Military Readiness and Southern Sea Otter Conservation Act

Bill: 112-hr-4043
Sponsor: Rep. Gallegly, Elton [R-CA-24]
Introduced: 2012-02-15 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
California
Congressional oversight
Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fishes
Mammals
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Military education and training
Military readiness
Pacific Ocean
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-15
text: 
Military Readiness and Southern Sea Otter Conservation Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish Southern Sea Otter Military Readiness Areas for national defense purposes (thereby conserving the southern sea otter [otter] in such Areas while allowing reasonable military readiness activities). Allows certain incidental otter takings in such Areas in the course of a military readiness activity, while authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to revise or terminate such authorized takings upon determining that the military activities are substantially impeding otter conservation or the return of such otters to optimum sustainable levels.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Navy, every three years, to: (1) measure the growth or decline of the otter population, and (2) report to Congress and the public on such monitoring.
 
Requires the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service to develop an ecosystem management plan that, for waters off the California coast, ensures the recovery of the otter and the endangered black and white abalone, as well as the commercial harvest of shellfish fisheries at levels approximating current harvests.
 
Requires the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to: (1) assess the carrying capacity of the habitat for otters, and (2) continue implementation of the existing otter relocation and management plan until the ecosystem management plan and otter assessment are completed.

action_date: 2012-07-17
text: 
Military Readiness and Southern Sea Otter Conservation Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish Southern Sea Otter Military Readiness Areas for national defense purposes (thereby conserving the southern sea otter [otter] in such Areas while allowing reasonable military readiness activities). Allows certain incidental otter takings in such Areas in the course of a military readiness activity, while authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to revise or terminate such authorized takings upon determining that the military activities are substantially impeding otter conservation or the return of such otters to optimum sustainable levels.
 
 Directs: (1) the Secretary of the Navy to monitor the Areas, at least annually, to evaluate otter status; and (2) the Secretaries of the Navy and the Interior to report jointly every three years to Congress and the public on such monitoring.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon ending a specified otter relocation and management plan and in planning and implementing recovery and conservation measures to allow for the expansion of otter range, to coordinate and cooperate with: (1) the Secretary of the Navy, (2) the Secretary of Commerce regarding recovery efforts for endangered species, and (3) the state of California in continuing viable commercial harvest of state fisheries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-606, Part I.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-606, Part I.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 13.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs Discharged.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.
action_date: 2012-02-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-02-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-02-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-02-15
text: Introduced in House