S 2875 ISRSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide grants to designated States and tribes to carry out programs to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by gray wolves and other predator species or to compensate landowners for livestock loss due to predation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

April 16, 2008CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. TESTER (for himself and Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. CRAIG, and Mr. SMITH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide grants to designated States and tribes to carry out programs to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by gray wolves and other predator species or to compensate landowners for livestock loss due to predation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Gray ‘Wolf Livestock Loss Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2008'’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) INDIAN TRIBE- The term `Indian tribe'‘Indian tribe’ has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LIVESTOCK- The term `livestock'‘livestock’ means cattle, swine, horses, mules, sheep, goats, livestock guard animals, and other domestic animals, as determined by the Secretary. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PREDATORY SPECIESOGRAM- The term `predatory species' means gray wolves, grizzly bear, and other predatory species, as determined by the Secretary.(4) SECRETARY‘program’ means the demonstration program established under section 3(a). CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) SECRETARIES- The term `Secretary'‘Secretaries’ means the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.SEC. 3. GRANTjointly. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. WOLF COMPENSATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM.

(a) In General- The Secretary mayies shall establish a 5-year demonstration program to provide grants to States and Indian tribesdescribed in subsection (b) to pay the Federal share of carrying out programs to compensate livestock producers for-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) activities undertakento assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, non-lethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by predatory species; or(2)wolves; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to compensate livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Requirements-(1) IN GENERAL- The SecretaryCriteria and Requirements- The Secretaries shalldesignate as eligible to receive grants under this section-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the States of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho; and(B) such other States and Indian tribes as the Secretary determines from among States and Indian trib1) establish criteria and requirements to implement the program; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) when promulgating regulations to implement the program under paragraph (1), consult with States that have populations of predatory species.(2) ELIGIBILITYimplemented State programs that provide assistance to-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) livestock producers to undertake proactive activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves; or CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provide compensation to livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Eligibility- To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a State or Indian tribe shall-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A1) designate an appropriate agency inof the State or Indian tribe to administer the 1 or more programs funded by the grant; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B2) establish 1 or more accounts to receive grant funds; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C3) maintain files of all claims received under programs funded by the grant, including supporting documentation; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D4) submit to the Secretary-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iA) annual reports that include-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(Ii) a summary of claims and expenditures under the program during the year; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(IIii) a description of any action taken on the claims; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iiB) such other reports as the Secretary may require to assist the Secretary in determining the effectiveness of programs carried outactivities provided assistance under this section; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E5) promulgate rules for reimbursing livestock producers under the program in accordance with subsection (c).(3) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING- The Secretary. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Allocation of Funding- The Secretaries shall allocate funding made available to carry out this sectionAct-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) equally between the uses identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a); and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) among States and Indian tribes based on-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the level of livestock predation in the State or on the land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, the Indian tribe; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) whether the State or Indian tribe is located in a geographical area that is at high risk for livestock predation; or CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) suchany other factors as the Secretary determines.(c) Funded Programs-(1) PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS- A program funded by a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall compensate livestock producers for activities that reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation, including--(A) fencing;(B) fladry;(C) night penning;(D) increased human presence in the form of livestock herders and riders;(E) guard animals;(F) provision of hay and dog food;(G) voluntary rental of private land or alternative pasture allotments on a temporary basis;(H) delayed turnouts; and(I) other successful preventative measures, as determined by the agency administering the program.(2) COMPENSATORY PROGRAMS- A program funded by a grant under subsection (a)(2) shall compensate livestock producers for losses due to predation of the livestock of the livestock producers.(3) ELIGIBLE LAND- Activities described in paragraph (1)that the Secretaries determine are appropriate. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Eligible Land- Activities and losses described in paragraph (2subsection (a) may occur on Federal, State, or private land, or land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, an Indian tribe. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) FEDERAL COST SHAREf) Federal Cost Share- The Federal share of the cost of carrying out a program described in paragraph (1) or (2) for any fiscal yearactivity provided assistance made available under this Act shall not exceed 50 percent of the total annual cost of the program.(d) Authorization of Appropriations- activity. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

There areis authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.Act $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink