Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 2.djvu/472

 113 STAT. 1492 PUBLIC LAW 106-108—NOV. 24, 1999 (F) Northern Shoveler. (G) Red-Breasted Merganser. (H) Oldsquaw. (I) Parasitic Jaeger. (J) Whimbrel. (K) Yellow Rail. (6) It is essential that the current population of mid-continent light geese be reduced by 50 percent by the year 2005 to ensure that the fragile Arctic tundra is not irreversibly damaged, (b) PURPOSES.— The purposes of this Act are the following: (1) To reduce the population of mid-continent light geese. (2) To assure the long-term conservation of mid-continent light geese and the biological diversity of the ecosystem upon which many North American migratory birds depend. 16 USC 703 note. SEC. 3. FORCE AND EFFECT OF RULES TO CONTROL OVERABUNDANT MID-CONTINENT LIGHT GEESE POPULATIONS. (a) FORCE AND EFFECT. — (1) IN GENERAL.— The rules published by the Service on February 16, 1999, relating to use of additional hunting methods to increase the harvest of mid-continent light geese (64 Fed. Reg. 7507-7517) and the establishment of a conservation order for the reduction of mid-continent light goose populations (64 Fed. Reg. 7517-7528), shall have the force and effect of law. (2) PUBLIC NOTICE.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Service, shall take such action as is necessary to appropriately notify the public of the force and effect of the rules referred to in paragraph (1). (b) APPLICATION.—Subsection (a) shall apply only during the period that— (1) begins on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) ends on the latest of— (A) the effective date of rules issued by the Service after such date of the enactment to control overabundant mid-continent light geese populations; (B) the date of the publication of a final environmental impact statement for such rules under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental PoUcy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)); and (C) May 15, 2001. (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—T h is section shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary or the Service to issue rules, under another law, to regulate the taking of midcontinent light geese. 16 USC 703 note. SEC. 4. COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN. Deadline. (a) IN GENERAL.— Not later than the end of the period described in section 103(b), the Secretary shall prepare, and as appropriate implement, a comprehensive, long-term plan for the management of mid-continent light geese and the conservation of their habitat. (b) REQUIRED ELEMENTS. —The plan shall apply principles of adaptive resource management and shall include— (1) a description of methods for monitoring the levels of populations and the levels of harvest of mid-continent light geese, and recommendations concerning long-term harvest levels;

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