III 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 306 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
FEBRUARY 7, 2012 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources 
MARCH 21, 2012 
Committee discharged; referred to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works 
AN ACT 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an 
agreement to provide for management of the free-roam-
ing wild horses in and around the Currituck National 
Wildlife Refuge. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Corolla Wild Horses 
Protection Act’’. 
SEC. 2. WILD HORSES IN AND AROUND THE CURRITUCK 
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. 
(a) AGREEMENT REQUIRED.— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:29 Mar 22, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H306.RCS
H306
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 306 RCS
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall enter into an agreement with the Corolla 
Wild Horse Fund (a nonprofit corporation estab-
lished under the laws of the State of North Caro-
lina), the County of Currituck, North Carolina, and 
the State of North Carolina within 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act to provide for 
management of free-roaming wild horses in and 
around the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. 
(2) TERMS.—The agreement shall— 
(A) allow a herd of not less than 110 and 
not more than 130 free-roaming wild horses in 
and around such refuge, with a target popu-
lation of between 120 and 130 free-roaming 
wild horses; 
(B) provide for cost-effective management 
of the horses while ensuring that natural re-
sources within the refuge are not adversely im-
pacted; 
(C) provide for introduction of a small 
number of free-roaming wild horses from the 
herd at Cape Lookout National Seashore as is 
necessary to maintain the genetic viability of 
the herd in and around the Currituck National 
Wildlife Refuge; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:29 Mar 22, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H306.RCS
H306
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 306 RCS
(D) specify that the Corolla Wild Horse 
Fund shall pay the costs associated with— 
(i) coordinating a periodic census and 
inspecting the health of the horses; 
(ii) maintaining records of the horses 
living in the wild and in confinement; 
(iii) coordinating the removal and 
placement of horses and monitoring of any 
horses removed from the Currituck County 
Outer Banks; and 
(iv) administering a viable population 
control plan for the horses including auc-
tions, adoptions, contraceptive fertility 
methods, and other viable options. 
(b) CONDITIONS
FOR EXCLUDING WILD HORSES 
FROM REFUGE.—The Secretary shall not exclude free- 
roaming wild horses from any portion of the Currituck 
National Wildlife Refuge unless— 
(1) the Secretary finds that the presence of 
free-roaming wild horses on a portion of the Refuge 
threatens the survival of an endangered species for 
which such land is designated as critical habitat 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:29 Mar 22, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H306.RCS
H306
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 306 RCS
(2) such finding is based on a credible peer-re-
viewed scientific assessment; and 
(3) the Secretary provides a period of public no-
tice and comment on that finding. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS FOR INTRODUCTION OF HORSES 
FROM CAPE LOOKOUT NATIONAL SEASHORE.—During 
the effective period of the memorandum of understanding 
between the National Park Service and the Foundation 
for Shackleford Horses, Inc. (a non-profit corporation or-
ganized under the laws of and doing business in the State 
of North Carolina) signed in 2007, no horse may be re-
moved from Cape Lookout National Seashore for intro-
duction at Currituck National Wildlife Refuge except— 
(1) with the approval of the Foundation; and 
(2) consistent with the terms of such memo-
randum (or any successor agreement) and the Man-
agement Plan for the Shackleford Banks Horse 
Herd signed in January 2006 (or any successor 
management plan). 
(d) NO LIABILITY CREATED.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed as creating liability for the United 
States for any damages caused by the free-roaming wild 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:29 Mar 22, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H306.RCS
H306
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 306 RCS
horses to any person or property located inside or outside 
the boundaries of the refuge. 
Passed the House of Representatives February 6, 
2012. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:29 Mar 22, 2012
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H306.RCS
H306
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS