119 HR 1897 RH: ESA Amendments Act of 2025
U.S. House of Representatives
2026-03-24
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.
Sec. 5. Renaming of Endangered Species Act of 1973 to Endangered Species Recovery Act.
Title I—Optimizing conservation through resource prioritization
Sec. 101. Prioritization of listing petitions, reviews, and determinations.
Title II—Incentivizing wildlife conservation on private lands
Sec. 201. Conservation Benefit Agreements.
Sec. 202. Conservation plans.
Sec. 203. NEPA exemption for incidental take permits.
Title III—Providing for greater incentives to recover listed species
Sec. 301. Protective regulations under Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Sec. 302. 5-year review determinations.
Sec. 303. Judicial review during monitoring period.
Sec. 304. Designation of critical habitat.
Sec. 305. Treatment of State, Tribal, and local government data.
Sec. 306. Clarifying significant portion of range of species.
Sec. 307. Delisting criteria.
Title IV—Creating greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species
Sec. 401. Requirement to publish basis for listings and critical habitat designations online.
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.
Sec. 406. Notification of Congress of certain critical habitat designations.
Sec. 407. Notification of Congress of certain releases of experimental populations.
Sec. 408. Annual cost analysis by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Title V—Streamlining permitting process
Sec. 501. Limitation on reasonable and prudent measures.
Sec. 502. Successive consultations.
Sec. 503. Clarifying jeopardy.
Sec. 504. Clarifying action area.
Sec. 505. Judicial review.
Sec. 506. Expansion of exemption process and eligibility under section 7 of Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Title VI— Eliminating barriers to conservation
Sec. 601. Permits for CITES-listed species.
Sec. 602. Utilize Convention standard for permits applicable to non-native species.
Title VII—Restoring congressional intent
Sec. 701. Limiting agency regulations.
2.Endangered Species Act of 1973 definitions
(a)Section 3(20) Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532(20)) is amended by— (1)striking The term
and inserting (A) The term
; and
(2)by adding at the end the following: (B)For the purposes of applying subparagraph (A), the term foreseeable future
means the period of time extending into the future within which the Secretary, based on the best scientific and commercial data available, is able to determine that a factor described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 4(a)(1) is likely to occur with respect to the species..
(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—
- (aa)outside the current or historic range of the threatened species or endangered species; or
- (bb)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 availableSection 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1532) is amended—
(1)by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (10) as paragraphs (3) through (11), respectively; and (2)by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2)The terms best scientific and commercial data available and best scientific data available
— (A)mean all relevant and objective scientific and commercial information available at the time of the agency action; and
(B)include credible and reliable data, quantitative analyses, conceptual and numerical models, and model results that— (i)account for known or potential sources or error;
(ii)are applied using prevailing principles, methods, tools, and professional standards of practice; and (iii)are impartially gathered and objectively applied without reliance on precautionary assumptions in favor of a species or other assumptions or policy prescriptions that bias the application..
(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)Environmental baseline definedIn this section, the term environmental baseline—
(1)means the condition of the species or the critical habitat of the species in the area directly affected by the agency action at the time of the proposed agency action, 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, local, and private actions and other human activities in the area directly affected by the agency action; (B)the anticipated effects of each proposed Federal project within the area directly affected by the agency action 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; (D)existing structures and facilities and the past, present, and future effects of the physical existence of such structures and facilities on the species or the critical habitat of the species; and
(E)the effects of Federal actions being carried out at the time of the proposed agency action and existing Federal facilities that are not within the discretion of the Secretary to modify.. 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 $287,978,000 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 $105,400,000 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. 5.Renaming of Endangered Species Act of 1973 to Endangered Species Recovery Act (a)The first section of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 note; Public Law 93–205) is amended by striking may be cited as the Endangered Species Act of 1973
and inserting may be cited as the Endangered Species Recovery Act
.
(b)Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Endangered Species Act of 1973
shall be deemed to be a reference to the Endangered Species Recovery Act
. <enum>I</enum><header>Optimizing conservation through resource prioritization</header> <section id="HBFE786167D4D414C80111DA3A65CF54B"><enum>101.</enum><header>Prioritization of listing petitions, reviews, and determinations</header> <subsection id="H5F3F631215A8452884E8B7A14EEE3E01"><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="H59D514C1D5D84B23AE64E14F954BB333" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<subsection id="H657512AEFEAC43BE8C31061632023C6A"><enum>(j)</enum><header>National listing work plan</header>
<paragraph id="HB59C378C615145A5A67A8520C519445D"><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="HA124346F35F644EA962E20A5BECD6846"><enum>(A)</enum><text>findings as described in subsection (b)(3)(B);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H46B93DA651D14FB09D402C766FC07EB9" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any proposed or final determination under subsection (a)(1) required by a court order, court decree, or court-approved settlement agreement; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF8BC00B536D9431893794BA0F065576A" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any proposed or final designation of critical habitat under subsection (a)(3) required by a court order, court decree, or court-approved settlement agreement.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H14B4C7CA4DDF4D5D9DD6960B22A57412"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Submission to Congress</header>
<subparagraph id="H130A149D7FE54DB1B9BD5A972C28CB99"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall submit to Congress—</text> <clause id="H079245C1CA304821A417A92EF6272263"><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="H65DC1192F6DF4B0DA27B24F45944FA6B"><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="H32F8DF82E1474322B40AF4F9CEB25F43" commented="no"><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 potential future listings of species considered on an emergency basis in that fiscal year.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1E6BB67822094124B2E2A1521FE99930"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priority</header>
<subparagraph id="H1A2F0BEE59CE44E1BE1C47B76108BDEA"><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="HCBDBBA60641147BF80C397B50B7B715B"><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="HC9550AA69F9643BF8DCF1632C50663B1"><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="H7D9677C2DFE84EA7B4721509E85187F2"><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="HF40CCB16496743A5BAA361773788F05E"><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="H2DE396204AB14E34A2F7941B64F22CEF"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to resolve any uncertainty regarding the status of the species within a reasonable timeframe.</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="HB6F555ABFB6C48FE94E7CA1D4A164876"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Priority 4 represents species for which proactive conservation efforts likely to reduce the effects of the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of subsection (a)(1) on 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="HD4287953797F42E9B5F3218DAF4492F4"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Priority 5 represents species—</text>
<subclause id="H2BA3834A4E854164A3592B201F008B3C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>for which there exists little information regarding—</text> <item id="H2F54F0F0C6824A02A490D85064857448"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effects of the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of subsection (a)(1) on to the species; or</text></item>
<item id="H017F54A3F9734E98BAEA494A3A7E127E"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the status of the species; or</text></item></subclause> <subclause id="HBF87D308162C47D4B322372CA269FD3C"><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="H52AC5F0BFECF4DB2A3DFEC7DA2E6C1E5"><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), or any successor document.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H18F3FD88E0B34379B6A86AD3E7F8CCF3"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Extensions for certain priority classifications</header> <clause id="H92714961764047729F0DAD0A91A4ACCE"><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="H0BF3444220DD4141A4CC8401BF0E84AA"><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="HD8357DB8EB194BCFA28E2C327725BF2A"><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="H19074585A2364123A7269E8F056BC0F7"><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.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HFCA6CDA6FF304A9999E870097FB27A03"><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="H0FB81EF3CF204B4A83128E53A3903D6C" commented="no"><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="H88C93A72873D4221B2718DABF6BBF40D"><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="HF7DF0DB12EF6440486A9E7D2E4A8ED12"><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="HD76BF3DABDF949ACA4D8345C5EE30016"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text>
<subparagraph id="H7AD75668F09D4BAAAA5F1E3F283BA197" commented="no"><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="HBC03ABA644E248F79823BE7A4B0F9315" commented="no"><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="HDAF5D470AB64451F82AD7D60044AEB14" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that is otherwise under consideration by the Secretary for addition to such a list.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF774D5EC49B94516B585EBBED3B006F1"><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="HEB76474E48F3426AB3A7B398820061A6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)(B)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>Within 12 months</quote> and inserting <quote>In accordance with the national listing work plan submitted under subsection (j),</quote>.</text></subsection></section> <enum>II</enum><header>Incentivizing wildlife conservation on private lands</header> <section id="H206AE348E549437D9166311BB187638E"><enum>201.</enum><header>Conservation Benefit Agreements</header> <subsection id="H3DEE90E2D794481C98362E189B845D3C"><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="H4630FC6C998D4E3798321F21B357305D" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<subparagraph id="H286962CB6BCC48A28BFA89F6DF209A94" indent="up1" commented="no"><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 section 10(k)) of any approved Conservation Benefit Agreement (as that term is defined in such section) relating to the species.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection id="H8E03DB67F6D74B24B25948AA296049B8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conservation Benefit Agreements</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="H351A82147E1F4B2CBC3DD3FE7DB6C6A6" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<subsection id="H4FAF4BE2C9124A8BAF6AFC4889ED3FA5"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Conservation Benefit Agreements</header>
<paragraph id="HCB7CE1FA9CDE4875A9B76960291381E9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Proposed Agreement</header>
<subparagraph id="H79D8390BE7AB4545B3F48EE012B2D924"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A covered party may submit a proposed Agreement to the Secretary.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H93BA42AF7B7D4FBEA7A28350D4D3EAB9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Determination of completeness</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a proposed Agreement, the Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="HBED27EE32029434FAA9BD77A8BA58B87" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine whether the proposed Agreement is complete; and</text></clause> <clause id="H557ACE1C33B94BD7908DA01F9BAF50EB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the Secretary determines the proposed Agreement is incomplete under clause (i), provide the covered party with a written explanation of such determination, including any specific adjustment required for the Secretary to determine the proposed Agreement is complete.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HDD618DF0FECF417B839E85F38459ACE9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Approval; rejection</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a proposed Agreement that the Secretary determines under subparagraph (B)(i) is complete, the Secretary shall—</text> <clause id="H029161A7FED84199B89571F8AF6E1997"><enum>(i)</enum><text>approve the proposed Agreement if the Secretary determines that the proposed Agreement—</text>
<subclause id="H3F2EF7D083AF429380258923E34FC737" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is in compliance with, as applicable, section 17.22(c)(1) or 17.32(c)(1) of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation); and</text></subclause> <subclause id="HFB7BB1D063DA4CE09950D90A65536373"><enum>(II)</enum><text>provides assurances to the covered party that, if the covered species becomes listed after the effective date of such Agreement—</text>
<item id="H377DAF4EDEB84DD7BEDFF33AF53D96F6"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>no additional conservation measures will be required; and</text></item> <item id="H7AAE066269F442E992DE545343CFA25E"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>additional land, water, or resource use restrictions will not be imposed on the covered party;</text></item></subclause></clause>
<clause id="HE1C2A3A5D67C4BA7B2B4FD9DBA034584"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reject the proposed Agreement if the Secretary determines that the proposed Agreement does not meet the requirements described in subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i); and</text></clause> <clause id="HF1DE3C7DE8D74BC79F1DE0BC634A9F8B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>if the Secretary rejects the proposed Agreement under clause (ii), provide the submitting covered party a written explanation for such rejection, including any specific adjustment required, as of the date on which the Secretary rejects the proposed Agreement, for the Secretary to approve the proposed Agreement.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H96D3E1A1D371435C92DE5F7B8F03710D" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Programmatic Conservation Benefit Agreements</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a Conservation Benefit Agreement with a covered party that authorizes such covered party—</text> <subparagraph id="HB9601CFF631144BD83DAF1936720AB77" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to administer such Conservation Benefit Agreement;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7FCD4DF880114D848E6EAB56AA234D88" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to hold any permit issued under this section with regard to such Conservation Benefit Agreement;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H93F747BB5FF74F79B9A0FB40BA1DE02B" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to enroll other covered parties within the area covered by such Conservation Benefit Agreement in such Conservation Benefit Agreement; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H889EFAD7A68E42588ADF1E565A38F56B" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to convey any permit authorization held by such covered party under clause (ii) to each covered party enrolled under clause (iii).</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H298600CB707341339BA7F0127633F535"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Take authorization</header><text>If a covered species is listed as a threatened species or an endangered species under section 4, the Secretary, consistent with the applicable Agreement, shall issue to the relevant covered party a permit under this section for the incidental take of and modification to the habitat of such covered species by such covered party.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H96E7C907217F4C2EB6C5A4D972EB0C14"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>The Secretary shall, upon the request of a covered party, provide the covered party with technical assistance in developing a proposed Agreement.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4D64C988DA6F4244B104882AA750A85C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Applicability to Federal land</header><text>An Agreement may apply with respect 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="H97DC24CFF8084FA38639CBAD1B312ED4"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Exemptions</header>
<subparagraph id="H8DCDC05C1F9E4928A9935FAF1A90B248"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>Section 7(a)(2) does not apply to the approval by the Secretary of a proposed Agreement under this subsection.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HFD4BB938C2144521ACC28691D9E74F07"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Disclosure</header><text>Information submitted by a private party to the Secretary pursuant to this subsection shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD0D6F2EB06F14491A4456839C78C7F85"><enum>(C)</enum><header>National Environmental Policy Act of 1969</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The approval by the Secretary of a proposed Agreement under this subsection 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></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD66739FFEA414A5A89E0B050F2339832"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text>
<subparagraph id="H0D8D9B6CF2234239BDE6E4E299B0FBFD" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Affected species</header><text>The term <term>affected species</term> means a species—</text> <clause id="HAFE82124469A4E80ACE1E8ECCDB7F50F" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>designated by the Secretary as a candidate species under this Act;</text></clause>
<clause id="H2EA77E5F0FE44FC7A36D4C0C7DE02FC8" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>proposed to be listed pursuant to section 4; or</text></clause> <clause id="H307EA2FAC5A24028B8170739E0D308C1" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>that is declining and at risk of being designated by the Secretary as a candidate species under this Act.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8441DCF7B7834B6DA166EFD9705EB2ED"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Agreement</header><text>The term <term>Agreement</term> means—</text> <clause id="HD1766099C10A4D6AA47D591BD45F0C75"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a Conservation Benefit Agreement; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H5A856F1063204AFA88B760D585DE49A5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a programmatic Conservation Benefit Agreement.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HEDA0E5C774A645699C89E8E0D1F5AA19" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Conservation Benefit Agreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>Conservation Benefit Agreement</quote> means the supporting document required for the issuance of a permit under subsection (a)(1)(A) to enhance the propagation or survival of an affected species, as described in the final rule issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service titled <quote>Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Enhancement of Survival and Incidental Take Permits</quote> (89 Fed. Reg. 26070; published April 12, 2024).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3C48B929A3794FEE8C363BD90ABCEE34"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Covered party</header><text>The term <term>covered party</term> means a—</text> <clause id="H07652B87088D481CA763904888D24115"><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="H3C35192AA9DA496FB0BD47A817AE7471"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>private property owner;</text></clause> <clause id="H062370F0C07C4562BF31DCFF4414EF2C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>county;</text></clause>
<clause id="H8A7DF6DD26FF43F7A756D49BCEB31A2B"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>State or State agency; or</text></clause> <clause id="H271D6BCC6D6944B99DE4AE437B970DBF"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Tribal government.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H672A96799BD64952ABAAD514DC40AFDF"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Covered species</header><text>The term <term>covered species</term> means, with respect to an Agreement, the affected species that is the subject of such Agreement.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H39AD3B1CC74048939F29C6739ADFDC09" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Net conservation benefit</header><text>The term <term>net conservation benefit</term> means the net effect of an Agreement on the covered species, determined by comparing the existing situation of the covered species without the Agreement in effect and a situation in which the Agreement is in effect, including the net effect on—</text>
<clause id="H40E3C5C722F9448F9721C81F8D9FA89A" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effects of the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of subsection (a)(1) on the covered species;</text></clause> <clause id="HACBE3A078BE14C528CA35A0C7B131F75" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the number of individuals of the covered species; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HFDE86CC3A9E643988889D6ECDA6DCC32" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the habitat of the covered species.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF357D52249F14D248E3BE5278C9817FA"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Programmatic Conservation Benefit Agreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>programmatic Conservation Benefit Agreement</term> means a Conservation Benefit Agreement described in paragraph (4).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="H09459498A8BE4FDA86A9FA40C6DC7634" commented="no"><enum>202.</enum><header>Conservation plans</header>
<subsection id="H71739060385746878DB6D11F87AE1E65" 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="H93111EB0C91F4ED28727B20D415888FA" 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="H457C394B362546B2B500A908430A56DF" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HE0F9C85FCC674D09B23F6CD9BD6221FF" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <subparagraph id="H04149873C89249FF8DBB2F24869D9E12" commented="no" indent="up2"><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 covered by such permit.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1A3149E1FB5D4716A72503BE20ED7044" commented="no" indent="up2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>With respect to an action that is covered by a permit issued under subparagraph (B) and consistent with the implementation of the related conservation plan, the Secretary shall not seek any additional mitigation measures through any other Federal or State or local process from the permittee.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H0EB74DE7072E4861AE8135E231940D7A" 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="HB806CB4F91C7490A9C804B259B0DB566" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="H74446E2D5C544F1BBCECF1BDF108D750" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7(a)(2) does not apply to the issuance by the Secretary of a permit under this subsection.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="H14717984E8454190B2099E7BD355F685" 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="HF647333F80144C0C9123FA83DE966925" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="HC71CB49315E346A48590BBA8A034B738" 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="HC36CA9A082394D5E8C7E996C0CB3C2D4"><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="HF96C5FF5E577480DB1344A2C63CCF083"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (d), to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="H0D7A0D38C2164AC998DC2084636D9077" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <subsection id="H2C68AEB6613541C9BD0205F94777788B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Protective regulations</header> <paragraph id="H3B291FA17CE74B7080C551231BA99F95"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Issuance</header> <subparagraph id="H0B441977F1E4486EA2546B2C8DFD5B9B"><enum>(A)</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></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0FBECC1E52F242A5AA07BB235BE48DB8" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>In issuing a regulation under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, consistent with the findings, purposes, and policy described in section 2 and based on the best scientific and commercial data available, shall consider the conservation and economic effects of such regulation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD599350A0BDD4F629D93FC0402939919"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Recovery goals</header> <subparagraph id="HFB2539F47A744D39B30BCCADEBF09267"><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="H1053B027418C43BAA1863BC915E17415"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establish objective, incremental recovery goals;</text></clause> <clause id="HFD4F0751CD0A4FDCBA046148A94582EF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide for the stringency of such regulation to decrease as such recovery goals are met; and</text></clause>
<clause id="HA4ED3F3F460D4F1CB356400FA1886235"><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="H77861BB2C49841BABDDBF80A11F712C8"><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="H9CB73978F7D8438A8B8E2DF1C105B6AF"><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="HDC69D3A222EE4B9CAAA2F5E53B9AEB93"><enum>(4)</enum><header>State recovery strategy</header> <subparagraph id="HE404B35750E649DEAADFF962F7F80DB9"><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="H85D5E117BF204ADE9D3990D3952B8367"><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="H7E49F48FCA92486B9AE1988D1F216C48"><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="HC7890762E58A43B1A16527F79426B561"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>deny such petition if the requirements described in clause (i) are not met.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1B588D1413C84ABFB04C8471FB6A2011"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary approves or denies a petition under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall publish such approval or denial on the website of the applicable department.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H498B21C57CE444329C4034B2D182A671"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Denial of petition</header>
<clause id="HDA8271F224794C4D959B6143C802B380"><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="H07DF7F4DA96541E192E44754B22AC76A"><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="H5C2FADDE24C04E87B25F1D86071C7D20"><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="H161F9FBA3563410E907719F1AF3F6060"><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="H8F2207A2F50947A5B14FA955308EA70F"><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="HA49632153AE2426A950C98FC6B9952AC"><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="H97DA578CD35D467F96391D9ADD056E68"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (f)(1)(B)—</text> <subparagraph id="HF0473E6652654378B71413372917EBB6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1B028696250D4B05A672CE6087E6D928"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6D639D8805E4413AA241350394D44782"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HBE4F5727495649ED93CB86401C5CF1ED" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<clause id="H718CCBBD213942838454C2FF911CC705" 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="H44DE49543D5C4B9480B9B996A3DB391F"><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="H6799259DA34F401DA366FBB0E4567372" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="HFC1229769E334DD88ACAAB11BF44EF3B" 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="H1A7BE4F23F714431BD24E18A88C8DF67"><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="HD33190FBA4084301960B37D7AC02E37F" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="H0D091B6CF30A43628BF92F3370CAB123" 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="H0F7B4D5D2E114FF3959F15CABA0D0A56" commented="no"><enum>304.</enum><header>Designation of critical habitat</header> <subsection id="H7E1531AF274F4EEAA2BEDA0EF9061CCB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Not prudent determinations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 4(a)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1533">16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)(A)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H8A6687F2C2484A58940ECF799C6B07F2" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<subparagraph id="HBD558BED4AD846E893295173FE90BA2B"><enum>(A)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H49B1772C984947FAA4E18B0E69926F2D"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, by regulation promulgated in accordance with subsection (b) and to the maximum extent prudent and determinable—</text> <subclause id="HFE109EF8B96741F5B8994A7B6DC2455B" indent="up1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>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</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HC2BAF4A03B4F4688BC0CAF2E53E36BAB" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>may, from time-to-time thereafter as appropriate, revise such designation.</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="H33859925EF824FE0AB09202C093F14AD" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The Secretary may determine, based on the best scientific data available, that it is not prudent to designate habitat as described in clause (i)(I) for a species, including if the Secretary determines—</text>
<subclause id="H8EF2B919A6B74D748EC520B181B1EDB3" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the species is determined under paragraph (1) to be a threatened species or an endangered species because of take or other human activity and such designation will increase the degree of such take or other human activity;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H3AA7B619D4654E8F84611464F4D96B2C" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the species is determined under paragraph (1) to be a threatened species or an endangered species because of a factor—</text>
<item id="H3BCCC94A01C54D2EB193F658BE5B7F39" commented="no"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>other than that described in subparagraph (A) of that paragraph; or</text></item> <item id="H748FBEC5BBE44A7494E32E6C3A3078A2" commented="no"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>that cannot be addressed through reasonable and prudent alternatives resulting from consultations carried out pursuant to section 7(a)(2); or</text></item></subclause>
