119 HR 1897 IH: ESA Amendments Act of 2025
U.S. House of Representatives
2025-03-06
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the ESA Amendments Act of 2025
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Endangered Species Act of 1973 definitions.Sec. 3. Authorization of appropriations.Sec. 4. Rule of construction.Title I—Optimizing conservation through resource prioritizationSec. 101. Prioritization of listing petitions, reviews, and determinations.Title II—Incentivizing wildlife conservation on private landsSec. 201. Candidate conservation agreements with assurances.Sec. 202. Conservation plans.Sec. 203. NEPA exemption for incidental take permits.Title III—Providing for greater incentives to recover listed speciesSec. 301. Protective regulations under Endangered Species Act of 1973.Sec. 302. 5-year review determinations.Sec. 303. Judicial review during monitoring period.Sec. 304. Codification of regulation.Sec. 305. Designation of critical habitat.Title IV—Creating greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed speciesSec. 401. Requirement to publish basis for listings and critical habitat designations on Internet.Sec. 402. Decisional transparency and use of State, Tribal, and local information.Sec. 403. Disclosure of expenditures under Endangered Species Act of 1973.Sec. 404. Award of litigation costs to prevailing parties in accordance with existing law.Sec. 405. Analysis of impacts and benefits of determination of endangered or threatened status.Title V—Streamlining permitting processSec. 501. Limitation on reasonable and prudent measures.Sec. 502. Successive consultations.Sec. 503. Requirement to consider reasonably certain effects.Sec. 504. Clarifying jeopardy.Title VI — Eliminating barriers to conservationSec. 601. Permits for CITES-listed species.Sec. 602. Utilize Convention standard for permits applicable to non-native species.Title VII—Restoring congressional intentSec. 701. Limiting agency regulations.2.Endangered Species Act of 1973 definitions(a)The final rule titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Species and Designating Critical Habitat
(84 Fed. Reg. 45020; published August 27, 2019) shall have the force and effect of law with respect to the use of the term foreseeable future.(b)Section 3(2) Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532(2)) is amended by inserting or public display or education aimed at the preservation or conservation of a species
after organizations
.(c)Conserve; conserving; conservationSection 3(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532(3)) is amended by striking and transplantation, and, in the extraordinary case where population pressures within a given ecosystem cannot be otherwise relieved, may include
and inserting transplantation, and, at the discretion of the Secretary,
.(d)Section 3(5) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532(5)) is amended by adding at the end the following:(D)(i)For the purpose of designating critical habitat for a threatened species or an endangered species under this Act, the term habitat—(I)means the abiotic and biotic setting that currently or periodically contains the resources and conditions necessary to support 1 or more life processes of the threatened species or endangered species; and(II)does not include an area visited by only vagrant individual members of the threatened species or endangered species.(ii)If the setting described in clause (i)(I) does not support all of the life processes of the relevant threatened species or endangered species, the threatened species or endangered species must be able to access, from the setting, other areas necessary to support its remaining life processes..(e)Best scientific and commercial data available(1)Section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532) is amended—(A)by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (10) as paragraphs (3) through (11), respectively; and(B)by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:(2)Section 7(n) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(n)) is amended by striking section 3(13)
and inserting section 3(14)
.(2)The term best scientific and commercial data available includes data submitted to the Secretary by a State, Tribal, or local government..(f)Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) is amended by adding at the end the following:(q)For the purpose of carrying out a consultation under this section with respect to a threatened species or an endangered species, the term environmental baseline—(1)means the condition of the species or the critical habitat of the species in the action area, without the consequences to the species or the critical habitat of the species caused by the proposed action; and(2)includes—(A)the past and present effects of all Federal, State, and private actions and other human activities in the action area;(B)the anticipated effects of each proposed Federal project within the action area for which a consultation under this section has been completed;(C)the effects of State and private actions that are contemporaneous with the consultation in process; and(D)existing structures and facilities and the past, present, and future effects on the species or the critical habitat of the species from the physical existence of such structures and facilities..3.Authorization of appropriations(a)Section 15 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1542) is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking subsection (b), (c), and (d)
and inserting subsections (b) and (c)
;(B)in paragraph (1)—(i)by striking and
after fiscal year 1991,
; and(ii)by inserting , and $302,025,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031
after fiscal year 1992
;(C)in paragraph (2)—(i)by striking and
after fiscal years 1989 and 1990,
; and(ii)by inserting , and $116,630,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031
after fiscal years 1991 and 1992
; and(D)in paragraph (3)—(i)by striking and
after fiscal years 1989 and 1990,
; and(ii)by inserting and $2,600,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031
after fiscal years 1991 and 1992,
;(2)in subsection (b), by inserting and $600,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031
after 1992
; and(3)in subsection (c)—(A)by striking and
after fiscal years 1988, 1989, and 1990,
; and(B)by inserting and $9,900,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031,
after fiscal years 1991 and 1992,
.(b)Section 15(b) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1542(b)) is amended by striking sections 7 (e), (g), and (h)
and inserting subsections (e), (g), and (h) of section 7
. 4.Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed to enlarge or diminish the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of a State (as that term is defined in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532)) to manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife on lands and waters, including Federal lands and waters, within the State.<enum>I</enum><header>Optimizing conservation through resource prioritization</header><section id="H4C7D82F36CA64FC0A85A201816AD1223"><enum>101.</enum><header>Prioritization of listing petitions, reviews, and determinations</header><subsection id="HA97A27ED57B04C7F91A39647F7B6B0CA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="HC3ABEA07C895442AAE2EC38FEB651DB1" style="OLC"><subsection id="H17C731DD321D4ED6AE9EABDF623854EF"><enum>(j)</enum><header>National listing work plan</header><paragraph id="H2AE97DCAA2654A739EB7469B414DD773"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than the date described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a national listing work plan that establishes, for each covered species, a schedule for the completion during the 5-fiscal year period beginning on October 1 of the first fiscal year after the date of the submission of the work plan of—</text><subparagraph id="H3B918A70274E4E0BA77B50693ECBB4DA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>findings as described in subsection (b)(3)(B) for each such covered species;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBE9BB71EE2664EE6B75BB2869B5C2436"><enum>(B)</enum><text>proposed and final determinations regarding listing each such covered species under this section; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6127A80E32014B5CABDFED5BB0172CD9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>proposed and final critical habitat designations under subsection (a)(3) relating to each such covered species.