H.R.2933

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to reform the process for designating critical habitat under that Act.

Original Sponsor:
Dennis Cardoza (D-CA 18th)

Cosponsor Total: 20
(last sponsor added 03/16/2004)
10 Democrats
10 Republicans

About This Legislation:

7/25/2003--Introduced.
Critical Habitat Reform Act of 2003 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the process for designating critical habitat to be practicable, economically feasible, and concurrent with the approval of a recovery plan for a species.

Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from designating an area as critical habitat of a species, and any designation of critical habitat of a species from applying to an area, if the area is subject to: (1) a habitat conservation plan that the Secretary determines provides protection for habitat of the species that is substantially equivalent to the protection that would be provided by such designation; or (2) a State or Federal land conservation program that provides such protection.

Directs the Secretary, in determining whether an area is critical habit, to seek and, if available, consider information from local governments in the vicinity of the area, including local resource data maps.

Specifies factors for consideration of the economic impact on landowners under the Act, including lost revenues and costs associated with preparing reports, surveys, and analyses.

Modifies the contents of the required notice of proposed designation of critical habit to include any municipality having administrative jurisdiction over the area in which the species is believed to occur.

Requires the Secretary, with respect to a regulation to designate or revise a designation of critical habitat, to: (1) maintain, on a publicly accessible Internet page of the Department of the Interior, Geographical Information System maps and coordinates of the area; and (2) include in such notice a reference to the Internet page.

Critical Habitat Reform Act of 2003 (Introduced in House)

HR 2933 IH

108th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2933

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to reform the process for designating critical habitat under that Act.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 25, 2003

Mr. CARDOZA (for himself, Mr. DOOLEY of California, Mr. CARSON of Oklahoma, Mr. NUNES, Mr. BACA, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. HALL, Mr. BERRY, Mr. ROSS, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. HERGER, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. CALVERT, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to reform the process for designating critical habitat under that Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Critical Habitat Reform Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF CRITICAL HABITAT CONCURRENT WITH APPROVAL OF RECOVERY PLAN; STANDARD.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 4(a)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:

`(3)(A) The Secretary, by regulation promulgated in accordance with subsection (b) and to the maximum extent practicable, economically feasible, and determinable--

`(i) shall, concurrent with the approval of a recovery plan for a species under subsection (f), designate any habitat of such species that is then considered to be critical habitat; and

`(ii) may, from time-to-time thereafter as appropriate, revise such designation.

`(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary may not designate an area as critical habitat of a species, and any designation of critical habitat of a species shall not apply to an area, if the area is subject to--

`(i) a habitat conservation plan under section 10(a)(2) that the Secretary determines provides protection for habitat of the species that is substantially equivalent to the protection that would be provided by such designation; or

`(ii) a State or Federal land conservation program that the Secretary determines provides protection for habitat of the species that is substantially equivalent to the protection that would be provided by such designation.'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 4(b)(6)(C) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(6)(C)) is amended--

(1) by striking `concurrently' and all that follows through `(ii)' and inserting `concurrently with the approval of a recovery plan for the species under subsection (f), unless the Secretary determines that'; and

(2) by striking `, to the maximum extent prudent,'.

SEC. 3. BASES FOR DETERMINATION.

Section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(2)) is amended--

(1) by inserting `(A)' after `(2)'; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

`(B) In determining whether an area is critical habitat, the Secretary shall seek and, if available, consider information from local governments in the vicinity of the area, including local resource data and maps.

`(C) Consideration of economic impact under this paragraph shall include--

`(i) the direct, indirect, and cumulative economic impacts of the designation, including consideration of lost revenues to landowners and to the Federal Government and State and local governments; and

`(ii) costs associated with the preparation of reports, surveys, and analyses required to be undertaken, as a consequence of a proposed designation of critical habitat, by landowners seeking to obtain permits or approvals required under Federal, State, or local law.'.

SEC. 4. CONTENT OF NOTICES OF PROPOSED DESIGNATION OF CRITICAL HABITAT.

Section 4(b)(5)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(5)(A)) is amended--

(1) in clause (i) by striking `, and' and inserting a semicolon;

(2) in clause (ii)--

(A) by striking `and to each' and inserting `to each'; and

(B) by inserting `, and to the county and any municipality having administrative jurisdiction over the area, and' after `to occur'; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

`(iii) with respect to a regulation to designate or revise a designation of critical habitat--

`(I) maintain, on a publicly accessible Internet page of the Department, Geographical Information System maps and coordinates of the area; and

`(II) include in each of the notices required under this subparagraph a reference to the Internet page referred to in subclause (I).'.

SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF CRITICAL HABITAT.

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 purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)--

`(I) the term `geographical area occupied by the species' means the specific area currently used by the species for its essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, and sheltering; and

`(II) the term `essential to the conservation of the species' means, with respect to a specific area, that the area has those physical or biological features that are absolutely necessary and indispensable to conservation of the species concerned.

`(ii) For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), the term `essential for the conservation of the species' means, with respect to a specific area, that the area is absolutely necessary and indispensable to conservation of the species concerned.'.

Source: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?