<subclause id="H3E1B862CD5E74B3EADFB2E33AAA62F0D" commented="no"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the species primarily occurs in areas not under the jurisdiction of the United States and areas under the jurisdiction of the United States where the species occurs provide no more than a negligible conservation value to the species.</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="H445BCCF93730408C8AC1CA2FD9B076E5" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding clause (i)(I), if the Secretary determines under clause (ii) that it is not prudent to designate habitat as described in clause (i)(I), the Secretary is not required to so designate habitat for the species.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="H79FCCF615F81471EAC516E9FC997541A" commented="no"><enum>(b)</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="H8296B730F31640F1A92DAE05CAAECFDD" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <subparagraph id="H329138C8BB014CB4B15BE265811C9939" 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="HC5EFD68294754D998942BE65E93E68A8" 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="H8071F48FC35E48568658691B0563E2D8" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HC219B281F60241DD93F09B780EA05475"><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="H506628C6BD634E3BACDEC684553978BB" 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="H5F8B7D5EF6564B3EA9FD174B9BA08541" 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="HA98F5A5D27D347358FA62187274F4539" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the Secretary determines will result in—</text> <subclause id="HB523EE2126234CBBA640795DF664D865" 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="HD9C721D9FFA345D897AFF64F305F9A59" 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="H15158B6C3109449C996F8E5412779DF2" 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="H2F732267E1144FACAB7A27575ADEBDA5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Designation considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-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—</text> <paragraph id="HE12147F61BFF434292BF4F3BAE4170C6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE407E6F5AB3347AAAEC3841ED91B03FE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>the impact on existing efforts of private landowners to conserve the species,</quote> after <quote>impact on national security,</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE9791E960D024CE7AA01DDC63B03550B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Secretary</quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC"><enum-in-header>(A)</enum-in-header></header-in-text> The Secretary</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HDFDB4B61B1224F4097E63AD3C9150C71"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H2E2172DF36964FDBBE5CD740E40B881B" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <subparagraph id="H0EA259DF7E47414DA6CA3EA290C224A1" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to any area otherwise considered by the Secretary for exclusion from critical habitat under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider for exclusion from critical habitat any area—</text>
<clause id="HB101C99CF32748239B1D39F1D6AC3A71"><enum>(i)</enum><text>submitted by a person through public comment pursuant to paragraph (5) or (6); and</text></clause> <clause id="HE9F987A9C77C436E9361625E51162B83"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for which such submission includes credible information regarding a meaningful economic impact, impact on national security, impact on existing efforts of private landowners to conserve the applicable species, or other relevant impact of specifying the area as critical habitat that supports the exclusion from critical habitat of that area.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB5CD31B83C0C464EB08869B9958B94F8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (5)(A)(i), by striking <quote>, and</quote> and inserting the following: </text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HDA39549BDD4A4FB0ABE09644CF680CA4" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"><text>, including, with respect to a proposed regulation to designate or revise critical habitat under subsection (a)(3)—</text>
<subclause id="HC2C4A6277B03415E86DC83A3C6A9E0D4" indent="up1"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a draft economic analysis that identifies any impacts on national security and existing efforts of private landowners to conserve the applicable species and other relevant impacts of the designation or revision that the Secretary determines are within the area proposed for designation or covered by the revision; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="H8F0BA9B96FEC400BBFD3182DF384FC77" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>a draft exclusion analysis that identifies each area the Secretary has reason to consider for exclusion under paragraph (2) and why; and</text></subclause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H68A0121F1CFB452F823F1B28B8A9D31B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (6)(A)—</text> <subparagraph id="H2CD715F1A73D4D3E92A6ADB3CDA6AB7F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (i)(II), by striking <quote>made,</quote> and inserting the following: </text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H9B3879AA13E84451BF08EF16C9A7046B" display-inline="yes-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"><text>made, including, with respect to such a final regulation—</text> <item id="HDD5BC41F64E0434BAC28A95F27924E65" indent="up2"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a final economic analysis that identifies any impacts on national security and existing efforts of private landowners to conserve the applicable species and other relevant impacts of the revision that the Secretary determines are within the area covered by the revision; and</text></item>
<item id="H47434EBC9E9F4CA999DB0A545D256A32" indent="up2"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a final exclusion analysis that identifies each area the Secretary has determined under paragraph (2) to exclude from such revision and why;</text></item><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H77BDD69758254370BBB07CB2A1455680"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (ii)(I), by striking <quote>, or</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H64359BEE7E3841C5A163085378DC74EC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"><text>, including—</text> <item id="HCF0A808A9D4249CCA38D252EF1C4423A" indent="up2"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a final economic analysis that identifies any impacts on national security and existing efforts of private landowners to conserve the applicable species and other relevant impacts of the designation that the Secretary determines are within the area proposed for designation; and</text></item>
<item id="HCE6C284AA0634F6881289845B5CB566B" indent="up2"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a final exclusion analysis that identifies each area the Secretary has determined under paragraph (2) to exclude from such designation and why; or</text></item><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="HB4C17A9529B342F8BB2610081A9C90CB"><enum>305.</enum><header>Treatment of State, Tribal, and local government data</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—</text>
<paragraph id="H1A7D11618402441BA8CBDCD4F3A7B3D2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting <quote>data submitted to the Secretary by a State, Tribal, or local government, and</quote> after <quote>account</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H85019201959A4C5C89C09CCC5D0FEBAE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)(A), as so designated by section 304(c)(1)(B) of this Act, by inserting <quote>data submitted to the Secretary by a State, Tribal, or local government, as well as</quote> after <quote>consideration</quote>.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="H0C239F2FFFE744F6B8D775AA0FDF7225"><enum>306.</enum><header>Clarifying significant portion of range of species</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="H1420D8D457644C33948C6884BD0051C8" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <paragraph id="H25655DEFADC847FEA2DD19D8488D01A2" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary determines under paragraph (1) that a species is a threatened species or an endangered species in only a significant portion of the range of the species, the Secretary may only list the species under subsection (c) as a threatened species or an endangered species with respect to that portion of the range of the species.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="HD9F9F99B1D4442CB824E893BD95489FA" commented="no"><enum>307.</enum><header>Delisting criteria</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 style="OLC" id="H5CA25333A9C0491788E35994FF17F13E" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <paragraph id="H870CB9C2E0AA4E79A23C132831CDC5E1" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall determine under paragraph (2)(B)(i) that a species described in paragraph (2)(A) should be removed from a list described in that paragraph and shall remove such species from such list only if the Secretary determines, pursuant to a review conducted under that paragraph and based on the best scientific and commercial data available, such species—</text>
<subparagraph id="H83032E6872EB4A9BB0E0A5C9212F6955" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is extinct;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9580E66C418744CF858EE42659F3B719" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is not a threatened species or an endangered species; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB00073F8B6E0498F9BEF08BC92CFD0BF" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is not a species.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <enum>IV</enum><header>Creating greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species</header> <section id="H0EEADB9275934791A37EE4E1181D3D9C"><enum>401.</enum><header>Requirement to publish basis for listings and critical habitat designations online</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="HF5947A3573C94D61906CC0CD5CF869C8" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="H84EEB216FC7C42AE86065A9333BF9CB5" indent="up1"><enum>(9)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HD85044A419A340AE93B3674AC9C117A6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Secretary shall make publicly available on the website of the applicable department the best scientific and commercial data available that is used as the basis for each regulation, including each proposed regulation, promulgated under paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (a).</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H570ADA6E13AA4534A0D3F193C0C994F2" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If a Governor, agency, or legislature of a State determines that public disclosure of any best scientific and commercial data available described in subparagraph (A) is prohibited by a law or regulation of the State, including such a law or regulation requiring the protection of personal information—</text>
<clause id="H9628E2883B8749608DFFA4E4C3DD6D48"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Governor, agency, or legislature of the State may submit to the Secretary a request to exempt such best scientific and commercial data available from the application of subparagraph (A); and</text></clause> <clause id="H87A872434D89441A9F9E99367914EA43"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Secretary shall so exempt such best scientific and commercial data available.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB58901DBC98240F28A93A81CEADD8873" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Subparagraph (A) does not apply with respect to global positioning system coordinates or other geographically specific species location information.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7B960519768F4A229386E08C8AC590F4" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall execute an agreement with the Secretary of War that prevents the disclosure under this paragraph of classified information pertaining to Department of War personnel, facilities, lands, or waters.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="HB69C033699924E2D8E520CB58D60E6F0"><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="H34BC14E7197F476383D3D5DB111338B4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> before the first sentence; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H97D469DA8AEE4CBEB22DD989523FAD5B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Such cooperation shall include</quote> and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HD9F751E4E778417292423521304F26CF" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <paragraph id="H00100D6DD2EC4263A7CDEF37EA0FA374" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Such cooperation shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H463B8337CCC944BB9877311212DF5973"><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="HCD6E9539BF5F4D9495CC2B80F34739E7"><enum>(B)</enum></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section> <section id="H2B9E123127E248D7A0EB5AEF4CA8F280"><enum>403.</enum><header>Disclosure of expenditures under Endangered Species Act of 1973</header> <subsection id="H7EE3F1B0E9AD45518A0A792D77F23813"><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="H009D5FFDD9B748E0B98DFF137EE0E0AD" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<section id="H359574F48C26417DB6016658881DE247"><enum>13.</enum><header>Disclosure of expenditures</header>
<subsection id="H796D8865D2674F5487AD9D1732574EDB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>The Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Commerce, shall—</text> <paragraph id="H2999EA1F74294AFFB1801B3A7C4FE782"><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; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H20A5CA989A23493B966C0297F1436F7E"><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="HB5505C49F7BE4D088928E5F5B6592F7A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Included information</header><text>Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include—</text>
<paragraph id="H423951E219404FB5BAC32A11379FA3E5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the case name and number of each covered suit, and, with respect to each 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="H566BE5EF57224993850114D466C84673"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a description of each claim or cause of action in each covered suit;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4C683B2E8FDD4B0AB208D892B3213DB3"><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 covered suit;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD0BCD41791FB4BE29DF69AEB0808BBDE"><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="H73A3B28B323A451B9BE1F2F9257AAA50"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the number of full-time equivalent employees that participated in the activities described in paragraph (4);</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0B9502AD415F4C009977FFBDB291955F"><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="HC47AB1E7AF5F4F75B99EAA89E86A3CF0"><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="H1214AED094084013A80BDCC4F4CBFC84"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirement to provide information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The head of each covered agency shall provide to the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality in a timely manner all information requested by the Chair to comply with the requirements of this section.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HFB64763F3BAA4E5999DCF9291AE27CB7"><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="HAD50B7379BFE4DB683D365D523B3AFAF"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="HF98F0DFAA538422F928AB444CEFE5E13"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered agency</header><text>The term <term>covered agency</term> means any agency of the—</text> <subparagraph id="HE348A57F49A84C7B8ECBA6F9B3EFB16D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Department of the Interior;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H861A419768F049DD98E706B34EBDC05F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Forest Service;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2C89D226E5DB4973A0B398AFF194A8A9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Environmental Protection Agency;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5A7218D7E98149A09B9684023B423C43"><enum>(D)</enum><text>National Marine Fisheries Service;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H103A48A8271E4335AD0D2FD7804D400A"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Bonneville Power Administration;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA78B358843414D8DA8282E78B4E7E75C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Western Area Power Administration;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H80DFFEA1A3BB404D85AB2B5544A569B4"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Southwestern Power Administration; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF6881E3B9D5A48F5AFF84C9B117FB5DE"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Southeastern Power Administration.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H081E3B4733C74313AA8762AED1C08328"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered suit</header><text>The term <term>covered suit</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H72D6A897F19044A8A034A6087A9621BC"><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="HE6221A5A49D54F61BDB6CDE6EB81A030"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any administrative proceeding under which the Federal Government 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="H54EDCE7FA67D4CC89465DF3FDB900611"><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="HDE2013EB04674D09B80947CEA59B6934" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 13. Disclosure of expenditures.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="H8D78D9ABB0714CA69F98F1EB82DF2066" commented="no"><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 to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HA65DF2FB9F254A30A9F00C8F7ED78919" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="H6A54E41AB4634679BB18585B07B35CC3" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HF1CBA5023EA842D79B67C668B56887CF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The court, in issuing any final order in any suit brought pursuant to paragraph (1), may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to an eligible party, whenever the court determines such award is appropriate.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1D1475F071DA40DA8F63D6B9F878BE54" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In awarding reasonable attorney and expert witness fees under subparagraph (A) in a suit brought pursuant to paragraph (1), the court—</text>
<clause id="HD34508D511B64DA792BA45DEA9F32D0D" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall base such fees on the prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of services furnished; and</text></clause> <clause id="H48F1E5A2253043E4B3C0D6218642EF9A" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may not award—</text>
<subclause id="HACF739835C294D35A687BCF8D733C934" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>such fees at a rate that exceeds $125 per hour unless the court determines a higher rate is justified because of cost of living or a special factor, such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys for such suit; or</text></subclause> <subclause id="HCC5C4A418B4E4140811C84B6AA796228" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>more than $200,000 total in such fees in a single such suit.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA0F47EE626D04E9C8BAB8269DBB0C6AC" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HE4FFF6375FDB40C2BDB41C7C9150F230"><enum>(i)</enum><text>In this paragraph, the term <quote>eligible party</quote>—</text> <subclause id="H6E85304EABF54FD1A091811209E3FCDE" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>means a party to a suit brought pursuant to paragraph (1) that is, as of the date on which the suit was initiated—</text>
<item id="H8D3F004B4095475FB35D06F817DAEF01" commented="no"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>an individual who has a net worth of not more than $2,000,000;</text></item> <item id="H4ABD39FB399244F093CF198206C6A266" commented="no"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an owner of an unincorporated business or a partnership, corporation, association, unit of local government, or organization, including an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code, that has—</text>
<subitem id="H1BCD42B1E4F7482781D6F03DB5CB27BD" commented="no"><enum>(AA)</enum><text>a net worth of not more than $7,000,000, including both personal and business interests; and</text></subitem> <subitem id="HF3A1C4FBEC304327A7815C4142C36FD9" commented="no"><enum>(BB)</enum><text>not more than 500 employees; or</text></subitem></item>
<item id="HBB42CA88F2074C14954AB023CDF03517" commented="no"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>a cooperative association (as that term is defined in section 15(a) of the Agriculture Marketing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/1141j">12 U.S.C. 1141j(a)</external-xref>)); and</text></item></subclause> <subclause id="H801B27E76C5C408380FAD54EB4B309E8" commented="no" indent="up2"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">does not include a party to a suit brought pursuant to paragraph (1) otherwise described in clause (i) of this subparagraph that has sought to recover attorney or expert witness fees under this subsection in 3 or more instances in the 12-month period preceding the date on which the final order in such suit is issued, including in such suit.</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H6A680340000C4247BF12D584FEDB47AC" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Where 2 or more parties to a suit brought pursuant to paragraph (1) are co-plaintiffs and each such party individually is an eligible party, clause (i)(I) shall be applied to such parties collectively.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="H980256019195412787447327F28F438B" commented="no"><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="H231C7DC6189E4338A4E241A84623B13A" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="H8D7D258E6DA94DC1B70E86B2CC958F24" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H763FAA8FD38A40938811E4533A53099F"><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="H1B64B3B856FC49E18EFF515228CCA892" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the economic effect;</text></clause>
<clause id="H79E8AF6A5AFB46AE95F53BE677E65C97" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the effects on national security;</text></clause> <clause id="H2D4C1400762543F5BD127C67148CD5FB" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the effects on human health and safety; and</text></clause>
<clause id="HFBE79E74007546BD92D20B5BF82C7869" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any other relevant effect.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HA9ADCFFCB24E433AB68297CC4E4B3D46" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The analysis is to be prepared in coordination with the States, local governments, and Tribes impacted by the determination.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD7DACCEC856D4D4697D02D563606A42A" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(C)</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> <section id="H7DD66846E6144DB99082621181E4506D"><enum>406.</enum><header>Notification of Congress of certain critical habitat designations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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 style="OLC" id="H6F79E6F339D744CCBB7590EB5C4D5E3B" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<subparagraph id="H0A8DDB7975AB42D8956FA16AAE5429A4" indent="up2"><enum>(D)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H85B535A6F28B4D02A19652F3BAEE9538"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a notification of any proposed designation of critical habitat under subparagraph (A) of an area greater than 50,000 acres.</text></clause> <clause id="H4D3F12E004954301AE77CABA5759F3E9" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>A notification submitted under clause (i) shall include—</text>
<subclause id="H13C8BACA2647420C950465E6EF573F11"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a description of the area proposed to be designated as critical habitat;</text></subclause> <subclause id="HB2E608F50DFB4160987D6D8DFAF9E9EB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>an inventory and evaluation of the natural resource uses and values of the area and adjacent public and nonpublic land and the economic impact of the proposed designation on individuals, local communities, and the United States;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H9363454814D44016B5D7C3D94D7C78C0"><enum>(III)</enum><text>an identification of users of the area and how such users will be affected by the proposed designation;</text></subclause> <subclause id="HBAD3CB406D3D4F70AAD78B5BA8754DA9"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>an analysis of the manner in which existing and potential natural resource uses are incompatible with or in conflict with the proposed designation and a statement of the provisions to be made for continuation or termination of existing such uses, including an economic analysis of such continuation or termination;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HC74672642D254107889D59ABACCD1FC8"><enum>(V)</enum><text>a statement of the consultation which has been or will be had with other Federal departments and agencies, regional, State, and local government bodies, and other appropriate individuals and groups with respect to the proposed designation; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="HBC6C474AD9CE4417AC3AA75385CAC49A"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>a statement indicating the effect of the proposed designation, if any, on State and local government interests and the regional economy.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H744A6DA21A124929A2D569B0EEAE5172"><enum>407.</enum><header>Notification of Congress of certain releases of experimental populations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1539">16 U.S.C. 1539(j)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H75086E3C989749EBAFB311B18AE3AEB2" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <paragraph id="HE971394D960E4A56823F573684D93EDA" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7281F191EE3840C1B2773AEE34977A93"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a notification of any proposed release under this subsection that covers an area greater than 50,000 acres.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE48CF769ADE24E80A9B18441384D473D" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A notification submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include—</text> <clause id="H1696BCCCD2004536B9AD465BC1C8167F" indent="paragraph"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a description of the area covered by the proposed release;</text></clause>
<clause id="H339F1F85BCD744F08564E2928BE986D1" indent="paragraph"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an inventory and evaluation of the natural resource uses and values of the area and adjacent public and nonpublic land and the economic impact of the proposed release on individuals, local communities, and the United States;</text></clause> <clause id="H0211196FFA18471CB3649F6D4B026C8B" indent="paragraph"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an identification of users of the area, and how such users will be affected by the proposed release;</text></clause>
<clause id="HD6483AA8B246493F9024AE9F55FC0A1E" indent="paragraph"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an analysis of the manner in which existing and potential natural resource uses are incompatible with or in conflict with the proposed release and a statement of the provisions to be made for continuation or termination of existing such uses, including an economic analysis of such continuation or termination;</text></clause> <clause id="H484297397B864EB38A0FB678F01CF94C" indent="paragraph"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a statement of the consultation which has been or will be had with other Federal departments and agencies, regional, State, and local government bodies, and other appropriate individuals and groups with respect to the proposed release; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H3F690683E0FC49E3A7D1A6761C1D60A8" indent="paragraph"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a statement indicating the effect of the proposed release, if any, on State and local government interests and the regional economy.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="H75C75BC1F0FB4D7D8879A63C3B2A0ED3"><enum>408.</enum><header>Annual cost analysis by the Fish and Wildlife Service</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 18 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1544">16 U.S.C. 1544</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HA5FF057B055340639520D5B90276CE69"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>, and make publicly available on the website data.gov,</quote> after <quote>to the Congress</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6CCC3ED81E824C8C8F2C13BD09AA5856"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>, including any such expenditures made with respect to an experimental population (as that term is defined in section 10(j))</quote> after <quote>to this Act</quote>. </text></paragraph></section>
<enum>V</enum><header>Streamlining permitting process</header>
<section id="HBD861005551747F9BA7F1B98B6B6D311"><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="H7B1A3EB29EAD4DD59C508B1DAE289EA8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by adding <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4F35B83F129C4EE597B847115FF9EB13"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8863D135E0D34A3CA0AAC1C7FA8239C3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (C);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H69E387346F934E0C83B3FD9A3EBD168E" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by striking <quote>taking on the species,</quote> and inserting <quote>taking on the species, including, as necessary, through the use of a substitute used to represent a listed species, habitat, or an ecological function to express the amount or extent of such incidental taking;</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HABE7228E88AB4942800764156637250E"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by striking <quote>minimize such impact,</quote> and inserting <quote>minimize such impact and that do not propose, recommend, or require the Federal agency or the applicant concerned, if any, to mitigate or offset such impact; and</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB83D2AA101ED453FAACE74B90CD68EC8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>by striking <quote>measures specified under clauses (ii) and (iii)</quote> and inserting <quote>measures specified under clause (ii)</quote>; </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAF01CB3DE4F74D0EBE139C9F1FD14CC9"><enum>(7)</enum><text>by striking clause (iii); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1D230D224B034C2E897538C3FA96BF66"><enum>(8)</enum><text>by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (iii).</text></paragraph></section> <section id="H581BB6FD4BCC4058B05592B2DD56629B" 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="H78E684718BE140149C9BFBABADBF2B39" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="H70DF0F4971FC4A73A36D2BE47B68A304" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HE88DDC2A2B1B410AAB0C511EE18D7E12"><enum>(A)</enum><text>With respect to an ongoing 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 agency action that occurs 10 years or more after the date on which the initial consultation for the agency action was completed, the Secretary shall determine whether continuing to implement the reasonable and prudent alternative or reasonable and prudent measure will materially increase the likelihood of and reduce the time for recovery of the applicable threatened species or endangered species.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H5E64B5CFD76C470EB94481582B80A596" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary determines under subparagraph (A) that continued implementation of the reasonable and prudent alternative or reasonable and prudent measure will not materially increase the likelihood of and shorten the time for the recovery of the applicable threatened species or endangered species, the Federal agency shall discontinue implementation of the reasonable and prudent alternative or reasonable and prudent measure notwithstanding subsection (a)(2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H97886588636847B498194157E1CCA9B6" commented="no"><enum>503.</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="HF46899E7224E4A60BE9F31E6BBC7CADB" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <paragraph id="H368E2A0A64524B5FA6C2A00961B5CBCB" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3A192458B89A402EABC0AB74151DCB02"><enum>(A)</enum><text>In carrying out a consultation under paragraph (2) or a conference under paragraph (4), the Secretary—</text>
<clause id="H7E2944F931714138B7639A0C0E16AFC4" indent="up2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>except as provided in clause (ii), may only consider the effects of the action that is the subject of such consultation or conference that the Secretary determines, based on clear and substantial information, using the best scientific and commercial data available, and in accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, are caused by the action itself and are reasonably certain to occur; and</text></clause> <clause id="H241C837D7AFD42E7A8396FADCB545B1F" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall consider as a beneficial effect of the action that is the subject of such consultation or conference any avoidance, minimization, or mitigation measure proposed by the applicable Federal agency or the applicant, if any.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H31A90C74AC3B41B09931289021E6EA01" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In determining whether an effect of an action described in subparagraph (A)(i) is caused by the action itself, the Secretary shall consider whether—</text> <clause id="HF2AD45A6F7FE4FC48AB948A255C7A0FE" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the effect is so remote in time from the action under consultation that it is not reasonably certain to occur;</text></clause>
<clause id="H1A2A06CDD53C4D20B172060FDADD762F" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the effect is so geographically remote from the immediate area involved in the action that it is not reasonably certain to occur;</text></clause> <clause id="H88C2E663B1F44B829BC8BCB91DBAAD75" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the effect is only reached through a lengthy causal chain such that the effect not reasonably certain to occur;</text></clause>
<clause id="H8FE7FE2190A84F9DB6507DCFDA835C29" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the applicable Federal agency does not have the ability to prevent the effect due to its limited statutory authority; or</text></clause> <clause id="H29E456072F7042FAA0E155D136405F53" commented="no"><enum>(v)</enum><text>would occur regardless of whether the action is carried out.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF0B852C5CA304268900F6730C807D2E4" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>In determining whether an effect of an action described in subparagraph (A)(i) is reasonably certain to occur, the Secretary shall consider factors including the following:</text> <clause id="HAD5198A6BE324D0E99DDB3C78C175945" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Experiences with other such actions that are similar in scope, nature, and magnitude to the applicable such action.</text></clause>
<clause id="HF8813A918AD744CC82E14366D5DC2C97" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Plans for such action.</text></clause> <clause id="H01F26A025F0441A186A49DC205C18EB1" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Any economic, administrative, or legal requirement necessary for the action to be carried out that has not been fulfilled.</text></clause>
<clause id="H0C9578CE292B40CEA4460F0D80C66E48"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Whether the effect has been observed previously and to what extent.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE538FE8C21C3433D90D1B3D8BB5C0C12" indent="up1" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out a consultation under paragraph (2) or a conference under paragraph (4), the Secretary may not consider an effect of the action that is the subject of such consultation or conference for which there is not clear and substantial information for the Secretary to base a determination on under subparagraph (A)(i) that the effect of the action is reasonably certain to occur.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCCC605DC81BD49229356A878D7AABFF6" indent="up1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>In this paragraph, the terms <quote>effect of the action</quote> and <quote>effects of the action</quote> mean a consequence or all consequences, respectively, to listed species or critical habitat that is or are caused by the proposed action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="HADC700DC55E14D7FAEAC701C57C01A05"><enum>504.</enum><header>Clarifying action area</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(3)(A)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HD8B2AF2D713B4FB699D03A1CE6B048DA" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<subparagraph id="HE0DD328C8FFB4FD7B3F1A7A6B815C1BF" indent="up2"><enum>(A)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H9E69215EEFC346BFB99F11F5A527BD6D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>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 within the area directly affected by the agency action, which such area may not be speculative or remote in time or distance from the agency action. In so doing, the Secretary shall differentiate the effects of the agency action from the environmental baseline.</text></clause> <clause id="H955D90C00778492D8BCBB3506F0372D5" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>If jeopardy or adverse modification is found, the Secretary, in cooperation and consultation with the Federal agency and applicant, if any, shall consider a range of reasonable and prudent alternatives and suggest from among that range those reasonable and prudent alternatives which the Secretary believes—</text>
<subclause id="HE74B382E6B3E4A59AA5F92A465C4A1A0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>would not violate subsection (a)(2);</text></subclause> <subclause id="H701B813E14BD478794B9FEF56205B40F" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>can be taken by the Federal agency or applicant, if any, in implementing the agency action;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H255263A283A24F889FAE0A5542ACFBD0"><enum>(III)</enum><text>are economically and technologically feasible for the Federal agency and applicant, if any, to implement; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="HC6EE369D54E24142A3F1AA8338277BB0"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>impose the fewest economic and other relevant costs for the applicant, if any.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H0B98DB80D3614767991596AB6A86E4C0" commented="no"><enum>505.</enum><header>Judicial review</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(n) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(n)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H426246A544A24FD99B37FBBBD00BF727"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Any person, as defined by section 3(13) of this Act,</quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC"><enum-in-header>(1)</enum-in-header></header-in-text> Any person</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD5FAB0256CC34056BCBBE85082688638"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), as so designated, by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HBC997239ED2F41B6ABB2C9A493F0BFCB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HDA43BB3139DB434E8BB76735C15E6F0D" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="HBEF6EBA3011C4075AAA6CA1CE2D06AB3" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any person may obtain judicial review, under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 5 of the United States Code, of any opinion issued by the Secretary under subsection (b) of this section in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by filing in such court not later than 150 days after the date on which the opinion is issued a written petition for review.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section> <section id="HE63B0EFF2B3C4A5CB429598FA5BA972F" section-type="subsequent-section" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>506.</enum><header>Expansion of exemption process and eligibility under section 7 of Endangered Species Act of 1973</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HDB4C9B0B13DA44AF9B2AF313049B1728"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (g)—</text> <subparagraph id="H073355D53D29443F9DC431D1C4F40DA1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HA6CABCB358DB4250B05C7879431CD535" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="H9E994DC9FD4E4DBF91D3A43C317A2C1D" indent="up1"><enum>(1)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HAD46DDE2A9864D7CA03F4A74F58888F5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text> <clause id="H31E03F1EB6CD41EC93A81D5CC730205B" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the agency action would violate subsection (a)(2); or</text></clause>