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC76BBFA535424BCD87E4EE86843DC183"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Submission to Congress</header><subparagraph id="HE26C1907BA2C49A1AC142929287E4A01"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall submit to Congress—</text><clause id="H258C818A7A65472DB6AC07AE24F5E59D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>together with the budget request of the Secretary for the first fiscal year that begins not less than 365 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the initial work plan required under paragraph (1); and</text></clause><clause id="H320E504DFD2743D6BC390A174A6BD99E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>together with the budget request of the Secretary for each fiscal year thereafter, an updated work plan under paragraph (1).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8695E52C0395438BAE5AABD75591AF2F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Additional inclusions</header><text>The Secretary shall include with each budget request referred to in subparagraph (A) a description of the amounts to be requested to carry out the work plan for the fiscal year covered by the budget request, including any amounts requested to address emergency listings if the Secretary identifies any emergency posing a significant risk to the well-being of any species of fish or wildlife or plant.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF0E21B3427D34DEF876D343AE5B0C2AD"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priority</header><subparagraph id="H49284620E7094F89ADAF0CEB7D382F53"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In developing a work plan under this subsection, the Secretary shall assign to each species included in the work plan a priority classification of Priority 1 through Priority 5, such that, as determined by the Secretary, the following apply:</text><clause id="H0E27BBF22BCA414B9BAA129E013545D2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Priority 1 represents species of the highest priority, to be designated as critically imperiled and in need of immediate action.</text></clause><clause id="HD0ED9EADDE6345B1AE59B0DFD98153BE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Priority 2 represents species with respect to which the best scientific and commercial data available support a clear decision regarding the status of the species.</text></clause><clause id="HA88A7E86BE5B4C3AA0ED7EC67F39E2DA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Priority 3 represents species with respect to which studies regarding the status of the species are being carried out—</text><subclause id="H5F8435851D114D9D93907D9550FDC4E7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to answer key questions that may influence the findings of a petition to list the species submitted under subsection (b)(3); and</text></subclause><subclause id="H77728E5FB1344C4DAE138FB84FA74307"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to resolve any uncertainty regarding the status of the species within a reasonable timeframe.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H5C8E2402D3A54A1EB3F108C0E13657CF"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Priority 4 represents species for which proactive conservation efforts likely to reduce threats to the species are being developed or carried out, within a reasonable timeframe and in an organized manner, by Federal agencies, States, landowners, or other stakeholders.</text></clause><clause id="H6CBE366DCB4146779893CDD219C10E7E"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Priority 5 represents species—</text><subclause id="HA1C1E5D4394849978511DAFBFD236D65"><enum>(I)</enum><text>for which there exists little information regarding—</text><item id="H15CC7239E0214979B41AA491E4AF0598"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>threats to the species; or</text></item><item id="HEB815DA60945443BA74C0E919683DA21"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the status of the species; or</text></item></subclause><subclause id="H563B9DE7E1234534A550850D97D58C56"><enum>(II)</enum><text>that would receive limited conservation benefit in the foreseeable future by listing the species as a threatened species or endangered species under this section.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H49379E9FDFD446D8BB6BD76D7CDC95B2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Use of methodology</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and assign priority classifications under subparagraph (A) in accordance with the notice of the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service titled <quote>Methodology for Prioritizing Status Reviews and Accompanying 12-Month Findings on Petitions for Listing Under the Endangered Species Act</quote> (81 Fed. Reg. 49248; published July 27, 2016).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB1420AF2A5214815B53CE8E4CC72F14C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Extensions for certain priority classifications</header><clause id="HB25F7DAAF33944A3B7F195C484175AB3"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Priority 3</header><text>With respect to a species classified as Priority 3 under subparagraph (A)(iii), if the Secretary determines that additional time would allow for more complete data collection or the completion of studies relating to the species, the Secretary may retain the species under the work plan for a period of not more than 5 years after the deadline under paragraph (4).</text></clause><clause id="HEB73592E0AA146F2978CFD63B86E1B10"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Priority 4</header><text>With respect to a species classified as Priority 4 under subparagraph (A)(iv), if the Secretary determines that existing conservation efforts continue to meet the conservation needs of the species, the Secretary may retain the species under the work plan for a period of not more than 5 years after the deadline under paragraph (4).</text></clause><clause id="H5F757FD1640144CDABEAA95AEF4519A4"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Priority 5</header><text>With respect to a species classified as Priority 5 under subparagraph (A)(v), the Secretary may retain the species under the work plan for a period of not more than 5 years after the deadline under paragraph (4).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84340FC8D6BF43E6A233C27C26768FBE"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Revision of priority classification</header><text>The Secretary may revise, in accordance with subparagraph (A), the assignment to a priority classification of a species included in a work plan at any time during the fiscal years to which the work plan applies.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H97EBFC50F09C4DFD9F5FFFE17AD307E0"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Effect of priority classification</header><text>The assignment of a priority classification to a species included in a work plan is not a final agency action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H73324E0AA5F848309680A81D622B5654"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>The Secretary shall act on any petition to add a species to a list published under subsection (c) submitted under subsection (b)(3) not later than the last day of the fiscal year specified for that petition in the most recent work plan.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4233A544FED14747AD651DD9754B06D5"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The Secretary may issue such regulations as the Secretary determines appropriate to carry out this subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H538848F569EF440394B0DDF88F72EE9F"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Effect of subsection</header><text>Nothing in this subsection may be construed to preclude or otherwise affect the emergency listing authority of the Secretary under subsection (b)(7).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2592A56132E944F38952260E08977EEB"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph id="HD0A60015A8A0492E96FB251A5EDEBD35"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Covered species</header><text>The term <term>covered species</term> means a species that is not included on a list published under subsection (c)—</text><clause id="HA0C23017556543EF847845B2075FA79D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for which a petition to add the species to such a list has been submitted under subsection (b)(3); or</text></clause><clause id="HC412702296704ABD9D4D1E981EF199BC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that is otherwise under consideration by the Secretary for addition to such a list.