An Act to improve the administration of fish and wildlife programs, and for other purposes.
PL 95-616 (H.R.2329), enacted 11/08/1978

92 STAT. 3110 
PUBLIC LAW 95-616—NOV. 8, 1978 
Public Law 95-616 
95th Congress 
An Act 
Nov. 8, 1978 
r
p
Q improve the administration of fish and wildlife programs, and for other 
[H.R. 2329] 
purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Fish and Wildlife United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
Improvement Act be cited as the "Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978". 
16^USC 742 
^^^- 2- ^^^° ^ ^ ^ WILDLIFE COOPERATIVE UNITS ASSISTANCE, 
note. 
* 
The first section of the Act of September 2, 1960 (74 Stat. 733; 16 
U.S.C. 753a) is amended— 
(1) by striking out "technical personnel" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "scientific personnel"; and 
(2) by inserting immediately after "respective units," the 
following: "to the provision of assistance (including reasonable 
,j . ^ ., 
financial 
compensation) for the work of researchers on fish and 
wildlife ecology and resource management projects funded under 
this subsection". 
16 use 742Z. 
SEC. 3. ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PROTECTION OF FISH 
AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES. 
(a) LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM.—(1) In order to pro-
vide for and encourage training, research, and development for the 
purpose of improving fish and wildlife law enforcement and develop-
ing new methods for the prevention, detection, and reduction of vio-
lation of fish and wildlife laws, and the apprehension of violators af 
such laws, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Commerce may each— 
(A) establish and conduct national training programs to pro-
vide, at the request of any State, training for State fish and 
wildlife law enforcement personnel; 
(B) develop new or improved approaches, techniques, systems, 
equipment, and service to improve and strengthen fish and wild-
life law enforcement; and 
(C) assist in conducting, at the request of any appropriate State 
official, local or regional training programs for the training of 
State fish and wildlife law enforcement personnel. 
Such training programs shall be conducted to the maximum extent 
practicable through established programs. 
(2) There are authorized to be appropriated beginning with fiscal 
year 1980 such funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of 
subsection (b), and the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Commerce may each require reimbursement from the States for 
expenditures made pursuant to subsections (b)(1) (A) and (C). 
(b) LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—Notwithstand-
ing any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Commerce may each utilize by agreement, with or with-
out reimbursement, the personnel, services and facilities of any other 
Federal or State agency to the extent he deems it necessary and 
appropriate for effective enforcement of any Federal or State laws on 
lands, waters, or interests therein under his jurisdiction which are 
administered or managed for fish and wildlife purposes and for 
enforcement of any laws administered by him relating to fish and 
PUBLIC LAW 95-616—NOV. 8, 1978 
92 STAT. 3111 
wildlife. Persons so designated by either Secretary, who are not 
employees of another Federal agency— 
(1) shall not be deemed a Federal employee and shall not be 
subject to the provisions of law relating to Federal employment, 
including those relating to hours of work, competitive examina-
tion, rates of compensation, and Federal employee benefits, but 
may be considered eligible for compensation for work injuries 
under subchapter I I I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code; 5 USC 8191. 
(2) shall be considered to be investigative or law enforcement 
officers of the United States for the purposes of the tort claim pro-
visions of title 28, United States Code; 
(3) may, to the extent specified by either Secretary, search, seize, 
arrest, and exercise any other law enforcement functions or 
authorities under Federal laws relating to fish and wildlife, where 
such authorities are made applicable by this or any other law to 
employees, officers, or other persons designated or employed by 
either Secretary; and 
(4) shall be considered to be officers or employees of the Depart-
ment of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as the case 
may be, within the meaning of sections 111 and 1114 of title 18, 
United States Code. 
(c) 
DISPOSAL or 
ABANDONED OR FORFEITED PROPERTY.—Notwith- 
*
» 
.*,i 
standing any other provision of law, all fish, wildlife, plants, or any 
other items abandoned or forfeited to the United States under any 
laws administered by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
Commerce relating to fish, wildlife, or plants, shall be disposed of by 
either Secretary in such a manner as he deems appropriate (including, 
but not limited to, loan, gift, sale, or destruction). 
(d) DISCLAIMER.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
invalidate any law enforcement agreement or delegation made by the 
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce with respect to 
fish and wildlife matters prior to the date of enactment of this Act. 
