Title: A bill to require the delisting of Mexican gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 on a determination that the subspecies has been sufficiently recovered in the United States.
Policy area: Animals

Summary:
This bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to determine whether a population of at least 100 Mexican gray wolves in a 5,000-square-mile area within the historic range of the Mexican gray wolf has been established, as described in the Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan of 1982. The term Mexican gray wolf includes any gray wolf that the USFWS determines will take the place of, or correspond with, the Mexican gray wolf.
If the USFWS makes a determination that the population has been established, then: (1) the Mexican gray wolf shall be excluded from a list of endangered species, threatened species, or experimental populations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; and (2) the management of the Mexican gray wolf must be assumed by each state in which the wolf is present.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2277 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2277

 To require the delisting of Mexican gray wolves under the Endangered 
  Species Act of 1973 on a determination that the subspecies has been 
              sufficiently recovered in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 4, 2018

   Mr. Flake introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the delisting of Mexican gray wolves under the Endangered 
  Species Act of 1973 on a determination that the subspecies has been 
              sufficiently recovered in the United States.

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

SECTION 1. DELISTING OF MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
            (2) Mexican gray wolf.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``Mexican gray wolf'' 
                means the subspecies Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus 
                baileyi) of the species gray wolf (Canis lupus).
                    (B) Inclusion.--The term ``Mexican gray wolf'' 
                includes any subspecies, distinct population segment, 
                or experimental population of the species gray wolf 
                (Canis lupus) that the Director determines after the 
                date of enactment of this Act will take the place of, 
                or correspond with, the subspecies designated as 
                Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) on that date of 
                enactment.
    (b) Requirement.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
(including regulations), effective beginning on the date on which the 
Director makes a positive determination under subsection (c)--
            (1) the Mexican gray wolf shall no longer be included on 
        any list of endangered species, threatened species, or 
        experimental populations under the Endangered Species Act of 
        1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and
            (2) management of the Mexican gray wolf shall be assumed by 
        each State in which the Mexican gray wolf is present, effective 
        beginning on the date of the determination.
    (c) Determination by Director.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall determine whether a 
        population of not fewer than 100 Mexican gray wolves in a 
        5,000-square-mile area within the historic range of the Mexican 
        gray wolf has been established, as described in the Mexican 
        Wolf Recovery Plan of 1982 prepared by the Mexican Wolf 
        Recovery Team (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Mexican 
        Wolf Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
        Albuquerque, New Mexico. 103 pp.).
            (2) Standards and procedures.--A determination under 
        paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance with applicable 
        standards and procedures used by the Director in determining 
        the status of a species under the Endangered Species Act of 
        1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
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