118 S1788 IS: To require the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to update the Post-delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf, and for other purposes. U.S. Senate 2023-06-01 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.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1788IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJune 1, 2023Ms. Baldwin (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public WorksA BILLTo require the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to update the Post-delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf, and for other purposes.

1.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

1978 Rule

The term 1978 Rule means the final rule of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to Reclassification of the Gray Wolf in the United States and Mexico, with Determination of Critical Habitat in Michigan and Minnesota (43 Fed. Reg. 9607 (March 9, 1978)).(2)

Advisory committee

The term advisory committee means the Northern Great Lakes Region Gray Wolf Advisory Committee established under section 3(a).(3)

Director

The term Director means the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.(4)

Monitoring Plan

The term Monitoring Plan means the document of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service entitled Post-delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf and dated February 2008 (as described in the notice of document availability of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service entitled Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) (73 Fed. Reg. 19525 (April 10, 2008))).(5)

Northern Great Lakes Region

The term Northern Great Lakes Region means—(A)the State of Minnesota;(B)the State of Wisconsin; and(C)the Upper Peninsula of the State of Michigan. (6)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

2.

Update to the Post-delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf; delisting rule

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with the advisory committee, shall update the Monitoring Plan with respect to the populations of Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) in the Northern Great Lakes Region.(b)

Expanded gray wolf population in 1978 rule

For purposes of the 1978 Rule and the rule required under subsection (c), the population of Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) described in the 1978 Rule as the Minnesota population shall include the population of Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) in the Northern Great Lakes Region.(c)

Rule required

On updating the Monitoring Plan in accordance with subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the advisory committee, shall issue a rule delisting the population of Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) within the Northern Great Lakes Region under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).(d)

Savings provision

Nothing in this section alters or modifies any other population of Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) described in, or any other portion of, the 1978 Rule other than the population of Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) located in the Northern Great Lakes Region.

3.

Advisory committee

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the Northern Great Lakes Region Gray Wolf Advisory Committee, in accordance with this section.(b)

Membership

The advisory committee shall be composed of—(1)the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs;(2)the Secretary of Agriculture;(3)the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service;(4)the Chief of the Forest Service;(5)representatives of federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations;(6)the heads of applicable State agencies in the Northern Great Lakes Region, to be nominated by the governors of the applicable States in the Northern Great Lakes Region and appointed by the Director; and(7)other appropriate individuals with expertise on wolf biology, wolf management, and wolf predation, as determined by the Director.(c)

Duties

The advisory committee shall consult with—(1)the Director with respect to the updating of the Monitoring Plan under section 2(a); and(2)the Secretary—(A)with respect to the issuing of the delisting rule under section 2(c); and(B)during the 5-year post-delisting monitoring period following the issuance of that rule.