(e) REFUGE RECREATION ACT.—Section 4 of the Act of September 28, 
1962 (76 Stat. 654, 16 U.S.C. 460k-3), is amended by adding at the 
end thereof the following new sentence: "The provisions of this Act 
and any such regulation shall be enforced by any officer or employee 
of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service designated by the 
Secretary of the Interior.". 
(f) 
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION ACT.— 
The final sentence of section (4) (f) of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd (f)) is amended 
to read as follows: "Any property, fish, bird, mammal, or other wild 
vertebrate or invertebrate animals or part or egg thereof seized with 
or without a search warrant shall be held by such person or by a 
United States marshal, and upon conviction, shall be forfeited to the 
United States and disposed of by the Secretary, in accordance with 
law.". 
(g) 
BEAR RIVER MIGRATORY BIRD REFUGE.—Section 6(b) 
of 
the 
Act of April 23, 1928 (45 Stat. 449; 16 U.S.C. 690e) is amended by 
striking at the end thereof the term "and disposed of as directed 
by the court having jurisdiction." and inserting in lieu thereof the 
term "and disposed of as directed by the Secretary of the Interior, 
in accordance with law.". 
(h) MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT.— (1) The final sentence of section 
5 of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 706) is amended 
92 STAT. 3112 
PUBLIC LAW 95-616—NOV. 8, 1978 
to read as follows: "All birds, or parts, nests, or eggs thereof, cap-
tured, killed, taken, sold or offered for sale, bartered or offered for 
barter, purchased, shipped, transported, carried, imported, exported, or 
possessed contrary to the provisions of this Act or of any regulation 
prescribed thereunder shall, when found, be seized and, upon convic-
tion of the offender or upon judgment of a court of the United States 
that the same were captured, killed, taken, sold or offered for sale, 
bartered or offered for barter, purchased, shipped, transported, car-
ried, imported, exported, or possessed contrary to the provisions of 
this Act or of any regulation prescribed thereunder, shall be for-
feited to the United States and disposed of by the Secretary of the 
Interior in such manner as he deems appropriate.". 
Regulations. 
(2) In accordance with the various migratory bird treaties and 
16 use 712. 
conventions with Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the Union of Soviet 
Socialist Republics, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to issue 
such regulations as may be necessary to assure that the taking of migra-
tory birds and the collection of their eg^s, by the indigenous inhabi-
tants of the State of Alaska, shall be permitted for their own nutritional 
and other essential needs, as determined by the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, during seasons established so as to provide for the preservation 
and maintenance of stocks of migratory birds. 
Regulations. 
(3) The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to issue such regu-
lations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the conven-
tion between the United States and Great Britain for the protection 
of migratory birds concluded August 16,1916, the convention between 
the United States and the United Mexican States for the protection 
of migratory birds and game mammals concluded February 7, 1936, 
the convention between the United States and the Government of 
Japan for the protection of migratory birds in danger of extinction, 
and their environment concluded March 4, 1972, and the convention 
between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 
for the conservation of migratory birds and their environment con-
cluded November 19, 1976. 
(i) MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING AND CONSERVATION STAMP ACT.— 
The final sentence of section 6 of the Act of March 16, 1934 (48 Stat. 
452,16 U.S.C. 718f) is amended to read as follows: "Any bird or part 
thereof taken or possessed contrary to this Act shall, when seized, be 
disposed of by the Secretary in accordance with law.". 
(j) TITLE 18.—(1) Section 3112 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by striking out "court" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"Secretary". 
(2) Section 1114 of such title 18 is amended by inserting imme-
diately before "or of the Department of Labor" the following: ", the 
Department of Commerce,". 
SEC. 4. FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT OF 1956. 
Section 7 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking out paragraphs (4) and (5), and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following: 
"(4) take such steps as may be required for the development, 
advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish 
and wildlife resources including, but not limited to, research, 
development of existing facilities, and acquisition by purchase or 
exchange of land and water, or interests therein."; 
(2) by inserting "and" immediately after the semicolon at the 
end of paragraph (3); and 
PUBLIC LAW 95-616—NOV. 8, 1978 
92 STAT. 3113 
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following two new 
subsections: 
"(b) (1) In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the Secretary 
of the Interior is authorized to accept any gifts, devises, or bequests 
of real and personal property, or proceeds therefrom, or interests 
therein, for the benefit of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice, in performing its activities and services. Such acceptance may be 
subject to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or con-
dition of servitude, if such terms are deemed by the Secretary to be 
in accordance with law and compatible with the purpose for which 
acceptance is sought. 