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A21D0A9F8AE4ACDB4BFB042A56FC027"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Work plan</header><text>The term <term>work plan</term> means the national listing work plan submitted by the Secretary under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HC6364FB51F6E4F1EA56B77973C0D0679"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H8361EBE726B841A397E2B2B8909A866F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>Within 12 months</quote> and inserting <quote>In accordance with the national listing work plan submitted under subsection (j),</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFD6CDF723E4241D69B77B192CB5AB3BD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="HC22886E8612B457FB560DFD99D915160" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="HEDD7A8DB29C64CE5A83494225A39044C" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Any negative finding described in subparagraph (A) and any finding described in subparagraph (B)(i)(I) shall be subject to judicial review.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Incentivizing wildlife conservation on private lands</header><section id="HCDE55383D2EE46AFABAEE11690D55D84"><enum>201.</enum><header>Candidate conservation agreements with assurances</header><subsection id="H3D7491542A894EB5A50DB28EDF26EC6E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Listing determinations</header><text>Section 4(b)(1) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H6992E684D6364F6B8F29EC5E0E6AF579" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="HEB2CF79C73574E8FA0D669E99B810CDE" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>In making a determination under subsection (a)(1) with respect to a species, the Secretary shall take into account and document the effect of any net conservation benefit (as that term is defined in subsection (k) of section 10) of any Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances or any programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (as those terms are defined in that subsection) relating to such species.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H156EB36EAF96434EA456262BBB7AF9D6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances</header><text>Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1539">16 U.S.C. 1539</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H52832497F94E447480101F7DB8E58179" style="OLC"><subsection id="H780E3F62D5CB43D2923BB555CB172622"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances</header><paragraph id="HE90C15DEC1884A50AF170F4EE38FC796"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Proposed Agreement</header><text>A covered party may submit a proposed Agreement to the Secretary.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H676221DE8BCD400A8F00449925164D8E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Approval</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of the receipt of a proposed Agreement under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall approve the proposed Agreement if the Secretary determines that the proposed Agreement—</text><subparagraph id="HE3634FAF6E92449196664C8AE261D3C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>sets forth specific management activities that the covered party will undertake to conserve the covered species;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEB323C9ADA9F4FE6A156843A0B040629"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provides a positive estimate of the net conservation benefit of such management activities to the covered species;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD8A31DB7F1C8490487460866A17D7D49"><enum>(C)</enum><text>describes, to the maximum extent practicable, the existing population levels of the covered species or the existing quality of habitat;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0ACABD1C95914EE5A79BC5F7C954CE8D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>includes a monitoring plan to be carried out by the parties to the Agreement; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF14FAC1FF7E64C3298C5937A01C4A77C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>provides assurances to the covered party that no additional conservation measures will be required and additional land, water, or resource use restrictions will not be imposed on the covered party if the covered species becomes listed after the effective date of such Agreement.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC3ABE62FEE32479A92F412D458FF2BC7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Denial</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of the receipt of a proposed Agreement under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="H69B30C0FAD7A4C3491697ACD53AC685A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>deny the proposed Agreement if the Secretary determines that the proposed Agreement does not meet the requirements described in paragraph (2); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDA232278F1624B8491927E99EFA2FC26"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide the submitting covered party a written explanation for such determination and the adjustments required for the Secretary to approve such proposed Agreement.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFD1C2C86CA6B4CC3AE57C1D6771CE8D6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances</header><subparagraph id="H5676DB494F4542B1BB840A603408CBA7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances with a covered party that authorizes such covered party—</text><clause id="H3467B6E5ED374DA994D01CED3B8C58BC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to administer such Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances;</text></clause><clause id="HD8958643340F457C9A658B27664EF219"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to hold any permit issued under this section with regard to such Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances;</text></clause><clause id="HEDED14B732384638A322AF35B05E6BE1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to enroll other covered parties within the area covered by such Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances in such Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances; and</text></clause><clause id="HDB5748BCAFE64861A555D7CFFDE638A9"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>to convey any permit authorization held by such covered party under clause (ii) to each covered party enrolled under clause (iii).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8B9AAA2D11484B339037FFD920758DC9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>Upon receipt of a proposed programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances under paragraph (1) and before approving or denying such a proposed programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances under paragraph (2) or (3), respectively, the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="HD6B43545870547E1A58393001FF03DB9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>not later than 30 days after the date of such receipt, publish the proposed programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances in the Federal Register for public comment for a period of not less than 60 days;</text></clause><clause id="H2BD752E23D3E4BA693CA3A07CCB2F0E8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>review any comments received under clause (i); and</text></clause><clause id="HBC6C58D5B6E94E0BA1FDABA9148FC745"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>after the close of the public comment period for the proposed programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances, publish in the Federal Register—</text><subclause id="H521DC32A442C4184AA87ACEC6D9DB099"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any comments received under clause (i); and</text></subclause><subclause id="H69771EBFC9BF44DCB0C718557B373931"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the approval or denial of the proposed programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances under paragraph (2) or (3), respectively.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2B4742702736490BB682699CC6B76A3E"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Incidental take authorization</header><text>If a covered species is listed under section 4, the Secretary shall issue a permit to the relevant covered party under this section allowing incidental take of and modification to the habitat of such covered species consistent with the Agreement.