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Barrasso Releases Draft Legislation to

Strengthen the Endangered Species Act

U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate • Increase transparency associated with carrying out
Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), conservation under the Act;
released the Endangered Species Act Amendments of 2018
discussion draft. The discussion draft reauthorizes the ESA • Prioritize available resources for species recovery;
for the first time since 1992. The discussion draft empha- • Provide regulatory certainty for landowners and other
sizes elevating the role of states and increasing stakeholders to facilitate participation in conservation
transparency in the implementation of the Endangered and recovery activities;
Species Act (ESA). It also prioritizes resources to better
meet its conservation goals and provides regulatory cer- • Require that listing of any species must also include
tainty to promote conservation and recovery activities. recovery goals, habitat objectives, and other criteria
established by the Secretary of Interior, in consultation
“When it comes to the Endangered Species Act, the status with impacted states, for the delisting or downlisting of
quo is not good enough,” said Barrasso. “We must do more the species;
than just keep listed species on life support – we need to
see them recovered. This draft legislation will increase • Require that the satisfaction of such criteria must be
state and local input and improve transparency in the list- based on the best scientific and commercial data available;
ing process. It will promote the recovery of species and • Enable states the opportunity to lead recovery efforts
allow local economies to flourish. I have worked closely with for listed species, including through a species’ recovery team;
the bipartisan Western Governors’ Association to draft a bill
that works for endangered species and people alike.” • Allow such a recovery team to modify a recovery goal,
habitat objective, or other established criteria, by unanmous
“I want to thank Governor Mead for his leadership on this vote with the approval of the secretary of the interior;
important topic. Wyoming continues to be a leader of
species protection and conservation. I will work with any- • Increase federal consultation with local communities;
one who is committed to help the Endangered Species Act • Improve transparency of information regarding the
reach its conservation potential.” status of a listed species;

Barrasso has worked with the Western Governors’ Associa- • Create a prioritization system for addressing listing
tion (WGA) in drafting the legislation. The bipartisan WGA petitions, status reviews, and proposed and final
has stated that the chairman’s discussion draft legislation is determinations, based on the urgency of a species’
generally consistent with the WGA recommendations for circumstances, conservation efforts, and available data
modernizing the ESA and includes provisions inspired by and information so that resources can be utilized in the
the association’s Species Conservation and Endangered Species most effective manner;
Act Initiative, led by Wyoming Governor Matt Mead. In a letter
from the WGA, the association wrote of the draft bill: • Include studies on how to improve conservation efforts
and to understand in greater depth the extent of
“The Western Governors’ Association appreciates the resources being expended across the federal
Chairman’s willingness to productively engage with Gover- government associated with implementation of the act; and
nors, and that the Chairman has approached this polarizing
topic in an inclusive, thoughtful manner. The proposed bill • Reauthorize the ESA for the first time since its funding
reflects this fact and offers meaningful, bipartisan solutions authorization expired in 1992.
to challenging species conservation issues.”

The discussion draft legislation will:
• Elevate the role of state conservation agencies in
species management;

Vol 29 Issue 1 2018 l SWPA Out of the Woods l swpa.ag l 21