Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019

To establish National Wildlife Corridors to provide for the protection and restoration of certain native fish, wildlife, and plant species, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings and purposes. Sec. 3. Definitions. TITLE I—National Wildlife Corridor System on Federal land and water Sec. 101. National Wildlife Corridors. Sec. 102. Administrative designation of National Wildlife Corridors. Sec. 103. Management of National Wildlife Corridors. Sec. 104. Collaboration and coordination. Sec. 105. Effect. TITLE II—Tribal Wildlife Corridors Sec. 201. Tribal Wildlife Corridors. Sec. 202. Protection of Indian tribes. TITLE III—Wildlife movement grant program on non-Federal land and water Sec. 301. Wildlife movements grant program. Sec. 302. National Coordination Committee. Sec. 303. Regional wildlife movement councils. TITLE IV—National Wildlife Corridors Database Sec. 401. National wildlife corridors database. TITLE V—Funding Sec. 501. Wildlife Corridors Stewardship Fund. Sec. 502. Working landscapes. Sec. 503. Authorization of appropriations. 2. Findings and purposes (a) Findings Congress finds that— (1) the native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States are part of a rich natural heritage and an important legacy to pass on to future generations; (2) the populations of many native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States are in decline; (3) scientists estimate that 1 in 5 animal and plant species in the United States is at risk of extinction, and many species are declining in numbers; (4) threats to the survival and diversity of many native fish, wildlife, and plant species in the United States include the loss, degradation, fragmentation, and obstruction of natural habitats; (5) climate change threatens native fish, wildlife, and plant species; (6) the 2019 global assessment report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services found that— (A) 1,000,000 wildlife and plant species worldwide are now threatened with extinction; and (B) 75 percent of the land-based environment, and approximately 66 percent of the marine environment, have been significantly altered by human actions; (7) the conservation of new and existing landscape and seascape corridors, through which native species can transition from 1 habitat to another, plays an important role in helping— (A) to conserve native biodiversity; and (B) to ensure resiliency against impacts from a range of biotic and abiotic stressors; (8) the conservation, restoration, and establishment of new ecological connections to facilitate the movement of species into more suitable habitats is a key climate change adaptation strategy; (9) the protection of new and existing corridors is often one of the first steps in restoration and recovery planning; (10) States have recognized the importance of habitat connectivity, including— (A) a New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers' Conference on the importance of connectivity for ecosystem adaptability and resilience, biodiversity, and human communities; and (B) an expired 2007 policy resolution of the Western Governors' Association; (11) the strategic plan of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to respond to accelerating climate change entitled Rising to the Urgent Challenge processes such as pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, natural disturbance cycles, predator-prey relations, and others must be part of the natural landscapes we seek to maintain or restore … and are likely to function more optimally in landscapes composed of large habitat blocks connected by well-placed corridors (12) Federal and State agencies continue to develop policies to address— (A) the importance of conserving fish, wildlife, and plant corridors; (B) the gap between science and management for at-risk species; and (C) ecological connectivity; and (13) Federal policies consistently recognize the importance of voluntary improvement projects by private landowners to habitat conservation and restoration for native species. (b) Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to support a diverse array of native species, including species protected under Federal, State, and Tribal law, that have experienced or may experience habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, or obstruction to connectivity; (2) to provide long-term habitat connectivity for native species migration, dispersal, adaptation to climate and other environmental change, and genetic exchange; (3) to help restore wildlife movements that have been disrupted by habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, or obstruction; (4) to facilitate coordinated landscape- and seascape-scale connectivity planning and management across jurisdictions; and (5) to support State, Tribal, local, voluntary private landowner, and Federal agency decisionmakers in the planning and development of National Wildlife Corridors. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; (D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; (E) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Connectivity The term connectivity (3) Corridor The term corridor (A) provides habitat or ecological connectivity; and (B) allows for native species movement or dispersal. (4) Database The term Database (5) Federal land or water The term Federal land or water (6) Fund The term Fund (7) Habitat The term habitat (8) Indian land The term Indian land (A) held in trust by the United States; or (B) subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States. (9) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 5304 (10) National Coordination Committee The term National Coordination Committee (11) National Wildlife Corridor The term National Wildlife Corridor (12) National Wildlife Corridor System The term National Wildlife Corridor System (13) Native species The term native species (A) an indigenous fish, wildlife, or plant species of the United States, including subspecies and plant varieties; (B) a fish, wildlife, or plant species not indigenous to the United States that the Secretary determines to be— (i) noninvasive; or (ii) beneficial to the biodiversity of the natural ecosystem; and (C) a migratory bird species that is native to the United States or its territories (as defined in section 2(b) of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 703(b) (14) Regional ocean partnership The term regional ocean partnership (15) Regional wildlife movement council The term regional wildlife movement council (16) Secretaries The term Secretaries (A) the Secretary of Agriculture; (B) the Secretary of Commerce; (C) the Secretary of Defense; (D) the Secretary of the Interior; and (E) the Secretary of Transportation. (17) Secretary The term Secretary (18) Tribal Wildlife Corridor The term Tribal Wildlife Corridor (19) United States The term United States (A) a State; (B) the District of Columbia; (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (D) Guam; (E) American Samoa; (F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (G) the Federated States of Micronesia; (H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; (I) the Republic of Palau; (J) the United States Virgin Islands; and (K) the territorial sea (within the meaning of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1801 16 U.S.C. 1802 (20) Wildlife movement The term wildlife movement I National Wildlife Corridor System on Federal land and water 101. National Wildlife Corridors (a) Establishment There is established a system of corridors on Federal land and water, to be known as the National Wildlife Corridor System (1) statute; (2) rulemaking under section 102; or (3) a land management plan developed or revised under section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1712 (b) Strategy Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a strategy for the effective development of the National Wildlife Corridor System— (1) to support the fulfillment of the purposes described in section 2(b); (2) to ensure coordination and consistency across Federal agencies in the development, implementation, and management of National Wildlife Corridors; and (3) to develop a timeline for the implementation of National Wildlife Corridors. 102. Administrative designation of National Wildlife Corridors (a) Rulemaking (1) National wildlife corridors Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries, pursuant to the land, water, and resource management planning and conservation authorities of the Secretaries, shall establish a process, by regulation, for the designation and management of National Wildlife Corridors on Federal land or water under the respective jurisdictions of the Secretaries. (2) Federal land and water management The Secretaries shall consider the designation of National Wildlife Corridors in any process relating to the issuance, revision, or modification of a management plan for land or water under the respective jurisdiction of the Secretaries. (b) Criteria for designation The regulations promulgated by the Secretary under subsection (a)(1) shall ensure that, in designating a National Wildlife Corridor, the Secretaries— (1) base the designation of the National Wildlife Corridor on— (A) coordination with existing— (i) National Wildlife Corridors; (ii) corridors established by States; and (iii) Tribal Wildlife Corridors; and (B) the best available science of— (i) existing native species habitat; and (ii) likely future native species habitats; (2) determine that the National Wildlife Corridor supports the connectivity, persistence, resilience, and adaptability of the native species for which it has been designated by providing for— (A) dispersal and genetic exchange between populations; (B) range shifting, range expansion, or range restoration, such as in response to climate change; (C) seasonal movement or migration; or (D) succession, movement, or recolonization following— (i) a disturbance, such as fire, flood, drought, or infestation; or (ii) population decline or previous extirpation; (3) consult the Database; and (4) consider recommendations from the National Coordination Committee under section 302(e)(2)(C). (c) Designation of Federal land or water requiring restoration or connection of habitat The Secretaries may designate as a National Wildlife Corridor land or water that— (1) is necessary for the natural movements of 1 or more native species; (2) requires restoration, including— (A) land or water that is degraded; and (B) land or water from which a species is currently absent— (i) but may be colonized or recolonized by the species naturally; or (ii) to which the species may be reintroduced or restored based on habitat changes; and (3) is fragmented or consists of only a portion of the habitat required for the connectivity needs of 1 or more native species. (d) Nomination for designation (1) In general In establishing the process for designation under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall include procedures under which— (A) any State, Tribal, or local government, or a nongovernmental organization engaged in the conservation of native species and the improvement of the habitats of native species, may submit to the Secretaries a nomination to designate as a National Wildlife Corridor an area under the respective jurisdiction of the Secretaries; and (B) the Secretaries shall consider and, not later than 1 year after the date on which the nomination was submitted under subparagraph (A), respond to any nomination submitted under that subparagraph. (2) Supporting documentation A nomination for designation under paragraph (1)(A) shall include supporting documentation, including— (A) the