Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-7221
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2024-02-05
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Latest action: action_date: 2024-08-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7221 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 5, 2024 Mr. Beyer (for himself and Mr. Buchanan ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture , 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 A BILL To provide for the conservation and designation of habitat connectivity areas, with support from the voluntary conservation programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, as American wildlife corridors, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2024 . 2. Habitat connectivity area designation (a) Definitions In this section: (1) American wildlife corridor The term American wildlife corridor means land identified, under subsection (b)(1), as a habitat connectivity area within a covered land, including any land adjacent to such identified habitat connectivity area, designated under subsection (c). (2) Covered land The term covered land means land that is enrolled under, or otherwise related to, a conservation program that is administered by the Secretary. (3) Covered producer The term covered producer means an owner, operator, or producer of a covered land that has an American wildlife corridor on such covered land. (4) Directors The term Directors means the Secretary of the Interior acting through— (A) the Director of the United States Geological Survey; and (B) the Director of the United Fish and Wildlife Service. (5) Habitat connectivity The term habitat connectivity means the degree to which landscapes, waterscapes, and seascapes allow species to move freely, including during seasonal migration and in response to changing environmental conditions, and ecological processes to function unimpeded. (6) Habitat connectivity area The term habitat connectivity area means an area of intact habitat or a distinct component of the landscape, waterscape, or seascape the designation of which, under subsection (c)(2), may provide habitat connectivity. (7) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) Identification of habitat connectivity areas (1) Identification Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, shall identify habitat connectivity areas within covered lands, including any lands adjacent to such identified habitat connectivity areas that may provide additional habitat connectivity. (2) Maps Subject to section 1244(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3844(b) ), as amended by section 3 of this Act, upon identifying habitat connectivity areas under paragraph (1), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, shall— (A) develop maps of— (i) the identified habitat connectivity areas, including any adjacent lands described in paragraph (1); and (ii) the covered land containing any identified habitat connectivity areas; and (B) expand and build upon any existing efforts by the Department of Agriculture in developing such maps. (3) Report Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary identifies habitat connectivity areas under paragraph (1), and periodically thereafter upon any new such identifications, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that— (A) includes a description of habitat connectivity areas identified under paragraph (1); (B) includes a review of any associated data or surveys related to activities carried out under paragraph (1); (C) includes the maps developed under paragraph (2) in aggregate form; and (D) identifies gaps in information with respect to carrying out paragraphs (1) and (2), including— (i) information relating to whether the identified habitat connectivity areas are being used as a wildlife corridor; (ii) additional information required to identify additional habitat connectivity areas; and (iii) any other information the Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, determines necessary. (c) Designation of American wildlife corridors (1) Criteria Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to establish criteria, for the purpose of designating habitat connectivity areas under paragraph (2), that— (A) considers whether a designation is in concert with existing land and resource management plans of the applicable covered land; and (B) determines, using the best-available science, whether a habitat connectivity area identified under subsection (b)(1), including any adjacent lands as described in that subsection— (i) supports the persistence, resilience, adaptability, and movement of fish and wildlife; (ii) has the potential to benefit more than 1 species of fish and wildlife; or (iii) has the potential to benefit fish or wildlife species that is listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). (2) Designation Not later than 3 years after the date on which the Secretary establishes criteria pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall designate habitat connectivity areas identified under subsection (b)(1), including any adjacent lands that may provide additional habitat connectivity, using the criteria established pursuant to paragraph (1), as an American wildlife corridor for the purposes of encouraging the long-term maintenance and conservation of the American wildlife corridor. (d) Conservation of American wildlife corridors (1) Technical assistance (A) In general The Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, shall develop and establish technical standards and requirements, including best practices for the long-term conservation of an American wildlife corridor, to provide technical assistance, outreach, and education to covered producers with respect to the conservation of the applicable American wildlife corridor. (B) Authorized actions of Secretary In providing technical assistance under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary may encourage a covered producer to— (i) implement strategies and activities that will provide sustainable production and conservation of wildlife habitats concurrently on covered land; (ii) maintain or improve habitats and habitat connectivity in American wildlife corridors on covered land; (iii) establish wildlife monitoring plans; and (iv) implement strategies and activities that enhance the ability of fish and wildlife to respond to changing environmental conditions. (2) Contract modification In furthering the purposes of an American wildlife corridor designation under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary may, with respect to a contract entered into with a covered producer relating to an American wildlife corridor on a covered land of such covered producer— (A) give priority for reenrollment in the conservation program administered by the Secretary of such covered land; and (B) terminate or modify such contract if— (i) the covered producer agrees to the termination or modification of such contract; and (ii) such covered land is enrolled in— (I) the agricultural conservation easement program established under section 1265 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3865 ); or (II) the healthy forests reserve program established under section 501 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6571 ). (e) Cooperative agreements To carry out this section, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with— (1) Federal agencies; (2) State, Tribal, and local governments; (3) nongovernmental organizations; or (4) academic institutions. 3. Administrative requirements (a) Privacy of personal information relating to Natural Resources Conservation Programs Section 1244(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3844(b)(1)(B)(i) ) is amended by inserting , including the Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2024 after Farm Service Agency . (b) Regulatory certainty Section 1244(p) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3844(p) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting , or an American wildlife corridor (as such term is defined by section 2(a) of the Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation Programs Act of 2024 ), after wildlife resource concern ; and (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting , or an American wildlife corridor, after wildlife resource concern .