State, local, and Indian tribal governments as well as private landowners be provided greater opportunity to actively participate in the study and decision-making processes. The list of nominees could be developed by the National Academy of Science to include a solicitation of names and credentials from the scientific community. Recovery teams be composed of representatives from academia, private interest groups, federal, state, and local governments, industry, and local community. For species already listed, recovery plans should be completed within a time frame not to exceed that required for plan development for newly listed species. Landowners and mineral interest owners be provided direct financial compensation for regulatory takings.
Any takings claim against federal agencies to be heard directly before a federal court.
Grants and tax incentives be offered as an inducement to landowners, mineral interest owners, communities, and industries directly affected by a recovery plan for their voluntary participation and assistance in species recovery. Eliminate consultation requirements for lands upon which federal managers have not previously identified habitat or ecosystem problems. Scientific evidence be required of federal administrators and litigants as proof that an endangered species does or has ever existed on the specific property in question. The Lacy Act in 1900, prohibiting interstate commerce of state-banned wildlife products, was the first such effort by Congress. Prior to this century, wildlife conservation measures were largely the responsibility of individual states.