native species for which the National Wildlife Corridor would be designated; (B) summaries and references of, with respect to the designation of a National Wildlife Corridor— (i) the best science available at the time of the submission of the nomination for designation documenting why the corridor is needed; and (ii) the most current scientific reports available at the time of the submission of the nomination for designation; (C) information with respect to how the nomination was coordinated with potential partners; (D) a description of supporting stakeholders, such as States, Indian tribes, local governments, scientific organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and affected voluntary private landowners; and (E) any additional information the Secretaries, in consultation with the National Coordination Committee, determine is relevant to the nomination. (e) Designation on military land (1) In general Any designation of a National Wildlife Corridor on a military installation (as defined in section 100 of the Sikes Act ( 16 U.S.C. 670 (A) shall be consistent with the use of military installations and State-owned National Guard installations to ensure the preparedness of the Armed Forces; and (B) may not result in a net loss in the capability of military installation lands to support the military mission of the installation. (2) Suspension or termination of designation The Secretary of Defense may suspend or terminate the designation of any National Wildlife Corridor on a military installation if the Secretary of Defense considers the suspension or termination to be necessary for military purposes, after public notice of— (A) the suspension or termination; and (B) any voluntary steps taken by the Department of Defense to attempt to provide similar ecological connectivity elsewhere on the military installation. 103. Management of National Wildlife Corridors (a) In general The Secretaries shall, consistent with other applicable Federal land and water management requirements, laws, and regulations, manage each National Wildlife Corridor under the respective administrative jurisdiction of the Secretaries in a manner that contributes to the long-term connectivity, persistence, resilience, and adaptability of native species for which the National Wildlife Corridor is identified, including through— (1) the maintenance and improvement of habitat connectivity within the National Wildlife Corridor; (2) the implementation of strategies and activities that enhance the ability of native species to respond to climate change and other environmental factors; (3) the maintenance or restoration of the integrity and functionality of the National Wildlife Corridor; (4) the mitigation or removal of human infrastructure that obstructs the natural movement of native species; and (5) the use of existing conservation programs, including Tribal Wildlife Corridors, under the respective jurisdiction of the Secretaries to contribute to the connectivity, persistence, resilience, and adaptability of native species. (b) National wildlife corridors spanning multiple jurisdictions In the case of a National Wildlife Corridor that spans the administrative jurisdiction of 2 or more of the Secretaries, the relevant Secretaries shall coordinate management of the National Wildlife Corridor in accordance with section 104(b) to advance the purposes described in section 2(b). (c) Road mitigation In the case of a National Wildlife Corridor that intersects, adjoins, or crosses a new or existing State, Tribal, or local road or highway, the relevant Secretaries shall coordinate with the Secretary of Transportation and State, Tribal, and local transportation agencies, as appropriate, to identify and implement voluntary environmental mitigation measures— (1) to improve public safety and reduce vehicle-caused native species mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity; and (2) to mitigate damage to the natural movements of native species through strategies such as— (A) the construction, maintenance, or replacement of native species underpasses, overpasses, and culverts; and (B) the maintenance, replacement, or removal of dams, bridges, culverts, and other hydrological obstructions. (d) Compatible uses A use of Federal land or water that was authorized before the date on which the Federal land or water is designated as a National Wildlife Corridor may continue if the applicable Secretaries determine that the use is compatible with the wildlife movements of the species for which the National Wildlife Corridor was designated, consistent with applicable Federal laws and regulations. 104. Collaboration and coordination (a) Collaboration The Secretaries may partner with and provide funds to States, local governments, Indian tribes, the National Coordination Committee, voluntary private landowners, and the regional wildlife movement councils to support the purposes described in section 2(b). (b) Coordination To the maximum extent practicable and consistent with applicable law, the Secretary or Secretaries, as applicable, shall develop the strategy under section 101(b), designate National Wildlife Corridors under section 102, and manage National Wildlife Corridors under section 103— (1) in consultation and coordination with— (A) other relevant Federal agencies; (B) States, including— (i) State fish and wildlife agencies; and (ii) other State agencies responsible for managing the natural resources and wildlife; (C) Indian tribes; (D) units of local government; (E) other interested stakeholders identified by the Secretary, including applicable voluntary private landowners; (F) landscape- and seascape-scale partnerships, including— (i) the National Fish Habitat Partnership; (ii) the National Marine Fisheries Service; (iii) regional fishery management councils established under section 302(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(a) (iv) relevant regional ocean partnerships; (v) the Climate Science Centers of the Department of the Interior; and (vi) the Landscape Conservation Cooperative Network; (G) the National Coordination Committee; and (H) the regional wildlife movement councils. 105. Effect (a) Relationship to other conservation laws Nothing in this Act amends or otherwise affects any other law (including regulations) relating to the conservation of native species. (b) Jurisdiction of States and Indian tribes Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act affects the jurisdiction of a State or an Indian tribe with respect to fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping, in a National Wildlife Corridor or a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. II Tribal Wildlife Corridors 201. Tribal Wildlife Corridors (a) Establishment (1) In general (A) Nominations An Indian tribe may nominate a corridor within Indian land of the Indian tribe as a Tribal Wildlife Corridor by submitting to the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (referred to in this section as the Secretary (B) Determination Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an application under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall determine whether the nominated Tribal Wildlife Corridor described in the application meets the criteria established under paragraph (2). (C) Publication On approval of an application under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the establishment of the Tribal Wildlife Corridor, which shall include a map and legal description of the land designated as a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. (2) Criteria (A) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish criteria for determining whether a corridor nominated by an Indian tribe under paragraph (1)(A) qualifies as a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. (B) Inclusions The criteria established under subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum, the following: (i) The restoration of historical habitat for the purposes of facilitating connectivity. (ii) The management of land for the purposes of facilitating connectivity. (iii) The management of land to prevent the imposition of barriers that may hinder current or future connectivity. (3) Removal (A) In general An Indian tribe may elect to remove the designation of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor on the Indian land of the Indian tribe by notifying the Secretary. (B) Effect of removal An Indian tribe that elects to remove a designation under subparagraph (A) may not receive assistance under subsection (c) or (d)(1) or section 301. (b) Coordination of land use plans Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1712 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking Indian tribes by Indian tribes— (1) by ; (B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) for the purposes of determining whether the land use plans for land in the National Forest System would provide additional connectivity to benefit the purposes of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor established under section 10(a)(1) of the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (g) Tribal Wildlife Corridors On the establishment of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor under section 10(a)(1) of the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 (1) be expanded into public lands; or (2) otherwise benefit connectivity (as defined in section 3 of that Act) between public lands and the Tribal Wildlife Corridor. . (c) Technical assistance The Secretary shall provide to Indian tribes technical assistance relating to the establishment, management, and expansion of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor, including assistance with accessing wildlife data and working with voluntary private landowners to access Federal and State programs to improve wildlife habitat and connectivity on non-Federal land. (d) Availability of assistance (1) Conservation programs consideration (A) In general In evaluating applications under conservation programs described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Agriculture may consider whether a project would enhance connectivity through the expansion of a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. (B) Programs described The conservation programs referred to in subparagraph (A) are any of the following conservation programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture: (i) The conservation reserve program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3831 (ii) The environmental quality incentives program established under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa (iii) The conservation stewardship program established under subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–21 (iv) The agricultural conservation easement program established under subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3865 (2) Wildlife movements grant program An Indian tribe that has a Tribal Wildlife Corridor established on the Indian land of the Indian tribe shall be eligible for a grant under the wildlife movements grant program under section 301, subject to other applicable requirements of that grant program. (e) Savings clause Nothing in this section authorizes or affects the use of private property or Indian land. 202. Protection of Indian tribes (a) Federal trust responsibility Nothing in this Act amends, alters, or waives the Federal trust responsibility to Indian tribes. (b) Freedom of Information Act (1) Exemption Information described in paragraph (2) shall not be subject to disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act (A) cause a significant invasion of privacy; (B) risk harm to human remains or resources, cultural items, uses, or