated
by the Secretary. Upon any failure to pay a penalty assessed under this subsection,
the Secretary may request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in
a district court of the United States for any district in which such person
is found, resides, or transacts business to collect the penalty and such court
shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide any such action. The court shall
hear such action on the record made before the Secretary and shall sustain his
action if it is supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as
a whole.
(2) Hearings held during proceedings for the assessment of civil penalties by
paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with section
554 of title 5, United States Code. The Secretary may issue subpoenas for the
attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant papers,
books, and documents, and administer oaths. Witnesses summoned shall be paid
the same fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in the courts of the United
States. In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a sub- poena served upon any
person pursuant to this paragraph, the district court of the United States for
any district in which such person is found or resides or transacts business,
upon application by the United States and after notice to such person, shall
have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give
testimony before the Secretary or to appear and produce documents before the
Secretary, or both, and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished
by such court as a contempt thereof.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no civil penalty shall
be imposed if it can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant
committed an act based on a good faith belief that he was acting to protect
himself or herself, a member of his or her family, or any other individual from
bodily harm, from any endangered or threatened species.
(b) CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS.-
(1) Any person who knowingly violates any provision of this Act, of any permit
or certificate issued hereunder, or of any regulation issued in order to implement
subsection (a)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F); (a)(2)(A), (B), (C), or (D),
(c), (d) (other than a regulation relating to recordkeeping, or filing of reports),
(f), or (g) of section 9 of this Act shall, upon conviction, be fined not more
than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. Any person who
knowingly violates any provision of any other regulation issued under this Act
shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not
more than six months, or both.
(2) The head of any Federal agency which has issued a lease, license, permit,
or other agreement authorizing a person to import or export fish, wildlife,
or plants, or to operate a quarantine station for imported wildlife, or authorizing
the use of Federal lands, including grazing of domestic livestock, to any person
who is convicted of a criminal violation of this Act or any regulation, permit,
or certificate issued hereunder may immediately modify, suspend, or revoke each
lease, license, permit, or other agreement. The Secretary shall also suspend
for a period of up to one year, or cancel, any Federal hunting or fishing permits
or stamps issued to any person who is convicted of a criminal violation of any
provision of this Act or any regulation, permit, or certificate issued hereunder.
The United States shall not be liable for the payments of any compensation,
reimbursement, or damages in connection with the modification, suspension, or
revocation of any leases, licenses permits stamps, or other agreements pursuant
to this section.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, it shall be a defense to
prosecution under this subsection if the defendant committed the offense based
on a good faith belief that he was acting to protect himself or herself, a member
of his or her family, or any other individual, from bodily harm from any endangered
or threatened species.
(c) DISTRICT COURT JURISDICTION.-The several district courts of the United States;
including the courts enumerated in section 460 of title 28, United States Code,
shall have jurisdiction over any actions arising under this Act. For the purpose
of this Act, American Samoa shall be included within the judicial district of
the District Court of the United States for the District of Hawaii.
(d) REWARDS AND CERTAIN INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.-The Secretary or the Secretary
of the Treasury shall pay, from sums received as penalties, fines, or forfeitures
of property for any violation of this chapter or any regulation issued hereunder
(1) a reward to any person who furnishes information which leads to an arrest,
a criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property for
any violation of this chapter or any regulation issued hereunder, and
(2) the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by any person in providing temporary
care for any fish, wildlife, or plant pending the disposition of any civil or
criminal proceeding alleging a violation of this chapter with respect to that
fish, wildlife, or plant. The amount of the reward, if any, is to be designated
by the Secretary or the Secretary of the Treasury, as appropriate. Any officer
or employee of the United States or any State or local government who furnishes
information or renders service in the performance of his official duties is
ineligible for payment under this subsection. Whenever the balance of sums received
under this section and section 6(d) of the Act of November 16, 1981 (16 U.S.C.
3375(d)) as penalties or fines, or from forfeitures of property, exceed $500,000,
the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit an amount equal to such excess balance
in the cooperative endangered species conservation fund established under section
6(i) of this Act.
(e) ENFORCEMENT.-
(1) The provisions of this Act and any regulations or permits issued pursuant
thereto shall be enforced by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, or
the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, or all
such Secretaries. Each such Secretary may utilize by agreement, with or without
reimbursement, the personnel, services, and facilities of any other Federal
agency or any State agency for purposes of en- forcing this Act.