"(2) Any gifts and bequests of money and proceeds from the sales 
of other property received as gifts or bequests pursuant to this sub-
section shall be deposited in a separate account in the Treasury and 
shall be disbursed upon order of the Secretary for the benefit of pro-
grams administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
" (3) For the purpose of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, prop-
erty, or proceeds therefrom, or interests therein, accepted under this 
subsection shall be considered as a gift or bequest to the United States. 
"(c) (1) The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Com-
merce may each recruit, train, and accept, without regard to the pro-
visions of title 5, United States Code, the services of individuals 
without compensation as volunteers for, or in aid of programs 
conducted by either Secretary through the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. 
"(2) The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce 
are each authorized to provide for incidental expenses such as trans-
portation, uniforms, lodging, and subsistence of such volunteers. 
"(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a volunteer 
shall not be deemed a Federal employee and shall not be subject to 
the provisions of law relating to Federal employment, including 
those relative to hours of work, rates of compensation, leave, unemploy-
ment compensation, and Federal employee benefits. 
"(4) For the purpose of the tort claim provisions of title 28 of the 
United States Code, a volunteer under this subsection shall be consid-
ered a Federal employee. 
" (5) For the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5 of the 5 USC 8101. 
L^nited States Code, relating to compensation to Federal employees for 
work injuries, volunteers under this subsection shall be deemed employ-
ees of the United States within the meaning of the term 'employees' 
as defined in section 8101 of title 5, United States Code, and the pro-
visions of that subchapter shall apply. 
" (6) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sub- Appropriation 
section $100,000 for the Secretary of the Interior and ^0,000 for the authorization. 
Secretary of Commerce for each of the fiscal years 1980, 1981, and 
1982.". 
SEC. 5. MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION ACT. 
(a) Section 5 of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
715d) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 5. The Secretary of the Interior may— 
"(1) purchase or rent such areas or interests therein as have 
been approved for purchase or rental by the Commission at the 
price or prices fixed by the Commission; and 
39-194 O—80—pt. 3 
31 : QL3 
92 STAT. 3114 
PUBLIC LAW 95-616—NOV. 8, 1978 
"(2) acquire, by gift or devise, any area or interests therein; 
which he determines to be suitable for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or 
for any other management purpose, for migratory birds. The Secretary 
may pay, when deemed necessary by him and from moneys authorized 
to be appropriated for the purposes of this Act (A) the purchase or 
rental price of any such area or interest therein, and (B) the expenses 
incident to the location, examination, survey, and acquisition of title 
(including options) of any such area or interest therein. No lands 
acquired, held, or used by the United States for military purposes shall 
be subject to any provisions of this Act.". 
(b) Section 10(a) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 715i(a)) is amended by 
striking out "Mexico and Canada" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"Mexico, Canada, Japan, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics". 
(c) Section 11 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 715j) is amended by inserting 
"and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.)" after 
'/this Act", by striking out "and" after " (39 Stat. 1702)" and inserting 
in lieu thereof a comma, and by inserting immediately before the 
period at the end thereof a comma and the following: "the Conven-
tion between the Government of the United States of America and 
the Government of Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds and 
Birds in Danger of Extinction, and their Environment concluded 
March 4,1972, and the Convention between the United States and the 
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the Conservation of Migra-
tory Birds and their Environment concluded November 19,1976". 
SE€. 6. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION ACT 
OF 1966. 
Section 4(d)(1)(A) of the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(d) (1) (A)) is amended 
by striking out "; and" at the end thereof and inserting m lieu thereof 
"unless the Secretary finds that the taking of any species of migratory 
game birds in more than 40 percent of such area would be beneficial to 
the species; and". 
SEC. 7. MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING AND CONSERVATION STAMP ACT. 
(a) Section 2 of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation 
Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 718b) is amended by striking out "September" 
in the sixth sentence thereof and inserting in lieu thereof "June". 
16 use 718c. 
(b) Section 3 of such Act is amended by inserting immediately 
after "treaty" the following: "or convention". 
SEC. 8. CRAB ORCHARD NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. 
