United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-4075
Sponsor: Rep. Pombo, Richard W. [R-CA-11]
Introduced: 2005-10-18 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alaska
Arts, Culture, Religion
Authorization
Bears
Biological research
Canada
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Cost effectiveness
Cultural relations
Data banks
Department of Commerce
Department of the Interior
Directories
Ecological research
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Emergency Management
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Environmental education
Equipment and supplies
Eskimos
Europe
Exhibitions
Export controls
Exports
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to research
Federal employees
Fines (Penalties)
Fisheries
Fishery management
Fishing
Fishing boats
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Gifts
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government liability
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Greenland
Handicraft
Health
Hunting
Import restrictions
Imports
Indigenous peoples
International Affairs
International environmental cooperation
Internet
Ivory
Labor and Employment
Law
Liability (Law)
Licenses
Marine Mammal Commission
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine biology
Marine ecology
Marine mammals
Minorities
Native Americans
Overfishing
Pacific Ocean
Pest control
Pests
Planning
Product development
Rescue work
Research and development
Research grants
Russia
Science, Technology, Communications
Seals (Animals)
Sports and Recreation
State laws
Subsidies
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Transportation and Public Works
Travel
Treaties
Veterinary medicine
Wages
Whales
Wild animal trade
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife reintroduction
Zoos

Summary:
action_date: 2005-10-18
text: 
Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 2005 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (the Act) to grant limited authority for a marine mammal product to be exported from the United States, including in cases where an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo residing in Alaska exports the animal as part of a cultural exchange.
 
Makes it unlawful for anyone under U.S. jurisdiction to release any captive marine mammal unless authorized under the Act. 
 
Increases civil fines and criminal penalties, including vessel penalties for violations of the Act. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Commerce (currently, the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is operating) to carry out a fishing gear development program to devise fishing gear and methods that reduce the incidental taking of marine mammals. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a gear improvement mini-grant program for the development of such fishing gear.
 
Applies provisions concerning the incidental taking of marine mammals to all fishing operations (currently, only commercial fishing). Requires take reduction plans to track the number of animals from strategic stocks being incidentally lethally taken or seriously injured each year through recreational fishing (in addition to commercial fishing), and to publish proposals for reducing such incidents within a strategic stock under certain conditions.
 
Requires the Secretary to conduct a program on the nonlethal removal and control of nuisance pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), including the development of new technologies to deter such animals. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a grant to an eligible applicant to carry out a qualified nonlethal control project.
 
Directs the Secretary to collect and update existing practices and procedures for rescuing and rehabilitating entangled (currently, only stranded) marine mammals (having gear, rope, line, or net wrapped around it). Authorizes the Secretary to enter into entanglement response agreements.
 
Renews the scrimshaw exemption (allowing the processing and sale of pre-Endangered Species Act ivory) for the 11-year period beginning October 31, 1999.

action_date: 2006-07-17
text: 
Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 2006 - (Sec. 4) Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (the Act) to grant limited authority for a marine mammal product to be exported from the United States for noncommercial and cultural purposes, including export by an Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo residing in Alaska as part of a cultural exchange.
 
(Sec. 5) Makes it unlawful for anyone under U.S. jurisdiction to release any captive marine mammal unless specifically authorized under the Act.
 
(Sec. 7) Revises requirements for the export of a marine mammal for purposes of public display, scientific research, or enhancing the survival or recovery of a species or stock. Prohibits the relevant Secretary (Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is operating, the Secretary of the Interior, or the Secretary of Commerce) from requiring or requesting, through comity or any other means, that a marine mammal or its progeny remain subject to U.S. jurisdiction when located in waters or on lands subject to the jurisdiction of another country. 
 
Requires the relevant Secretary to establish and maintain, and update annually, an inventory of all marine mammals possessed pursuant to a permit that are held within U.S. lands and waters. Requires a review of the inventory and the relevant Secretary to report to Congress on the findings of such review.
 
Revises certain notification requirements to require that the relevant Secretary be notified only of the transport of a marine mammal for purposes of public display in cases where the transfer is between facilities where the ownership and care of the marine mammal will be under the same license or registration issued under the Animal Welfare Act. (Eliminates the requirement for the Secretary to receive notice in advance of the transport in such cases.)
 
(Sec. 8) Increases civil fines and criminal penalties, including vessel penalties for violations of the Act. 
 
(Sec. 9) Requires: (1) the relevant Secretary to include the results of research under the marine mammal research grant program in a certain annual report; and (2) the head of each federal agency that conducts and provides funds for marine mammal research to report annually to Congress on such research.
 
(Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary of Commerce (currently, the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is operating) to carry out a fishing gear development program to devise fishing gear and methods that reduce the incidental taking of marine mammals during fishing. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a gear improvement mini-grant program for the development of such fishing gear.
 
(Sec. 12) Applies provisions concerning the incidental taking of marine mammals to all fishing operations (currently, only commercial fishing). Requires take reduction plans to track the number of animals from strategic stocks being incidentally lethally taken or seriously injured each year through recreational fishing (in addition to commercial fishing), and to publish proposals for reducing such incidents within a strategic stock under certain conditions. Extends the deadline goal of a plan for the reduction of mortality or serious injury of marine mammals taken incidentally in the course of commercial or recreational fishing.
 
(Sec. 13) Requires the relevant Secretary to conduct a program on the nonlethal removal and control of nuisance pinnipeds, including the development of new technologies to deter nuisance pinnipeds. Requires an annual report from the relevant Secretary to Congress on marine mammal research results used in developing and conducting such program. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a grant to an eligible applicant to carry out a qualified nonlethal control project.
 
(Sec. 14) Repeals the requirement that the Marine Mammal Commission employ a minimum of 11 employees at any time.
 
(Sec. 15) Directs the relevant Secretary to collect and update existing practices and procedures for rescuing and rehabilitating entangled (currently, only stranded) marine mammals (having gear, rope, line, or net wrapped around it). Authorizes the relevant Secretary to enter into entanglement response agreements.
 
Extends through FY2010 the authorization of appropriations for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program and the Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event Fund for stranding or entanglement response. Authorizes the relevant Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agreements or arrangements to address stranding events requiring emergency assistance.
 
(Sec. 16) Renews the scrimshaw exemption (allowing the processing and sale of pre-Endangered Species Act ivory) for the 11-year period beginning October 31, 1999.
 
(Sec. 17) Makes it unlawful for a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction to take, import, export, possess, transport, or sell any polar bear or polar bear products in violation of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population (Agreement) or any annual taking limit or other restriction adopted by the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission. Authorizes a government official to import a polar bear or a polar bear product for purposes of forensic testing or any other law enforcement purpose.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer and enforce the Agreement on behalf of the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to share authority for the management of the taking of polar bears for subsistence purposes with the Alaska Nanuuq Commission.
 
Sets forth requirements for designation and appointment of U.S. members on the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to take all appropriate actions to implement the decisions and determinations of the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2010. 
 

 

action_date: 2006-12-06
text: 
United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Act of 2006 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to make it unlawful for a person subject to, or in waters or on lands under, U.S. jurisdiction to take, import, export, possess, transport, or sell any polar bear or polar bear products in violation of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population (Agreement) or any annual taking limit or other restriction adopted by the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission. Authorizes a government official to import a polar bear or a polar bear product for purposes of forensic testing or any other law enforcement purpose.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer and enforce the Agreement on behalf of the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to share authority for the management of the taking of polar bears for subsistence purposes with the Alaska Nanuuq Commission.
 
Subjects to seizure and forfeiture any polar bear or any part or product of a polar bear taken, imported, exported, possessed, transported, sold, received, acquired, purchased, exchanged, or bartered, or offered for sale or exchange in violation of this title without any showing that may be required for assessment of a civil penalty or for criminal prosecution.
 
Sets forth requirements for designation and appointment of U.S. members on the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to take all necessary actions to implement the decisions and determinations of the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2010.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-12-07
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR 12/7/2006 S11387)
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2006-12-06
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2006-08-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2006-07-18
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5226-5230)
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5226-5230)
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4075.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5226-5231)
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Mr. Renzi moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2005-10-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
action_date: 2005-10-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-10-18
text: Introduced in House