(2) The judges of the district courts of the United States and the United States
magistrates may within their respective jurisdictions, upon proper oath or affirmation
showing probable cause, issue such warrants or other process as may be required
for enforcement of this Act and any regulation issued thereunder.
(3) Any person authorized by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, or
the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, to enforce
this Act may detain for inspection and inspect any package, crate, or other
container, including its contents, and all accompanying documents, upon importation
or exportation. Such persons may make arrests without a warrant for any violation
of this Act if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested
is committing the violation in his presence or view and may execute and serve
any arrest warrant, search warrant, or other warrant or civil or criminal process
issued by any officer or court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of
this Act. Such person so authorized may search and seize, with or without a
warrant, as authorized by law. Any fish, wildlife, property, or item so seized
shall be held by any person authorized by the Secretary, the Secretary of the
Treasury, or the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating
pending disposition of civil or criminal proceedings, or the institution of
an action in rem for forfeiture of such fish, wildlife, property, or item pursuant
to paragraph (4) of the subsection; except that the Secretary may, in lieu of
holding such fish, wildlife, property, or item, permit the owner or consignee
to post a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary, but upon forfeiture
of any such property to the United States, or the abandonment or waiver of any
claim to any such property, it shall be disposed of (other than by sale to the
general public) by the Secretary in such a manner, consistent with the purposes
of this Act, as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe.
(4)(A) All fish or wildlife or plants taken, possessed, sold, purchased, offered
for sale or purchase, transported, delivered, received, carried, shipped, exported,
or imported contrary to the provisions of this Act, any regulation made pursuant
thereto, or any permit or certificate issued hereunder shall be subject to forfeiture
to the United States.
(B) All guns, traps, nets, and other equipment, vessels, vehicles, aircraft,
and other means of transportation used to aid the taking, possessing, selling,
purchasing, offering for sale or purchase, transporting, delivering, receiving,
carrying, shipping, exporting, or im- porting of any fish or wildlife or plants
in violation of this Act, any regulation made pursuant thereto, or any permit
or certificate issued thereunder shall be subject to forfeiture to the United
States upon conviction of a criminal violation pursuant to section 11(b)(1)
of this Act.
(5) All provisions of law relating to the seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation
of a vessel for violation of the customs laws, the disposition of such vessel
or the proceeds from the sale thereof, and the remission or mitigation of such
forfeiture, shall apply to the seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged
to have been incurred, under the provisions of this Act, insofar as such provisions
of law are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act;
except that all powers, rights, and duties conferred or imposed by the customs
laws upon any officer or employee of the Treasury Department shall, for the
purposes of this Act, be exercised or performed by the Secretary or by such
persons as he may designate.
(6) The Attorney General of the United States may seek to enjoin any person
who is alleged to be in violation of any provision of this Act or regulation
issued under authority thereof.
(f) REGULATIONS.-The Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary
of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, are authorized to promulgate
such regulations as may be appropriate to enforce this Act, and charge reasonable
fees for ex- penses to the Government connected with permits or certificates
authorized by this Act including processing applications and reasonable inspections,
and with the transfer, board, handling, or storage of fish or wildlife or plants
and evidentiary items seized and forfeited under this Act. All such fees collected
pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit
of the appropriation which is current and chargeable for the cost of furnishing
the services. Appropriated funds may be expended pending reimbursement from
parties in interest.
(g) CITIZEN SUITS.-
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection any person may commence
a civil suit on his own behalf-
(A) to enjoin any person, including the United States and any other governmental
instrumentality or agency (to the extent permitted by the eleventh amendment
to the Constitution), who is alleged to be in violation of any provision of
this Act or regulation issued under the authority thereof; or
(B) to compel the Secretary to apply, pursuant to section 6(g)(2)(B)(ii) of
this Act, the prohibitions set forth in or authorized pursuant to section 4(d)
or section 9(a)(1)(B) of this Act with respect to the taking of any resident
endangered species or threatened species within any State; or
(C) against the Secretary where there is alleged a failure of the Secretary
to perform any act or duty under section 4 which is not discretionary with the
Secretary.
The district courts shall have jurisdiction, without regard to the amount in
controversy or the citizenship of the parties, to enforce any such provision
or regulation or to order the Secretary to perform such act or duty, as the
case may be. In any civil suit commenced under subparagraph (B) the district
court shall compel the Secretary to apply the prohibition sought if the court
finds that the allegation that an emergency exists is supported by substantial
evidence.