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBB9FBD3449874C8DBCB39B5E479D50A5"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>The Secretary shall, upon request, provide a covered party with technical assistance in developing a proposed Agreement.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFC954D36FE5B4148948C067A08B6F63A"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Applicability to Federal land</header><text>An Agreement may apply to a covered party that conducts activities on land administered by any Federal agency pursuant to a permit or lease issued to the covered party by that Federal agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB20916FDC4384E578CCDC5C3C03FCF07"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Exemption from consultation requirement</header><text>An Agreement approved under this subsection shall be deemed to have been granted an exemption under section 7(h) for the purposes of that section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2406A70EE86C43CFA413A41BE96A749C"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Exemption from disclosure</header><text>Information submitted by a private party to the Secretary under this subsection shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE3517768370246848A7E471D1755FC0F"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph id="H896705040972415B977373747064774A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Agreement</header><text>The term <term>Agreement</term> means—</text><clause id="HC0AAF7DD39864F7D8430D10063E52F35"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances; or</text></clause><clause id="HA3026CD3C6844FB9838E647F09CE2739"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H17C74390EF74403183F41EEBDB82BD56"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances</header><text>The term <term>Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances</term> means any voluntary agreement, including a conservation benefit agreement, between the Secretary and a covered party in which—</text><clause id="HEBBF43C0286846718D3744BEC8DECA43"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the covered party commits to implementing mutually agreed upon conservation measures for a candidate species; and</text></clause><clause id="H0CC748B19F654F02ABE7653F9B314DA4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Secretary provides assurances that, if such candidate species is listed pursuant to section 4—</text><subclause id="HC2EE11DF9FFF488F95C8901402E2F1CD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the covered party shall incur no additional obligations beyond actions agreed to in the agreement with respect to conservation activities required under this Act; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H3AD6C54069834F3F8B329BB70AE95FBC"><enum>(II)</enum><text>no additional land, water, or resource use restrictions shall be imposed on the covered party beyond those included in the agreement.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCAF67D7D98C94DDFB169429AADB987E7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Candidate species</header><text>The term <term>candidate species</term> means a species—</text><clause id="HA20F2B08668343D58E713B375F291B25"><enum>(i)</enum><text>designated by the Secretary as a candidate species under this Act; or</text></clause><clause id="HF5BB60D01C2C4D5D81EC3AA516C646C5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>proposed to be listed pursuant to section 4.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H19653F4A209247E189646EE9FC46C319"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Covered party</header><text>The term <term>covered party</term> means a—</text><clause id="HC6F4EC392EA84465AF38BB4CABBF2E3D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>party that conducts activities on land administered by a Federal agency pursuant to a permit or lease issued to the party;</text></clause><clause id="H56AE8044DCA0445090F3C59B3DE6A632"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>private property owner;</text></clause><clause id="H6D3F9C9213A44448A89BA78C4A58A60B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>county;</text></clause><clause id="H3E9293381CCC4853AEE45C91D3EDB1C8"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>State or State agency; or</text></clause><clause id="H0D92AFAC31064A719F3EFAA180DFEFB4"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Tribal government.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD6BD1F97E75540939D22F9477F40F927"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Covered species</header><text>The term <term>covered species</term> means, with respect to an Agreement, the species that is the subject of such Agreement.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5DB977F102DD4A17BF3115C2D653493F"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Net conservation benefit</header><text>The term <term>net conservation benefit</term> means the net effect of an Agreement, determined by comparing the existing situation of the candidate species without the Agreement in effect and a situation in which the Agreement is in effect, on a candidate species, including—</text><clause id="H926999B4467B47DAB5F770EC662A30EB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the net effect on threats to such species;</text></clause><clause id="H11F7D8AC206D4D53B60136BF4CBF041A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the net effect on the number of individuals of such species; or</text></clause><clause id="HAA1FEA272B84456D86B85F1A24310662"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the net effect on the habitat of such species.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2644EA2209034626B3038E48988796FF"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances</header><text>The term <term>programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances</term> means a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances described in paragraph (4)(A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="H109053E7818C4E88854202A65D8A96B9" commented="no"><enum>202.</enum><header>Conservation plans</header><subsection id="H6DA813A4C2154048BADB0D1619C7ADAF" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 10(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1539">16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H8B0DA640BCD44288AA882350ACB70A73" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by inserting <quote>, and shall include the terms and conditions of the related conservation plan, which shall be legally binding on all parties thereto</quote> after <quote>being complied with</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5470C698BD2849F6912380DB3CBF058F" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HDE68789306674A4B94F09E269AD6D2C7" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subparagraph id="H8276C095822F4375A72979530EE2B81E" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Each Federal agency shall, as applicable and to the maximum extent practicable, adopt the mitigation measures contained in a permit issued under subparagraph (B) in any authorization issued by such Federal agency with respect to the action that is the subject of such permit.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H57829C354CD34F6A9A396203D8331AD9" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>With respect to an action that is the subject of a permit issued under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall not seek any additional mitigation measures through any other Federal or State or local process.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB082D47271B447E2BEE3F7F320680323" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exemption from consultation requirement</header><text>Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1539">16 U.S.C. 1539(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H55414A74B6CB47A5BC4DCAEA726FCBBD" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H656D430F1F874A44A457849D5D0282C0" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A permit issued by the Secretary under this subsection shall be deemed to have been granted an exemption under section 7(h) for the purposes of that section.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="HCADD15747ADA4C5580F89361CD9555BA" commented="no"><enum>203.</enum><header>NEPA exemption for incidental take permits</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1539">16 U.S.C. 1539(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="HA2DD49F727344E61A9CD7264F50797B3" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HAB3E945792134271BC81201E4B294F58" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The issuance of a permit under paragraph (2) shall not be considered a major Federal action under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><enum>III</enum><header>Providing for greater incentives to recover listed species</header><section id="H49FCACA3B0254C84B2CE7EA818BA8744"><enum>301.</enum><header>Protective regulations under Endangered Species Act of 1973</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H24386682B6754101A7AE941E3A464CAD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (d), to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="H05868D34438A4E348E6EFFE20FF1CAA9" style="OLC"><subsection id="H3DCD7E01AEAA4ACAA2DD4B91B0F254FB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Protective regulations</header><paragraph id="HCD1F75CD861F4A22AF720988F5A25920"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Whenever any species is listed as a threatened species pursuant to subsection (c), the Secretary shall issue such regulations as are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of that species.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H871FE68D322E43F680A818F8A77CE094"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Recovery goals</header><subparagraph id="H347ED6A28126423D8FC35020C7AD3162"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the Secretary issues a regulation under paragraph (1) that prohibits an act described in section 9(a), the Secretary shall, with respect to the species that is the subject of such regulation—</text><clause id="H3138019DFB584AA7BEBA1A4A2915972F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establish objective, incremental recovery goals;</text></clause><clause id="H0CAC4B6A2BEE4F1E853FBF271F351612"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide for the stringency of such regulation to decrease as such recovery goals are met; and</text></clause><clause id="H14362FCBAEB841B4A5513248920B2450"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide for State management within such State, if such State is willing to take on such management, beginning on the date on which the Secretary determines that each such recovery goal is met and, if each such recovery goal remains met, continuing until such species is removed from the list of threatened species published pursuant to subsection (c).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C015AD1959E4BC88BAD0178EA1E6702"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Status review</header><text>On the date on which the Secretary determines that each recovery goal established under subparagraph (A)(i) for a species is met, the Secretary shall begin a review of the species and subsequently determine, on the basis of such review, whether the species should be removed from the lists published pursuant to subsection (c)(1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF92C77B5ACA9483A937F25656C5AED53"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Cooperative agreement</header><text>A regulation issued under paragraph (1) that prohibits an act described in section 9(a) with respect to a resident species shall apply with respect to a State that has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary pursuant to section 6(c) only to the extent that such regulation is adopted by such State.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3D14D5169A824A25B746BBF0C51EA1C8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>State recovery strategy</header><subparagraph id="H6815AD88C30A492FB43A82DABCA22E82"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A State may develop a recovery strategy for a threatened species or a candidate species and submit to the Secretary a petition for the Secretary to use such recovery strategy as the basis for any regulation issued under paragraph (1) with respect to such species within such State.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3AA274982FD9493A970074706185E7C9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Approval or denial of petition</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a petition submitted under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="HB2C9447E6BC14E5A9129D1E1B6F284D8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>approve such petition if the Secretary determines the recovery strategy is reasonably certain to be implemented by the petitioning State and to be effective in conserving the species that is the subject of such recovery strategy; or</text></clause><clause id="HC217BF7600A749E88CF377572C17937F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>deny such petition if the requirements described in clause (i) are not met.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H78FDF8B2A63842E08A75F7A3D044A296"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary approves or denies a petition under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall publish such approval or denial in the Federal Register.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE6FB77B6FE4A4DF3B3067B7C9A31EB2C"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Denial of petition</header><clause id="HBE69D5661E7D42739E2531127A3B88CC"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Written explanation</header><text>If the Secretary denies a petition under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall include in such denial a written explanation for such denial, including a description of the changes to such petition that are necessary for the Secretary to approve such petition.</text></clause><clause id="H4DBFBEFE00E54FE5A1E8CB6865C68BD9"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Resubmission of denied petition</header><text>A State may resubmit a petition that is denied under subparagraph (B).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H98DDD0668A4C4E31BCC662291FD5BC4D"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Use in protective regulations</header><text>If the Secretary approves a petition under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="H0E7E93D82C2A4EBAB95B5867032B30B5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>issue a regulation under paragraph (1) that adopts the recovery strategy as such regulation with respect to the species that is the subject of such recovery strategy within the petitioning State; and</text></clause><clause id="HB364D293C01A4A6B929D41D5A1E52676"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>establish objective criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of such recovery strategy in conserving such species within such State.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C512C7CDF3C47F49A3AA6A9FC93A3DE"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Revision</header><text>If a recovery strategy that is adopted as a regulation issued under paragraph (1) is determined by the Secretary to be ineffective in conserving the species that is the subject of such recovery strategy in accordance with the objective criteria established under subparagraph (E)(ii) for such recovery strategy, the Secretary shall revise such regulation and reissue such regulation in accordance with paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HCDDD115B579648BDA0F1FC4B1C5443D7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (f)(1)(B)—</text><subparagraph id="HFBD5C62015074B0FA8263585A3802578"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2F567870B2FE4E3CBC6DD1302EBAAC8B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H807D1FF2CECE4D73BF46617ADCF72BE2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H08B16C74C22245AD9B0D5EDC5C4B71B0" style="OLC"><clause id="HE0E39E09CB6848158CB2DBBAE9E40787" indent="up1"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>with respect to an endangered species, objective, incremental recovery goals in accordance with subsection (d)(2)(A) for use under that subsection if such endangered species is changed in status from an endangered species to a threatened species under subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii).</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HE145908A71474D32BEC9ACF84D3C5516"><enum>302.</enum><header>5-year review determinations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(c)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="HE9EA6336A2924BD3A5BEE1FF04C200AB" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H7E38D13280C94D209AF6754AC7047B6A" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary makes a determination under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking to carry out such determination.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="HF649E512EB10487489F2E54798BDAE36"><enum>303.</enum><header>Judicial review during monitoring period</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4(g) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(g)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H2AAD957C6708461AB1B76BA4DC202B4D" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H5D8DD8E540264D7BA8B52B2DC9A03806" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The removal of a species from a list published under subsection (c)(1) is not subject to judicial review during the period established under paragraph (1) with respect to the species.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H9A4A83C83EBE44F2B04A45F606E5F4C3"><enum>304.</enum><header>Codification of regulation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The final rule titled <quote>Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Prohibitions to Threatened Wildlife and Plants</quote> (84 Fed. Reg. 44753; published August 27, 2019) shall have the force and effect of law.</text></section><section id="H5B949D3805384FC2A46331C291BBA524" commented="no"><enum>305.</enum><header>Designation of critical habitat</header><subsection id="HFB10ECFF16D84C3F8858B4905CAEBC4F" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Privately owned or controlled land</header><text>Section 4(a)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H55A52FBFF30845FBABBD9FDAECB9F986" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="H83541202D89F4AA7AE7F5418FC09117B" commented="no" indent="up2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The Secretary may not designate as critical habitat under subparagraph (A) any privately owned or controlled land or other geographical area that is subject to a land management plan that—</text><clause id="H79E0FAB848D74C71A79D3CA69E05FB3C" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary determines is similar in nature to an integrated natural resources management plan described in section 101 of the Sikes Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/670a">16 U.S.C. 670a</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="H35408D6645B642AE9FF9050270327F6C" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H1A766A3834A6443E9AD25B55BA96AB76"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is prepared in cooperation with the Secretary and the head of each applicable State fish and wildlife agency of each State in which such land or other geographical area is located; or</text></subclause><subclause id="H6F0FA1BB5E7C47CF8985E380A11B749F" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is submitted to the Secretary in a manner that is similar to the manner in which an applicant submits a conservation plan to the Secretary under section 10(a)(2)(A);</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H4922272B0EC341DC83234FF45484B5FF" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>includes an activity or a limitation on an activity that the Secretary determines will likely conserve the species concerned;</text></clause><clause id="HF90C2B1E3BA74320A66089A736B2DBA8" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the Secretary determines will result in—</text><subclause id="H985C81210E364129AFA56A7942714635" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>an increase in the population of the species concerned above the population of such species on the date that such species is listed as a threatened species or an endangered species; or</text></subclause><subclause id="H45D81C75528846F7A15A945530D2F497" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>maintaining the same population of such species on the land or other geographical area as the population that would likely occur if such land or other geographical area is designated as critical habitat; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H53E0B48DA94C44C8993A91E6B0D29EC8" commented="no"><enum>(v)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable, will minimize and mitigate the impacts of any activity that will likely result in an incidental taking of the species concerned.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HD4F835F405244B23A073D18436F9A4A2" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Designation considerations</header><text>Section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(2)</external-xref>) is amended in the first sentence by inserting <quote>the impact on existing efforts of private landowners to conserve the species,</quote> after <quote>impact on national security,</quote>.</text></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Creating greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species</header><section id="H9AD6269BA54148F689FC432D4A0226D0"><enum>401.</enum><header>Requirement to publish basis for listings and critical habitat designations on Internet</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4(b) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H9CFFD2205CFD40F495FBFC54A955575F" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HAB0709503CCD4A35AF8798963B9D8CC0" indent="up1"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The Secretary shall make publicly available on the Internet the best scientific and commercial data available that are used as the basis for each regulation, including each proposed regulation, promulgated under paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (a), except that—</text><subparagraph id="HBC4C81D7DAEA439A826FBA70FB51B206"><enum>(A)</enum><text>at the request of a Governor, State agency, or legislature of a State, the Secretary may not make such data available under this paragraph if such entity determines that public disclosure of such data is prohibited by a law or regulation of such State, including any law or regulation requiring the protection of personal information; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H395DE1DD5B4B48BA92F15BC2A583FBC4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall execute an agreement with the Secretary of Defense that prevents the disclosure under this paragraph of classified information pertaining to Department of Defense personnel, facilities, lands, or waters.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H9B4C36252D2B49D9BFF62D9B81E4C695"><enum>402.</enum><header>Decisional transparency and use of State, Tribal, and local information</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 6(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1535">16 U.S.C. 1535(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H29DB56BB89AB4B7B94011B2A48D8ECA8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> before the first sentence; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7146CC68BAA245BC9D0B06075DE7CA65"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Such cooperation shall include</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block id="HCF12524FAEE1497CB0E86E92EFBE8D5D" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H7BC594728CF346B89888193DA141B301"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Such cooperation shall include—</text><subparagraph id="H41F8D64241384F16B4B3A42CB741C36E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>before making a determination under section 4(a), providing to States affected by such determination all data that is the basis of the determination; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A0FF037D82D4BBD9ABBE618DE3C4EF7"><enum>(B)</enum></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="H4DD5E9FF303D4C23B88CE4D49186E339"><enum>403.</enum><header>Disclosure of expenditures under Endangered Species Act of 1973</header><subsection id="H1892E065B695469AA45CA107E6A5A600"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement To disclose</header><text>Section 13 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 902) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="HFA2D69F25BF54611B982496B38E662C8" style="OLC"><section id="H5F56F22B35374AEB83EF250297D9CFD2"><enum>13.</enum><header>Disclosure of expenditures</header><subsection id="HD8134EF4AFAB45A18A30FC3EF8ADFEB9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall—</text><paragraph id="H69F1879A7BF24D88A163DF2172E2B066"><enum>(1)</enum><text>not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate an annual report detailing Federal Government expenditures for covered suits during the preceding fiscal year (including the information described in subsection (b)); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6A6E8EE7DD0E45BFB0819BAF0F126D18"><enum>(2)</enum><text>make publicly available through the Internet a searchable database, updated monthly, of the information described in subsection (b).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5EB3E392C2B047029EDCA53ABB6E969D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Included information</header><text>The report shall include—</text><paragraph id="H5386F59F58EE480C908730ECA763E2DA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the case name and number of each covered suit, and, with respect to each such covered suit, a hyperlink to each settlement decision, final decision, consent decree, stipulation of dismissal, release, interim decision, motion to dismiss, partial motion for summary judgement, or related final document;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7F6F559B59AB48B1B8A47EDC51CD5718"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a description of each claim or cause of action in each covered suit;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5B841976EF9D44F1B0FF22A47D21FECE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the name of each covered agency the actions of which give rise to any claim in a covered suit and each plaintiff in such suit;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6F5455879A624F70866CCAF6A5129704"><enum>(4)</enum><text>funds expended by each covered agency (disaggregated by agency account) to receive and respond to notices referred to in section 11(g)(2) or to prepare for litigation of, litigate, negotiate a settlement agreement or consent decree in, or provide material, technical, or other assistance in relation to, a covered suit;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9F549E1076EA4EBD9277DA39A6F4BD58"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the number of full-time equivalent employees that participated in the activities described in paragraph (4);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDB0D22DF5C7D4078A420ED07BC41EB77"><enum>(6)</enum><text>any information required to be published under section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, with respect to a covered suit; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H77D4FB6A00844D40B3498AE13940F6DA"><enum>(7)</enum><text>attorneys fees and other expenses (disaggregated by agency account) awarded in covered suits, including any consent decrees or settlement agreements (regardless of whether a decree or settlement agreement is sealed or otherwise subject to nondisclosure provisions), including the basis for such awards.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB88BD53AD779474B9844A3D432D5D28A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirement To provide information</header><text>The head of each covered agency shall provide to the Secretary in a timely manner all information requested by the Secretary to comply with the requirements of this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="HE679E1DAD046444B93E411119D475A06"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Limitation on disclosure</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, this section shall not affect any restriction in a consent decree or settlement agreement on the disclosure of information that is not described in subsection (b).</text></subsection><subsection id="H704DD7129B3E40DEAAF6E062A19CCBFA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="H7ACBD11C2D69432D8558531D6355C440"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered agency</header><text>The term <term>covered agency</term> means any agency of the—</text><subparagraph id="H85B13FF1792F4376A372CDEBB92A40A0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Department of the Interior;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD1A7093A75F44958BF67019E2DAC49D0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Forest Service;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C5067B33C8A4BEA85B774F598156EE3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Environmental Protection Agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBC8152113CB74F01903AB8A9E5235797"><enum>(D)</enum><text>National Marine Fisheries Service;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H89FAE7092242407FBD2C517C4F6E3171"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Bonneville Power Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCC3DE1F43BA341A88696C19907B51086"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Western Area Power Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H49286FEAF8314540B502B23D817B801C"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Southwestern Power Administration; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEC171E22E35142CA94B4C358AB0F32E4"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Southeastern Power Administration.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3333BCA036C544EEA8B12C6102E02811"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered suit</header><text>The term <term>covered suit</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="HEC2917DAFC5E42EE98245B2F28330CFB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any civil action containing any claim arising under this Act against the Federal Government and based on the action of a covered agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC15407A2FA7B46B08728AD66226767D6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any administrative proceeding under which the United States awards fees and other expenses to a third party under section 504 of title 5, United States Code.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HFC408FC2B9A3416FB542F345B3B0BD32"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of contents in the first section of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531</external-xref> note) is amended by striking the item relating to section 13 and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block id="H9A7AAE09AC8B413D8C0BFCDFA92C7CF2" style="OLC"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">Sec. 13. Disclosure of expenditures.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="HE07E7FFAB26045418FAA4CD3249A76DB"><enum>404.</enum><header>Award of litigation costs to prevailing parties in accordance with existing law</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11(g)(4) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1540">16 U.S.C. 1540(g)(4)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>to any party, whenever the court determines such award is appropriate</quote> and inserting <quote>in accordance with section 2412 of title 28, United States Code and section 504 of title 5, United States Code</quote>.</text></section><section id="H75468ECFB5E844FEAA915EB39D3B68EC"><enum>405.</enum><header>Analysis of impacts and benefits of determination of endangered or threatened status</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H4D224A2B5C314240ABA81AFF2EBC29E8" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H60A75BEB792A4A6AAB64A15880AC9ED3" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HD9B9517B3AE043E581659016AE53BF43"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Secretary shall, concurrently with determining under paragraph (1) whether a species is a threatened species or an endangered species, prepare an analysis with respect to such determination of—</text><clause id="H79CA5F095284417AA8E7A2B144762FCD" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the economic effect;</text></clause><clause id="H0695A27ACD934016A0E7C506483F2DE8" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the effects on national security;</text></clause><clause id="HFCA4EA9744AB456EA6387803C4044155" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the effects on human health and safety; and</text></clause><clause id="H1FF8F3E74CB14731BCD5E299FE16F424" indent="up1"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any other relevant effect.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC8E70A6A4F8141E983B4C411B65BB11A" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this paragraph shall delay a determination made by the Secretary under paragraph (1) or change the criteria used by the Secretary to make such a determination.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><enum>V</enum><header>Streamlining permitting process</header><section id="H238A01D787904D298F54B27A5F3F7A60"><enum>501.</enum><header>Limitation on reasonable and prudent measures</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b)(4) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(4)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H4DE8CD54ED534E1FB13C89340AAA1DA8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and that do not propose, recommend, or require the Federal agency or the applicant concerned, if any, to mitigate or offset such impact</quote> after <quote>minimize such impact</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H242ECBABCB57400D90183B4AEF2C4883"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>which measures may be issued after the written statement,</quote> after <quote>such taking,</quote>. </text></paragraph></section><section id="HED8E703CF093491CB0B697D4A47623FA" commented="no"><enum>502.</enum><header>Successive consultations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H365BD7C2ABA74E10A84864E5B07B8BBD" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H904C263A588049EF86B04454FD295787" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HA23E946A2FA447808D4F5A2B5C03B91F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>With respect to an ongoing Federal agency action for which the applicable Federal agency has adopted a reasonable and prudent alternative or a reasonable and prudent measure to comply with subsection (a)(2), in any subsequent consultation for the Federal agency action that occurs 10 years or more after the date on which the initial consultation for the Federal agency action was completed, the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="HC28D6A46CED9477A8BE69656F91EC914" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>project the likelihood of and timeline for the recovery of the threatened species and endangered species affected by the Federal agency action; and</text></clause><clause id="H5EAF451BB94B4B1BA5F6529F94DDFCC7" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine whether continuing to implement the reasonable and prudent alternative or a reasonable and prudent measure will materially increase the likelihood of and reduce the time for recovery of the threatened species and endangered species.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1033AF31CB134FD28593A10989ADCE3C" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary finds under subparagraph (A)(ii) that continued implementation of the modification will not materially improve the likelihood of and shorten the time to the recovery of the species, the Federal agency shall discontinue implementation of the modification notwithstanding subsection (a)(2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H38854BF76CF64B5D8ACEE254AAAF85BB" commented="no"><enum>503.</enum><header>Requirement to consider reasonably certain effects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(a)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>A consultation carried out pursuant to this paragraph shall consider the effects that are reasonably certain to be caused by the action without a substantive presumption in favor of the species</quote> after <quote>commercial data available.</quote>.</text></section><section id="H554C9331422142A7ACBDE50DDD31D47C" commented="no"><enum>504.</enum><header>Clarifying jeopardy</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HC60754A53901477B8BBA472492FAD0A6" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HA09BB17B05A846099B4720230DA6ED04" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purposes of a consultation carried out pursuant to paragraph (2) or a conference carried out under paragraph (4), the Secretary may only determine that the action that is the subject of such consultation or conference is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of an applicable species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of habitat of such a species which is determined by the Secretary, after consultation as appropriate with affected States, to be critical if the Secretary determines, based on the best scientific and commercial data available, that the effects that are reasonably certain to be caused by the action are likely to result in the action itself causing such jeopardy.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Eliminating barriers to conservation</header><section id="H2BCB3B2D846949BB8B8431278D109724" commented="no"><enum>601.</enum><header>Permits for CITES-listed species</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 9(c)(2) of Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1538">16 U.S.C. 1538(c)(2)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="H0B6E19511BE54BB58AC232048AC15BCA" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HEE0B94D68C2D4482954FFA59DDFFCB41" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An export from or import into the United States of fish or wildlife listed as a threatened species or an endangered species pursuant to section 4 is lawful under this Act and not subject to permit requirements or other regulations issued by the Secretary with respect to exportation and importation pursuant to this Act if—</text><subparagraph id="HA00CFF98445A4BBFAFE3AC9E27E994A2" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such fish or wildlife is a species that is not native to the United States; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4BCD8FF879A04E3AA8E5C5E3FA9C2E3A" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to the export or import, each applicable requirement—</text><clause id="H0094B6B7AB2D43959D0287C6CCA0F22C" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>of the Convention is satisfied; and</text></clause><clause id="H932B3CFD14C84B0BB194D67DF04C3385" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">of subsections (d), (e), and (f) is satisfied.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="HE7FF90C75B204CF0AA2FBFB60181648A" commented="no"><enum>602.</enum><header>Utilize Convention standard for permits applicable to non-native species</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1539">16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)(A)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="H17134A572C244A46BC657F36D5C2DAE2" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="HDED84BF4ED6248D39E09D94DABE40D73" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8A02081364FB47D6B296974CAC2D1083"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to a species that is native to the United States, any act otherwise prohibited by section 9 for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species, including acts necessary for the establishment and maintenance of experimental populations pursuant to subsection (j); and</text></clause><clause id="HA7B1AA81A6E94BF89B3E74D72DECCCE1" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to a species that is not native to the United States, any act otherwise prohibited by section 9 that the Secretary determines is not detrimental to the survival of the affected species, including—</text><subclause id="H0CDE9FD03CDC4CC383EF5B37814DB687" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to export or re-import, deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce in the course of a commercial activity;</text></subclause><subclause id="H44BFD61F82264C82B5BE3FC4D785C812" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to buy or sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H5D90DDD4E18D4AD1BE007725B7FC78C0" commented="no"><enum>(III)</enum><text>acts necessary for the establishment and maintenance of experimental populations pursuant to subsection (j); or</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><enum>VII</enum><header>Restoring congressional intent</header><section id="HD97871A3570C450C87162EA8399E01BA" commented="no"><enum>701.</enum><header>Limiting agency regulations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1540">16 U.S.C. 1540(f)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HEE4490187D3A4F879A5A26E005A7A541" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Secretary,</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H34C9B59E0B41426190017163492BCFF9" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H06129E21F1A349AFAE3DA5D699C14203" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary,</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H86D7AA192C8A4646822905C4A8A87FF5" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), as so designated, by striking <quote>to enforce this Act</quote> and inserting <quote>to enforce this section and section 8A</quote>; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="H54C0CD0CF44E42C9832DA25AAD3168DD" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H58D2BCCB6268408C942D75FDBC1F5553" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="H8231E7D9FF554C69BADF85492D98C459" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This subsection may not be construed to be an independent source of authority to promulgate regulations to enforce the provisions of this Act other than those included in this section and section 8A.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>