I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4867 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 17, 2010 Mr. Jones (for himself, Mr. Whitfield, and Mr. Connolly of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement to provide for management of the free-roaming wild horses in and around the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Corolla Wild Horse Protection Act.

2.

Wild horses in and around the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge

(a)

Agreement required

The Secretary of the Interior shall enter into an agreement with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund (a nonprofit corporation established under the laws of the State of North Carolina), the County of Currituck, North Carolina, and the State of North Carolina within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act to provide for management of free-roaming wild horses in and around the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. The agreement shall allow a herd of not less than 100 free-roaming wild horses in and around such refuge. The agreement shall provide for cost-effective management of the horses while ensuring that natural resources within the refuge are not adversely impacted. (b)

Conditions for excluding wild horses from refuge

The Secretary shall not exclude free-roaming wild horses from any portion of the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge unless— (1)the Secretary finds that the presence of free-roaming wild horses on a portion of the Refuge threatens the survival of an endangered species for which such land is designated as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (2)such finding is based on a credible peer-reviewed scientific assessment; and (3)the Secretary provides a period of public notice and comment on that finding. (c)

Horse replacement

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Secretary to replace free-roaming wild horses or otherwise increase the number of such horses in a case in which the herd numbers fall below 100 as a result of natural causes, including disease or natural disasters. (d)

No liability created

Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating liability for the United States for any damages caused by the free-roaming wild horses to any person or property located inside or outside the boundaries of the refuge.