(2)(A) No action may be commenced under subparagraph (1)(A) of this section-
(i) prior to sixty days after written notice of the violation has been given
to the Secretary, and to any alleged violator of any such provision or regulation;
(ii) if the Secretary has commenced action to impose a penalty pursuant to subsection
(a) of this section; or
(iii) if the United States has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a criminal
action in a court of the United States or a State to redress a violation of
any such provision or regulation.
(B) No action may be commenced under subparagraph (1)(B) of this section-
(i) prior to sixty days after written notice has been given to the Secretary
setting forth the reasons why an emergency is thought to exist with respect
to an endangered species or a threatened species in the State concerned; or
(ii) if the Secretary has commenced and is diligently prosecuting action under
section 6(g)(2)(B)(ii) of this Act to determine whether any such emergency exists.
(C) No action may be commenced under subparagraph (1)(C) of this section prior
to sixty days after written notice has been given to the Secretary; except that
such action may be brought immediately after such notification in the case of
an action under this section respecting an emergency posing a significant risk
to the wellbeing of any species of fish or wildlife or plants.
(3)(A) Any suit under this subsection may be brought in the judicial district
in which the violation occurs.
(B) In any such suit under this subsection in which the United States is not
a party, the Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary, may intervene
on behalf of the United States as a matter of right.
(4) The court, in issuing any final order in any suit brought pursuant to paragraph
(1) of this subsection, may award costs of litigation (including reasonable
attorney and expert witness fees) to any party, whenever the court determines
such award is appropriate.
(5) The injunctive relief provided by this subsection shall not restrict any
right which any person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common
law to seek enforcement of any standard or limitation or to seek any other relief
(including relief against the Secretary or a State agency).
(h) COORDINATION WITH OTHER LAWS.-The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary
shall provide for appropriate coordination of the administration of this Act
with the administration of the animal quarantine laws (21 U.S.C. 101-105, 111-135b,
and 612-614) and section 306 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1306). Nothing
in this Act or any amendment made by this Act shall be construed as superseding
or limiting in any manner the functions of the Secretary of Agriculture under
any other law relating to prohibited or restricted importations or possession
of animals and other articles and no proceeding or determination under this
Act shall preclude any proceeding or be considered determinative of any issue
of fact or law in any proceeding under any Act administered by the Secretary
of Agriculture. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as superseding or limiting
in any manner the functions and responsibilities of the Secretary of the Treasury
under the Tariff Act of 1930, including, without limitation, section 527 of
that Act (19 U.S.C. 1527), relating to the importation of wildlife taken, killed,
possessed, or exported to the United States in violation of the laws or regulations
of a foreign country.
(back to
top)
Endangered Plants
SEC. 12. The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in conjunction with other
affected agencies, is authorized and directed to review (1) species of plants
which are now or may become endangered, or threatened and (2) methods of adequately
conserving such species, and to report to Congress, within one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the results of such review including recommendations
for new legislation or the amendment of existing legislation.
(back to
top)
Conforming Amendments
SEC. 13.
(a) Subsection 4(c) of the Act of October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 928, 16 U.S.C.
668dd(c)), is further amended by revising the second sentence thereof to read
as follows: "With the exception of endangered species and threatened species
listed by the Secretary pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 in States wherein a cooperative agreement does not exist pursuant to
section 6(c) of that Act, nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize
the Secretary to control or regulate hunting or fishing of resident fish and
wildlife on lands not within the system."
(b) Subsection 10(a) of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (45 Stat. 1224,
16 U.S.C. 715i(a)) and subsection 401(a) of the Act of June 15, 1935 (49 Stat.
383, 16 U.S.C. 715s(a)) are each amended by striking out "threatened with extinction,"
and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "listed pursuant to section 4 of
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as endangered species or threatened species."
(c) Section 7(a)(1) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16
U.S.C. 4601-9(a)(1)) is amended by striking out:
"THREATENED SPECIES.-For any national area which may be authorized for the preservation
of species of fish or wildlife that are threatened with extinction." and inserting
in lieu thereof the following:
"ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THREATENED SPECIES.-For lands, waters, or interests
therein, the acquisition of which is authorized under section 5(a) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, needed for the purpose of conserving endangered or threatened
species of fish or wildlife or plants."
(d) The first sentence of section 2 of the Act of September 28, 1962, as amended
(76 Stat. 653, 16 U.S.C. 460k-1), is amended to read as follows:
"The Secretary is authorized to acquire areas of land, or interests therein,
which are suitable for-
"(1) incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational development;
"(2) the protection of natural resources;
"(3) the conservation of endangered species or threatened species listed by
the Secretary pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973; or
"(4) carrying out two or more of the purposes set forth in paragraphs (1) through
(3) of this section, and are adjacent to, or within, the said conservation areas,
except that the acquisition of any land or interest therein pursuant to this
section shall be accomplished only with such funds as may be appropriated therefor
by the Congress or donated for such purposes, but such property shall not be
acquired with funds obtained from the sale of Federal migratory bird hunting
stamps."
(e) The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 13611407) is amended-
(1) by striking out "Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969" in section
3(l)(B) thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "Endangered Species
Act of 1973";
(2) by striking out "pursuant to the Endangered Species Conservation Act of
1969" in section 101(a)(3)(B) thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"or threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973";
(3) by striking out "endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act
of 1969" in section 102(b)(3) thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"an endangered species or threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species
Act of 1973"; and
(4) by striking out "of the interior and revisions of the Endangered Species
List, authorized by the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969," in section
202(a)(6) thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "such revisions
of the endangered species list and threatened species list published pursuant
to section 4(c)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973".-
(f) Section 2(1) of the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act of 1972
(Public Law 92-516) is amended by striking out the words "by the Secretary of
the Interior under Public Law 91-135" and inserting in lieu thereof the words
"or threatened by the Secretary pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973".
(back to
top)
Repealer
SEC. 14. The Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 (sections 1 through
3 of the Act of October 15, 1966, and sections 1 through 6 of the Act of December
5, 1969; 16 U.S.C. 668aa-668cc-6), is repealed.
(back to
top)
Authorization of Appropriations
SEC. 15.
(a) IN GENERAL.-Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d), there are
authorized to be appropriated-
(1) not to exceed $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1988, $36,500,000 for fiscal year
1989, $38,000,000 for fiscal year 1990, $39,500,000 for fiscal year 1991, and
$41,500,000 for fiscal year 1992 to enable the Department of the Interior to
carry out such functions and responsibilities as it may have been given under
this Act;
(2) not to exceed $5,750,000 for fiscal year 1988, $6,250,000 for each of fiscal
years 1989 and 1990, and $6,750,000 for each of fiscal years 1991 and 1992 to
enable the Department of Commerce to carry out such functions and responsibilities
as it may have been given under this Act; and
(3) not to exceed $2,200,000 for fiscal year 1988, $2,400,000 for each of fiscal
years 1989 and 1990, and $2,600,000 for each of fiscal years 1991 and 1992,
to enable the Department of Agriculture to carry out its functions and responsibilities
with respect to the enforcement of this Act and the Convention which pertain
to the importation or exportation of plants.
(b) EXEMPTIONS FROM ACT.-There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
to assist him and the Endangered Species Committee in carrying out their functions
under section 7 (e), (g) and (h) not to exceed $600,000 for each for fiscal
years 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992.
(c) CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION.-There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Department of the Interior for purposes of carrying out section 8A(e) not to
exceed $400,000 for each of fiscal years 1988, 1989, and 1990, and $500,000
for each of fiscal years 1991 and 1992, and such sums shall remain available
until expended.
(back to
top)
Effective Date
SEC. 16. This Act shall take effect on the date of its enactment.
(back to
top)
Marine Mammal Protection
Act of 1972
SEC. 17. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, no provision of this Act shall
take precedence over any more restrictive conflicting provision of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
(back to
top)
Annual Cost Analysis
by the Fish and Wildlife Service
SEC. 18. On or before January 15, 1990, and each January 15 thereafter, the
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Fish and Wildlife Service, shall
submit to the Congress an annual report covering the preceding fiscal year which
shall contain-
(1) an accounting on a species by species basis of all reasonably identifiable
Federal expenditures made primarily for the conservation of endangered or threatened
species pursuant to this Act; and
(2) an accounting on a species by species basis for all reasonably identifiable
expenditures made primarily for the conservation of endangered or threatened
species pursuant to this Act by states receiving grants under section 6.
Access
the entire act as a pdf file. You may need to download and install the Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view this file.
Go
to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service home page
Go
to the Endangered Species Program home page
Read
the official U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Privacy/Disclaimer statement
Updated on October 27,2004 |