Developing Alternative Mitigation Systems for Beavers Act
Bill: H.R.9501 | Sponsor: Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. (D-WA)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Developing Alternative Mitigation Systems for Beavers Act or the DAMS for Beavers Act
This bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to establish a competitive grant program to assist projects that use nonlethal measures to reduce property damage caused by beavers and maintain or enhance habitat for beavers and other wildlife.
In awarding grants, the FWS may prioritize projects that (1) include monitoring and research that facilitates evaluation of such projects and identification of best practices, (2) includes educational and outreach activities, (3) are located in an area that ensures grant recipients represent diverse geographic areas, and (4) satisfy any other criteria to effectively reduce damage to property and maintain or enhance habitat for beavers and other wildlife.

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to 
   assist projects that use nonlethal coexistence measures to reduce 
       property damage caused by beavers, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Developing Alternative Mitigation 
Systems for Beavers Act'' or the ``DAMS for Beavers Act''.

SEC. 2. BEAVER DAMAGE MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a grant program 
under which the Secretary may award grants on a competitive basis to 
assist projects that use nonlethal coexistence measures to--
            (1) reduce property damage caused by beavers; and
            (2) maintain or enhance habitat for beavers and other 
        wildlife.
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an 
applicant shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, which shall include the following:
            (1) A description of the experience, qualifications, and 
        training (including planned training) of the applicant with 
        respect to the use of nonlethal coexistence measures.
            (2) In the case of an application submitted by an applicant 
        other than a State or Tribal wildlife or natural resources 
        management agency (or equivalent), a certification that the 
        applicant has consulted with such an agency (or equivalent).
            (3) In the case of an application submitted by an applicant 
        other than the owner of the property on which a relevant 
        proposed project will be located, a certification from such 
        owner that such owner--
                    (A) approves the project; and
                    (B) for the duration of the project, will only 
                allow the use of nonlethal coexistence measures on the 
                property for purposes of reducing property damage 
                caused by beavers (except in the case of a circumstance 
                subject to an exclusion under subsection (d)(2)(A)(i)).
    (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under the Program, the Secretary 
may give priority to a project that--
            (1) includes monitoring and research that facilitates 
        evaluation of the project and identification of best practices;
            (2) includes educational and outreach activities;
            (3) is located in an area that ensures grant recipients 
        under the Program represent diverse geographic areas; and
            (4) satisfies any other criteria the Secretary determines 
        relevant to effectively reducing damage to property and 
        maintaining or enhancing habitat for beavers and other 
        wildlife.
    (d) Conditions.--
            (1) In general.--As a condition of receiving a grant under 
        the Program, for the duration of the project facilitated with 
        grant funds a grant recipient may only use nonlethal 
        coexistence measures for purposes of reducing property damage 
        caused by beavers on the property on which the project will be 
        carried out.
            (2) Exclusion.--
                    (A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply if 
                the Secretary determines that--
                            (i) an activity other than a nonlethal 
                        coexistence measure is necessary to protect 
                        human health or safety; or
                            (ii) the project assisted with grant funds 
                        has been implemented for not less than 1 year 
                        and such project has not sufficiently reduced 
                        the damage caused by beavers.
                    (B) Documentation.--The Secretary shall maintain a 
                record of each determination made under subparagraph 
                (A).
    (e) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project for 
which a grant is awarded under the Program may not exceed 75 percent.
    (f) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than 90 days after the 
end of each fiscal year for which grants are awarded under the Program, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available, a 
report that includes--
            (1) a detailed description of the projects funded by grants 
        under the Program;
            (2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Program in 
        selecting projects according to the priorities described in 
        subsection (c); and
            (3) recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the 
        Program.
    (g) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Nonlethal coexistence measure.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``nonlethal coexistence 
                measure'' means a measure that does not incorporate--
                            (i) the gripping, trapping, injuring, or 
                        killing of a beaver;
                            (ii) the destruction or removal of a beaver 
                        dam or lodge;
                            (iii) the relocation of a beaver; or
                            (iv) the installation of beaver dam 
                        analogues.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``nonlethal coexistence 
                measure'' may include fencing used to protect culverts, 
                fencing and paint-sand mixtures used to protect trees, 
                and flow management devices used to control water 
                levels in beaver ponds.
            (2) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the grant program 
        established under subsection (a).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United 
        States Fish and Wildlife Service.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 
        through 2027.
            (2) Limitation.--Not more than 10 percent of the funds made 
        available each fiscal year under paragraph (1) may be used for 
        administrative expenses of the Program.
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