Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 4.djvu/1154

 '^f 100 STAT. 3500

PUBLIC LAW 99-625—NOV. 7, 1986

Public Law 99-625 99th Congress An Act Nov. 7, 1986 [H.R. 4531]
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„., . , . ^, ^ To improve the operation of certain fish and wildhfe programs

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 16 USC 1536

16 USC 1536.

California. (., _. X T;.

SECTION 1. TRANSLOCATION OF CALIFORNIA SEA OTTERS.

(a) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section— (1) The term "Act" means the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.1531etseq.). (2) The term "agency action" has the meaning given that term in section 7(a)(2) of the Act. (3) The term "experimental population" means the population of sea otters provided for under a plan developed under subsection (b). (4) The phrase "parent population" means the population of sea otters existing in California on the date on which proposed regulations setting forth a proposed plan under subsection (b) are issued. (5) The phrase "prospective action" refers to any prospective agency action that— (A) may affect either the experimental population or the parent population; and (B) has evolved to the point where meaningful consultation under section 7(a)(2) or (3) of the Act can take place. (6) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior. (7) The term "Service" means the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (b) PLAN SPECIFICATIONS.—The Secretary may develop and imple-

ment, in accordance with this section, a plan for the relocation and management of a population of California sea otters from the existing range of the parent population to another location. The plan, which must be developed by regulation and administered by the Service in cooperation with the appropriate State agency, shall include the following: (1) The number, age, and sex of sea otters proposed to be relocated. (2) The manner in which the sea otters will be captured, translocated, released, monitored, and protected. (3) The specification of a zone (hereinafter referred to as the "translocation zone") to which the experimental population will be relocated. The zone must have appropriate characteristics for furthering the conservation of the species. (4) The specification of a zone (hereinafter referred to as the "management zone") that— (A) surrounds the translocation zone; and (B) does not include the existing range of the parent population or adjacent range where expansion is necessary for the recovery of the species.

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