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to the availability of funds, the Secretary, after consulting
with other appropriate Federal officials, shall—
(A) consult on the proposal with the government of
each country in which the project is to be conducted;
(B) after taking into consideration any comments
resulting from the consultation, approve or disapprove the
proposal; and
(C) provide written notification of the approval or dis-
approval to the person who submitted the proposal, other
appropriate Federal officials, and each country described
in subparagraph (A).
(d) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary may approve a
project proposal under this section if the project will enhance pro-
grams for conservation of great apes by assisting efforts to—
(1) implement conservation programs;
(2) address the conflicts between humans and great apes
that arise from competition for the same habitat;
(3) enhance compliance with CITES and other applicable
laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of great
apes or regulate the use and management of great ape habitat;
(4) develop sound scientific information on, or methods
for monitoring—
(A) the condition and health of great ape habitat;
(B) great ape population numbers and trends; or
(C) the current and projected threats to the habitat,
current and projected numbers, or current and projected
trends; or
(5) promote cooperative projects on the issues described
in paragraph (4) among government entities, affected local
communities, nongovernmental organizations, or other persons
in the private sector.
(e) PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, in determining whether to approve project proposals under
this section, the Secretary shall give preference to conservation
projects that are designed to ensure effective, long-term conserva-
tion of great apes and their habitats.
(f) MATCHING FUNDS.—In determining whether to approve
project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give pref-
erence to projects for which matching funds are available.
(g) PROJECT REPORTING.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each person that receives assistance
under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary
periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary considers
necessary) that include all information that the Secretary, after
consultation with other appropriate government officials, deter-
mines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of
the project for the purposes of ensuring positive results,
assessing problems, and fostering improvements.
(2) AVAILABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.—Reports under paragraph
(1), and any other documents relating to projects for which
financial assistance is provided under this Act, shall be made
available to the public.
(h) LIMITATIONS
ON USE
FOR CAPTIVE BREEDING.—Amounts
provided as a grant under this Act—
(1) may not be used for captive breeding of great apes
other than for captive breeding for release into the wild; and
H. R. 4320—5
(2) may be used for captive breeding of a species for release
into the wild only if no other conservation method for the
species is biologically feasible.
(i) PANEL.—Every 2 years, the Secretary shall convene a panel
of experts to identify the greatest needs for the conservation of
great apes.
SEC. 5. GREAT APE CONSERVATION FUND.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the Multinational
Species Conservation Fund a separate account to be known as
the ‘‘Great Ape Conservation Fund’’, consisting of—
(1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury
for deposit into the Fund under subsection (e);
(2) amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 6;
and
(3) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the
Fund under subsection (c).
(b) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), upon request
by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer
from the Fund to the Secretary, without further appropriation,
such amounts as the Secretary determines are necessary to
provide assistance under section 4.
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—Of the amounts in the
account available for each fiscal year, the Secretary may expand
not more than 3 percent, or up to $80,000, whichever is greater,
to pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry out this
Act.
(c) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest
such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the
Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current with-
drawals. Investments may be made only in interest-bearing
obligations of the United States.
(2) ACQUISITION
OF
OBLIGATIONS.—For the purpose of
investments under paragraph (1), obligations may be acquired—
(A) on original issue at the issue price; or
(B) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the
market price.
(3) SALE OF OBLIGATIONS.—Any obligation acquired by the
Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the
market price.
(4) CREDITS TO FUND.—The interest on, and the proceeds
from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the
Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund.
(d) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amounts required to be transferred
to the Fund under this section shall be transferred at least
monthly from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund
on the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury.
(2) ADJUSTMENTS.—Proper adjustment shall be made in
amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates
were in excess of or less than the amounts required to be
transferred.
(e) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.—The Secretary may
accept and use donations to provide assistance under section 4.
Amounts received by the Secretary in the form of donations shall
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be transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit into
the Fund.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $5,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.