The second sentence of section 2 of the Act of August 5, 1947 (61 
Stat. 770; 16 U.S.C. 666g), is amended to read as follows: "Such lands 
as have been or may hereafter be determined to be chiefly valuable for 
i;.).'i • 
industrial purposes shall be leased for such purposes at such time and 
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under such terms and conditions as the Secretary of the Interior shall 
prescribe. All monej-s received or collected in connection with such 
leases shall be subject to the provisions of the Act of June 15,1935, as 
amended (49Stat.'383; 16U.S.C.715s).". 
SEC. 9. BALD EAGLE PROTECTION ACT. 
Section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1904 (16 U.S.C. 668a) is amended 
by deleting the period at the end thereof and adding the following: 
'•''Provided further^ That the Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to 
such regulations as he may prescribe, may permit the taking of golden 
PUBLIC LAW 95-616—NOV. 8, 1978 
92 STAT. 3115 
eagle nests which interfere with resource development or recovery 
operations.". 
SEC. 10. WATERFOWL HABITAT CONSERVATION IN THE SAN JOAQUIN 
VALLEY. 
(a) The Act of August 27,1954 (68 Stat. 879) is amended by deleting 16 USC 695i. 
the last sentence of section 6 and inserting in lieu thereof the follow-
ing: "If and when available, such water shall be delivered from the 
Central Valley project to the contracting entity, and the cost of fur-
nishing the water shall not be reimbursable or returnable under the 
Federal reclamation laws: Provided^ That, in order for the delivery of 
such water to continue on a nonreimbursable or nonreturnable basis— 
"(a) the public organizations or agencies contracting with the 
Secretary of the Interior, excluding the State of California, shall 
deliver annually to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
(hereinafter referred to as the 'Service'), at no cost to the United 
States, not less than three thousand five hundred acre-feet of 
water during the period October 1 through November 30, inclu-
sive, and not less than four thousand acre-feet of water during the 
period May 1 through September 30, inclusive, if available: 
Provided^ That such amounts of water and times of delivery may 
be changed upon approval of the Secretary of the Interior; 
"(b) the public organizations or agencies, excluding the State 
of California, shall construct, operate, and maintain any water 
conveyance facilities necessary to deliver the water referred to 
in section 6(a) of this Act to a point or points within the bound-
aries of such public organization or agency as designated by the 
Service, or to such points as may be mutually agreed upon by the 
public organization or agency and the Service. The Service shall 
be responsible for delivering the water from such point or points 
to appropriate locations within lands under its jurisdiction; 
"(c) any contract entered into by the Secretary of the Interior 
and any public organization or agency pursuant to this Act shall 
provide that in the event the public organization or agency for 
any reason fails to carry out the obligations imposed upon it by 
said contract or by this Act, the rights of use of any facilities 
referred to in subsection (b), and the rights to all water con-
tracted for by the organization or agency pursuant to this Act 
shall revert to the Secretary of the Interior for migratory water-
fowl purposes in accordance with the laws of the State of 
California; and 
"(d) in accordance with existing or future contracts, the use 
of lands located within the boundaries of the public organiza-
tions or agencies shall be restricted by covenants requiring that 
such lands be used only for the purpose of waterfowl and wild-
life habitat conservation or other uses as may be mutually agreed 
upon by the public organizations or agencies and the Service.". 
(b) The Act of August 27, 1954 (68 Stat. 879), is further amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following new section: 
92 STAT. 3116 
PUBLIC LAW 95-616—NOV. 8, 1978 
16 use 695J-1. 
"SEC, 8. The Secretary is hereby authorized to negotiate amend-
ments to existing contracts to conform said contracts to the provisions 
of this Act.". 
Approved November 8, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
'''" 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 95-29 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries) and No. 
95-1730 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 95-1175 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works) and No. 
95-1277 (Comm. of Conference). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 123 (1977): Feb. 28, considered and failed of passage in House. 
Vol. 124 (1978): Jan. 19, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 25, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Sept. 26, passage vitiated; reconsidered and passed Senate, 
amended. 
Oct. 15, House agreed to conference report; receded from 
disagreement and concurred in Senate amendment No. 32 
with amendments; Senate agreed to conference report, and 
concurred in House amendments to Senate amendment No. 
32; receded from Senate amendment No. 33.