activities; or (C) impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners. (2) Information described Information referred to in paragraph (1) is information received by a Federal agency— (A) pursuant to this Act relating to— (i) the location, character, or ownership of human remains of a person of Indian ancestry; or (ii) resources, cultural items, uses, or activities identified by an Indian tribe as traditional or cultural because of the long-established significance or ceremonial nature to the Indian tribe; or (B) pursuant to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ( 25 U.S.C. 3001 III Wildlife movement grant program on non-Federal land and water 301. Wildlife movements grant program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a wildlife movements grant program (referred to in this section as the grant program (b) Grants Beginning not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, based on recommendations from the National Coordination Committee under section 302(e)(2)(C), shall make grants to 1 or more projects that— (1) are a regional priority project identified by a regional wildlife movement council; (2) satisfy the purposes described in section 2(b); and (3) increase connectivity for native species. (c) Eligible recipients A person that is eligible to receive a grant under the grant program is— (1) a voluntary private landowner or group of landowners; (2) a State fish and wildlife agency or other State agency responsible for managing natural resources and wildlife; (3) an Indian tribe; (4) a unit of local government; (5) an agricultural cooperative; (6) water, irrigation, or rural water districts or associations, or other organizations with water delivery authority (including acequias and land grant communities in the State of New Mexico); (7) institutions of higher education; (8) an entity approved for a grant by a regional wildlife movement council; and (9) any group of entities described in paragraphs (1) through (8). (d) Requirements In administering the grant program, the Secretary shall use the criteria, guidelines, contracts, reporting requirements, and evaluation metrics developed by the National Coordination Committee under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 302(e)(2). 302. National Coordination Committee (a) Establishment Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a committee, to be known as the National Coordination Committee (b) Administrative support The Secretary shall provide administrative support for the National Coordination Committee. (c) Membership The National Coordination Committee shall be composed of— (1) the Secretary (or a designee); (2) the Secretary of Transportation (or a designee); (3) the Secretary of Agriculture (or a designee); (4) the Secretary of Commerce (or a designee); (5) the Secretary of Defense (or a designee); (6) the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (or a designee); (7) the Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (or a designee); (8) 2 representatives of intertribal organizations, to be appointed by the Secretary; (9) the chairperson of each regional wildlife movement council (or a designee); and (10) not more than 3 representatives of nongovernmental, science, or academic organizations with expertise in wildlife conservation and habitat connectivity, to be appointed by the Secretary in a manner that ensures that the membership of the National Coordination Committee is fair and balanced. (d) Chairperson The National Coordination Committee shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the National Coordination Committee. (e) Duties The National Coordination Committee— (1) shall establish standards for regional wildlife movement plans to allow for better cross-regional collaboration; and (2) shall, with respect to the wildlife movements grant program under section 301— (A) establish criteria and develop guidelines for the solicitation of applications for grants by regional wildlife movement councils; (B) develop standardized contracts, reporting requirements, and evaluation metrics for grant recipients; and (C) make recommendations annually to the Secretary for the selection of grant recipients on the basis of the ranked lists of regional priority projects received from the regional wildlife movement councils under section 303(c)(4) that are consistent with the purposes described in section 2(b). (f) Applicability of FACA Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the National Coordination Committee. 303. Regional wildlife movement councils (a) Establishment Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish not less than 4 regional wildlife movement councils with separate geographic jurisdictions that encompass the entire United States. (b) Membership (1) In general Each regional wildlife movement council shall be composed of— (A) the director of each State fish and wildlife agency within the jurisdiction of the regional wildlife movement council (or a designee); (B) balanced representation from Tribal governments within the jurisdiction of the regional wildlife movement council; (C) to serve as a Federal agency liaison and nonvoting, ex officio member— (i) the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (or a designee); or (ii) the director of any applicable regional office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (or a designee); (D) not more than 3 representatives of nongovernmental, science, or academic organizations with expertise in native species conservation and the habitat connectivity needs of the region covered by the regional wildlife movement council; and (E) not more than 3 voluntary representatives of private landowners with property in the applicable region, not less than 1 of whom shall be a farmer or rancher. (2) Requirements (A) Membership The Secretary shall ensure that the membership of each regional wildlife movement council is fair and balanced in terms of expertise and perspectives represented. (B) Expertise Each regional wildlife movement council shall include experts in ecological connectivity, native species ecology, and ecological adaptation. (3) Chairperson Each regional wildlife movement council shall select a Chairperson from among the members of the regional wildlife movement council. (c) Duties Each regional wildlife movement council shall— (1) not later than 2 years after the date of establishment of the regional wildlife movement council and in accordance with any standards established by the National Coordination Committee, prepare and submit to the Secretary and the National Coordination Committee a regional wildlife movement plan that maintains natural wildlife movement by identifying research priorities and data needs for the Database that is revised, amended, or updated not less frequently than once every 5 years; (2) provide for public engagement, including engagement of Indian tribes, at appropriate times and in appropriate locations in the region covered by the regional wildlife movement council, to allow all interested persons an opportunity to be heard in the development and implementation of a regional wildlife movement plan under paragraph (1); (3) solicit applications for wildlife movement grants under section 301 in accordance with the criteria and guidelines established by the National Coordination Council under section 302(e)(2)(A); (4) in accordance with the criteria and guidelines established under section 302(e)(2)(A), submit to the National Coordination Committee an annual list of regional priority projects, in ranked order, for wildlife movements grants under section 301 to maintain wildlife movements in the area under the jurisdiction of the regional wildlife movement council; and (5) submit to the Secretary and the National Coordination Committee, and make publicly available, an annual report describing the activities of the regional wildlife movement council. (d) Coordination If applicable, to increase habitat connectivity between designated Federal land and water and non-Federal land and water, a regional wildlife movement council shall coordinate with— (1) Federal agencies; (2) Indian tribes; (3) regional fishery management councils established under section 302(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1852(a) (4) migratory bird joint ventures partnerships recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with respect to migratory bird species; (5) State fish and wildlife agencies; (6) regional associations of fish and wildlife agencies; (7) nongovernmental organizations; (8) applicable voluntary private landowners; (9) the National Coordination Committee; (10) fish habitat partnerships; (11) other regional wildlife movement councils with respect to crossregional projects; (12) international wildlife management entities with respect to transboundary species in accordance with trade policies of the United States; and (13) Federal and State transportation agencies. (e) Applicability of FACA Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the regional wildlife movement councils. IV National Wildlife Corridors Database 401. National wildlife corridors database (a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the United States Geological Survey (referred to in this section as the Director National Wildlife Corridors Database (b) Contents (1) In general The Database shall— (A) include maps, data, models, surveys, and descriptions of native species habitats, wildlife movements, and corridors that have been developed by Federal agencies that pertain to Federal land and water; (B) include maps, models, analyses, and descriptions of projected shifts in habitats, wildlife movements, and corridors of native species in response to climate change or other environmental factors; (C) reflect the best scientific data and information available; and (D) in accordance with the requirements of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–254 (c) Requirements Subject to subsection (d), the Director, in collaboration with the National Coordination Committee, the regional wildlife movement councils, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall— (1) design the Database to support State, Tribal, local, voluntary private landowner, and Federal agency decisionmakers and the public with data that will allow those entities— (A) to prioritize and target natural resource adaptation strategies and enhance existing State and Tribal corridor protections; (B) to assess the impacts of proposed energy, water, transportation, and transmission projects, and other development activities, and to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of those projects and activities on National Wildlife Corridors; (C) to assess the impact of new and existing development on native species habitats and National Wildlife Corridors; and (D) to develop strategies that promote habitat connectivity to allow native species to move— (i) to meet biological and ecological needs; (ii) to adjust to shifts in habitat; and (iii) to adapt to climate change; (2) establish a coordination process among Federal agencies to update maps and other information with respect to landscapes, seascapes, native species habitats and ranges, habitat connectivity, National Wildlife Corridors, and wildlife movement changes as information based on new scientific data becomes available; and (3) not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, develop, submit a report to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress, and make publicly available a report, that, with respect to the Database— (A) outlines the categories for data that may be included in the Database; (B) outlines the data protocols and standards for each category of data in the Database; (C) identifies gaps in native species habitat and National Wildlife Corridor information; (D) prioritizes research and future data collection activities for use in updating the Database; and (E) evaluates and quantifies the efficacy of the Database to meet the needs of the entities described in paragraph (1). (d) Proprietary interests and protected information In developing the Database, the Director shall— (1) as applicable, protect proprietary interests with respect to any licensed information, licensed data, and other items contained in the Database; and (2) protect information in the Database with respect to the habitats and ranges of specific native species to prevent poaching, illegal taking and trapping, and other related threats to native species. V Funding 501. Wildlife Corridors Stewardship Fund (a) Establishment and contents There is established in the Treasury a fund, to be known as the Wildlife Corridors Stewardship Fund (b) Use The Fund— (1) shall be administered by the Secretary and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, acting jointly; and (2) may be used by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to enhance the management and protection of National Wildlife Corridors by providing financial assistance to the Federal Government, Indian tribes, and nongovernmental, science, and academic organizations. (c) Donations The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation may solicit and accept donations of amounts for deposit into the Fund. (d) Coordination In administering the Fund, the Secretary and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation may coordinate with regional wildlife movement councils, regional ocean partnerships, and the National Coordination Committee to the maximum extent practicable. (e) Disclosure of use Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation shall make publicly available a description of usage of the Fund during the preceding calendar year. 502. Working landscapes The Secretary of Agriculture may— (1) direct investments in working landscapes through conservation programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture, including programs under title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3801 (2) notwithstanding any other provision of law, give priority under the conservation programs described in paragraph (1) to non-Federal land and water for the purposes described in section 2(b). 503. Authorization of appropriations (a) National Wildlife Corridor System There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out title I for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter— (1) to the Secretary, $7,500,000; (2) to the Secretary of Agriculture, $3,000,000; (3) to the Secretary of Defense, $1,500,000; (4) to the Secretary of Commerce, $3,000,000; and (5) to the Secretary of Transportation, $3,000,000. (b) Tribal Wildlife Corridors There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out title II $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter. (c) Wildlife movements grant program and regional wildlife movement councils (1) Wildlife movement grant program (A) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the wildlife movements grant program under section 301 $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter. (B) Requirements Amounts appropriated under subparagraph (A) may be used to complement or match other Federal or non-Federal funding received by the projects funded by those grants. (C) Administrative support Not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated under subparagraph (A) may be used for administrative support. (2) Regional wildlife movement councils (A) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to provide support for the regional wildlife movement councils to carry out section 303 $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter. (B) Equal division Amounts appropriated under subparagraph (A) shall be proportionally divided between each regional wildlife movement council. (d) National Wildlife Corridors Database There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out section 401— (1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and (2) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter.

Summary: Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 This bill provides for the conservation and restoration of habitats that facilitate the movement of certain native or noninvasive species (e.g., fish, wildlife, or plant species) that may be at risk due to habitat loss or fragmentation. The bill establishes a National Wildlife Corridor System and provides for the designation and management of such corridors on federal land and water. A corridor means a feature of the landscape or seascape that (1) provides habitat or ecological connectivity, and (2) allows for movement or dispersal of native or noninvasive fish, wildlife, or plants. Indian tribes may nominate a corridor within their land to be included in a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. In addition, the bill establishes a Wildlife Corridors Stewardship Fund to receive donations for the management and protection of the corridors. It also establishes a wildlife movements grant program to encourage the passage of fish, wildlife, or plant species across a landscape or seascape. The National Coordination Committee, established by this bill, must recommend projects to fund under the grant program. The committee must also develop standards for regional wildlife movement plans to allow for better cross-regional collaboration. No fewer than four regional wildlife movement councils must be established. Among other things, the councils must submit to the committee regional wildlife movement plans as well as lists of funding priorities. Finally, the U.S. Geological Survey must establish a National Wildlife Corridors Database.