Listing Reform Act

Bill: 115-hr-717
Sponsor: Rep. Olson, Pete [R-TX-22]
Introduced: 2017-01-27 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Commerce
Department of the Interior
Economic performance and conditions
Endangered and threatened species
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-27
text: 

Listing Reform Act

 
This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to allow the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to prioritize the consideration of petitions to list a species as endangered or threatened other than in the order in which the petitions are received. The appropriate department may not give general priority to petitions to add species to the list of endangered or threatened species over petitions to remove a species from the list.
 
The deadline for the appropriate department to decide on whether or not a petition to list or remove a species should be granted is changed from within 12 months to as expeditiously as possible. 
 
The appropriate department is given the authority to preclude the listing of a species as threatened due to the likelihood of significant, cumulative economic effects that would result from such listing or from the likely resulting designation of critical habitat of the species. Once a petition is precluded due to those economic effects, the appropriate department may not reconsider that finding unless the department: (1) determines there is endangerment of extinction of the species; or (2) receives a new petition to add the species to the list that includes an analyses concluding that alternative actions are possible other than those resulting in significant, cumulative economic effects.

action_date: 2018-02-15
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Listing Reform Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to allow the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to prioritize the consideration of petitions to list a species as endangered or threatened other than in the order in which the petitions are received. The appropriate department may not give general priority to petitions to add species to the list of endangered or threatened species over petitions to remove a species from the list.
 
The deadline for the appropriate department to decide on whether or not a petition to list or remove a species should be granted is changed from within 12 months to as expeditiously as possible. 
 
The appropriate department is given the authority to preclude the listing of a species as threatened due to the likelihood of significant, cumulative economic effects that would result from such listing or from the likely resulting designation of critical habitat of the species. Once a petition is precluded due to those economic effects, the appropriate department may not reconsider that finding unless the department: (1) determines there is endangerment of extinction of the species; or (2) receives a new petition to add the species to the list that includes an analyses concluding that alternative actions are possible other than those resulting in significant, cumulative economic effects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-15
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 421.
action_date: 2018-02-15
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-560.
action_date: 2018-02-15
text: Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-560.
action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 13.
action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2017-01-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-01-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-27
text: Introduced in House