<clause id="HA29277489DD74166A1D23508129F0646" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a reasonable and prudent alternative necessary for the agency action to comply with subsection (a)(2) may—</text> <subclause id="HDE8AA248F88B43648D763519C39FC24B" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>impair national security; or</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HB51941502D3F4211816DE45E993DF363" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>result in significant adverse national or regional economic impacts.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF2C2A13AFDCB4B2EAD3322A4E5646AEC" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H423F78C286504AD18FD6E7C8578FCB4A" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The applicant for an exemption shall be referred to as the <quote>exemption applicant</quote> in this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2C2773319F90441397426D91FFDA1C54"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text>
<clause id="HAD1DA63EC2E9408BA9E0ED2D6D6D6D99"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H8C248ECBF23247778917D3952D23E9AF" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <subparagraph id="H8AD682CC814D4DAE87321EBB5DDE5CF3" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine—</text>
<clause id="HA8F9AEDB8F5547379DADB4124DB4B0AB"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that the Federal agency concerned and the exemption applicant have—</text> <subclause id="H0CA0025C9272455AB6D28EC474F5B362"><enum>(I)</enum><text>carried out the consultation responsibilities described in subsection (a) in good faith and made a reasonable and responsible effort to develop and fairly consider reasonable and prudent alternatives to the proposed agency action which would not violate subsection (a)(2);</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H8F37D10B9E5B4BB1995589C4D5540A7E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>conducted any biological assessment required by subsection (c); and</text></subclause> <subclause id="HC33FD2F8BC624577BFFEB25E2AAECBFD"><enum>(III)</enum><text>to the extent determinable within the time provided herein, refrained from making any irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources prohibited by subsection (d); and</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H2CD8C9D9942D4A9692175EC10E0DECB3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the exemption applicant submitted to the Secretary the application for exemption pursuant to paragraph (1)(A)(ii), whether a reasonable and prudent alternative necessary for the proposed agency action to comply with subsection (a)(2) may—</text> <subclause id="HEFE96253539C489D9A69DE38DD017BFB"><enum>(I)</enum><text>impair national security; or</text></subclause>
<subclause id="HD20D10C68F9D42608B9FDC9AAC3D2E2B"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">result in significant adverse national or regional economic impacts; or</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause> <clause id="H72686713260E4F7884D703F3154892A0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>(i), (ii), and (iii)</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC489ED6059114965B6EBB1EC4DE9E0D3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>(i), (ii) and (iii)</quote>; and </text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H659EFAF5F11840D4945A67C193514BE0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (5)—</text>
<clause id="HE34BCD6E0264439183A21C19F0D00719"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively; and</text></clause> <clause id="HD3A0255B9B2041D3A85D087F779EB623"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H371920608F9B4FBBA7A563ACC2C9C3DA" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<subparagraph id="H6C0E35A39C46401E8498A59C28ED7C65" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the exemption applicant submitted to the Secretary the application for exemption pursuant to paragraph (1)(A)(ii), after consultation with the National Security Council regarding potential impacts to national security and the Director of the National Economic Council regarding potential significant adverse national and regional economic impacts, any impairment to national security or significant adverse national or regional economic impacts that would result from a reasonable and prudent alternative necessary for the agency action to comply with subsection (a)(2), including a description of the analysis and conclusions produced by the National Security Council and the Director of the National Economic Council as a result of each such consultation;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF0FC773565FF48D3AB6A76D4EE5B4EEB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (h)(1)(A)(i), to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HA6EC40BBAC96419EA0CA240A8DF55191" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<clause id="HB9050578C941421EA518B3BCBDF67B21" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7150EC37F5D843CAB408BF403269B5AC"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">there are no reasonable and prudent alternatives to the agency action; or</text></subclause> <subclause id="H85283B5CBD1345158D42DC48120E4132" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to an agency action the application for exemption of which was submitted to the Secretary pursuant to subsection (g)(1)(A)(ii), a reasonable and prudent alternative necessary for the agency action to comply with subsection (a)(2) may—</text>
<item id="HBFBD4704610A4F48AA205172A321840A"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>impair national security; or</text></item> <item id="H90D54C3367CB43A89D2F70065FC2FF26"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">result in significant adverse national or regional economic impacts;</text></item></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<enum>VI</enum><header> Eliminating barriers to conservation</header>
<section id="HCDDBA274E27D41E1AAE0F4870621E180" 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="HD6170A42A87843E3BE4883C37BC31145" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <paragraph id="H95599B8AA7194A3EA59502B9A3C9367B" commented="no" indent="up1"><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="H9991F4C90FD34B81AAAAFBB159C5730C" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such fish or wildlife—</text> <clause id="H323367F3B3344A6A953C5E0252FC8654"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is a species that is not native to the United States; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H5D2142A3C197409BACD15F31D977C66F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is listed in Appendix I or II of the Convention; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H11597AFDB3344EE3967A96947947ABED" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to the export or import, each applicable requirement—</text>
<clause id="H94135C60A2234748A13F201590E9438D" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>of the Convention is satisfied; and</text></clause> <clause id="H0B485406818B4C8FBCC2D77253764032" 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="H8C1E278C547349BF83CA04A287DD5C35" 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) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1539">16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H1A5F27BD8500428DBCDA114A9624DC80"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6F84A342AB2D48AD898AE85D4A37A82C" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<subparagraph id="H115C15D1A8CC438FA16400A882DD3163" commented="no" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H6C3E53C666154F1BB4AC0B18DC3A58E3"><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="HE4CECF1CEE91480B9909721760837EEB" indent="up1"><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 species, including—</text>
<subclause id="H1436F9A210824084868124F72168F200" commented="no"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the export or import, delivery, receipt, carrying, transporting, or shipping in interstate or foreign commerce; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="H189F74C04CF94BE0A1352847463F2EE9" commented="no"><enum>(II)</enum><text>buying or selling or offering for sale in interstate or foreign commerce; or</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBCCEAE7939564134BA551DD073BA30F8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H5583B5A503B742ED8C2C34F6967B8184" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <subparagraph id="HBC34806757EF42AFA51054E34E03AFAF" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term <quote>is not detrimental to the survival of the species</quote> means—</text>
<clause id="H0978798A52644CF19627106E75BEDDA4"><enum>(i)</enum>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H844F9743BE37491FBE35A4EE99E2450E"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">will not have a negative effect on the status of the species in the wild;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H19AF4925A6DD40DEB912866424F3BCAE" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>is not a use or removal from the wild that will result in the loss or destruction of critical habitat of the species; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H1398E893D340406AAECE256E7194D6D1" indent="up1"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">will not directly interfere with recovery efforts with respect to the species; or</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="HE0BEB77F96574F3B926AB98F49F5811B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is an activity—</text>
<subclause id="H125BB5536428402C9111DC48720ED452"><enum>(I)</enum><text>involving wildlife described in section 17.21(g)(1) of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="H4A554927C84D430482AAB2D1DEF42EAA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>that satisfies the conditions for registration under clauses (iii) through (v) of that section.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<enum>VII</enum><header>Restoring congressional intent</header>
<section id="H48C187A0705A49FDB17EC814FDFC8709" 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="HD912BAABB2574FA987BCFA5D65D34D42" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Secretary,</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF39825B006C243E4A79538954DCAD3CB" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00">
<paragraph id="HFA8C5D8F3A0C4D45B2439193C6B02A32" 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="H78432DCA4E9C40689FE26E8AEC3C0A97" 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="H5FC385E58A30412E847F08ADB197A637" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HC0534DCC2A5E42B9B67ED1C565587546" display-inline="no-display-inline" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="HII00"> <paragraph id="H3FF894F2B47F466699C3C0666A13A9A5" 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>
March 24, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed