Public Law 118-198 | Public Law 118–198: To reauthorize the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, and for other purposes.

As enacted: this collection preserves GovInfo's listed Beta USLM public-law XML, including printed amendment instructions and legislative history. Later amendments are not consolidated here; availability in this XML inventory does not establish completeness of all laws enacted by Congress.

?2677

PUBLIC LAW 118–198—DEC. 23, 2024

AMERICA’S CONSERVATION ENHANCEMENT REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024

138 STAT. 2678

Public Law

118–198

118th Congress

An Act

To reauthorize the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, and for other purposes.

Dec. 23, 2024

[S. 3791]

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

America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024.

SECTION 1.

16 USC 8201 note.

SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a)

Short Title.—

This Act may be cited as the “

America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024

”.

(b)

Table of Contents.—

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1.

Short title; table of contents.

TITLE I—

WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, DISEASE, AND PREDATION

Sec. 101.

Losses of livestock due to depredation by federally protected species.

Sec. 102.

Black vulture livestock protection program.

Sec. 103.

Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force.

Sec. 104.

Protection of water, oceans, coasts, and wildlife from invasive species.

Sec. 105.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

Sec. 106.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act.

Sec. 107.

Modification of definition of sport fishing equipment under TSCA.

Sec. 108.

Chesapeake Bay Program.

Sec. 109.

Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998.

Sec. 110.

Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense.

TITLE II—

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS

Sec. 201.

National Fish Habitat Board.

Sec. 202.

Fish Habitat Partnerships.

Sec. 203.

Fish habitat conservation projects.

Sec. 204.

Technical and scientific assistance.

Sec. 205.

Accountability and reporting.

Sec. 206.

Funding.

Sec. 207.

Technical correction.

TITLE I—

WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, DISEASE, AND PREDATION

SEC. 101.

LOSSES OF LIVESTOCK DUE TO DEPREDATION BY FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPECIES.

Section 102(d) of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (7 U.S.C. 8355(d))

is amended

, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”.

SEC. 102.

BLACK VULTURE LIVESTOCK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

Section 103 of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (7 U.S.C. 8356)

is amended

—138 STAT. 2679

(1)

in the section heading, by

inserting

“; black vulture livestock protection program” after “common ravens” and conforming the table of contents accordingly;

(2)

redesignating

subsections (a) through (c) as paragraphs (1) through (3), respectively, and indenting appropriately;

(3)

in each of paragraphs (2) and (3) (as so redesignated), by

striking

“subsection (a)” and

inserting

“paragraph (1)”;

(4)

inserting

before paragraph (1) (as so redesignated) the following:

“(a)

Depredation Permits for Black Vultures and Common Ravens.—

”

; and

(5)

adding

at the end the following:

“(b)

Black Vulture Livestock Protection Program.—

“(1)

Time period.
In general.—

The Secretary, in coordination with States, shall carry out, through fiscal year 2030, a black vulture livestock protection program (referred to in this subsection as the ‘program’) that allows 1 public entity or Farm Bureau organization per State to hold a statewide depredation permit to protect commercial agriculture livestock from black vulture predation.

“(2)

Requirements.—

Each public entity or Farm Bureau organization that holds a depredation permit under the program—

“(A)

Determinations.

shall—

“(i)

demonstrate sufficient experience and capacity to provide government regulated services to the public, as determined by the Secretary;

“(ii)

Review.

Approval.

submit a complete depredation permit application, as determined by the Secretary, for review and approval according to procedures of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;

“(iii)

Compliance.

be responsible for complying with, and ensuring subpermittee compliance with, as applicable, all permit conditions; and

“(iv)

be responsible for collecting, managing, and reporting required information under the permit; and

“(B)

may subpermit to livestock producers to take black vultures for the purposes of livestock protection.

“(3)

Study.—

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, shall carry out a study on whether prescribed take levels of black vultures may be increased for subpermittees within a biologically sustainable take level for the population.

“(4)

Report.—

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, shall submit to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the status of the program, including the results of the study required under paragraph (3).”

.138 STAT. 2680

SEC. 103.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TASK FORCE.

Section 104 of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 667h)

is amended

—

(1)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by

striking

“after the completion of the study required by subsection (c)”; and

(B)

in paragraph (5)(A), by

striking

“180 days after the date on which the study is completed under subsection (c)” and

inserting

“90 days after the date of the enactment of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024. The efforts of the Task Force shall not be contingent on the completion of the study required by subsection (c)”; and

(2)

in subsection (d)(1), by

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”.

SEC. 104.

PROTECTION OF WATER, OCEANS, COASTS, AND WILDLIFE FROM INVASIVE SPECIES.

Section 10(p) of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 666c–1(p))

is amended

, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”.

SEC. 105.

NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT.

Section 7(c) of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4406(c))

is amended

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”.

SEC. 106.

NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT ACT.

Section 10 of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709)

is amended

—

(1)

in subsection (a)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”; and

(2)

in subsection (b)(1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by

striking

“and cooperative agreements,” and

inserting

“, cooperative agreements, participating agreements, and similar instruments used for providing partnership funds,”;

(B)

redesignating

subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively;

(C)

inserting

after subparagraph (A) the following:

“(B)

Time period.
Funding agreements.—

Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities may enter into a Federal funding agreement with the Foundation for a period of not more than 10 years.”

; and

(D)

in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by

inserting

“, and should when possible,” after “may”.

SEC. 107.

Time period.

MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF SPORT FISHING EQUIPMENT UNDER TSCA.

Section 108(a) of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 note)

is amended

striking

“During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act” and

inserting

“During the period beginning on the date of enactment of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024 and ending on September 30, 2030”.138 STAT. 2681

SEC. 108.

CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM.

Section 117(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1267(j))

is amended

—

(1)

in paragraph (4), by

striking

“and” at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (5), by

striking

the period at the end and

inserting

“; and”; and

(3)

adding

at the end the following:

“(6)

for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, $92,000,000.”

SEC. 109.

CHESAPEAKE BAY INITIATIVE ACT OF 1998.

Section 502(c) of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–312; 112 Stat. 2963; 134 Stat. 920)

54 USC 320101 note.

is amended

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”.

SEC. 110.

CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED INVESTMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE DEFENSE.

Section 111(e)(1) of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (33 U.S.C. 1267 note)

is amended

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”.

TITLE II—

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS

SEC. 201.

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD.

Section 203 of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 8203)

is amended

—

(1)

in subsection (a)(2)—

(A)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by

striking

“26 members” and

inserting

“28 members”;

(B)

amending

subparagraph (A) to read as follows:

“(A)

2 shall be representatives of the Department of the Interior, including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management;”

; and

(C)

striking

subparagraphs (G) and (H) and

inserting

the following:

“(G)

2 shall be representatives of Indian Tribes, of whom—

“(i)

1 shall be a representative of Indian Tribes in the State of Alaska; and

“(ii)

1 shall be a representative of Indian Tribes in States other than the State of Alaska;

“(H)

2 shall be representatives of—

“(i)

the Regional Fishery Management Councils established by section 302(a)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(1)); or

“(ii)

the Marine Fisheries Commissions;”

; and

(2)

in subsection (e)(1)(B), by

striking

“all members” and

inserting

“the members present”.

SEC. 202.

FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS.

Section 204 of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 8204)

is amended

—

(1)

in subsection (e)—138 STAT. 2682

(A)

in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by

inserting

“, subject to paragraph (3),” after “Act and”; and

(B)

adding

at the end the following:

“(3)

Reports.
Limitation.—

The Board shall only submit a report required under paragraph (1) in the fiscal years in which the Board is proposing modifications to, or new designations of, 1 or more Partnerships.”

; and

(2)

amending

subsection (f) to read as follows:

“(f)

Designation or Modification of Partnership.—

“(1)

In general.—

Congress shall have the exclusive authority to designate or modify a Partnership.

“(2)

Recommenda-
tions.
Deadline.
Designation or modification process.—

A Partnership designation or modification the Board recommends to Congress shall be deemed to be approved by Congress if Congress does not pass a joint resolution of disapproval with respect to the designation or modification by the date that is 90 days after the date on which the relevant congressional committees receive such recommendation.”

SEC. 203.

FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS.

Section 205 of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 8205)

is amended

—

(1)

in subsection (b), by

striking

“for the following fiscal year”; and

(2)

in subsection (e)—

(A)

striking

paragraph (1) and

inserting

the following:

“(1)

In general.—

The non-Federal share of the total cost of all fish habitat conservation projects carried out by a Partnership each year shall be at least 50 percent.”

; and

(B)

in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by

striking

“Such non-Federal share of the cost of a fish habitat conservation project” and

inserting

“The non-Federal share described in paragraph (1)”.

SEC. 204.

TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANCE.

Section 206(a) of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 8206(a))

is amended

inserting

“, the Bureau of Land Management,” after “the Forest Service”.

SEC. 205.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING.

Section 209 of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 8209)

is amended

—

(1)

striking

subsection (b);

(2)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

striking

the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through “Not later than” in paragraph (1) and

inserting

the following:

“(a)

In General.—

Not later than”

; and

(B)

redesignating

paragraph (2) as subsection (b) and indenting appropriately; and

(3)

in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)—

(A)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by

striking

“paragraph (1)” and

inserting

“subsection (a)”;

(B)

redesignating

subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) as paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (5), respectively, and indenting appropriately;138 STAT. 2683

(C)

in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by

striking

“and” at the end;

(D)

inserting

after paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) the following:

“(4)

a description of the status of fish habitats in the United States as identified by Partnerships; and”

; and

(E)

in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)—

(i)

redesignating

clauses (i) through (v) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting appropriately; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by

redesignating

subclauses (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately.

SEC. 206.

FUNDING.

Section 212(a) of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 8212(a))

is amended

—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

in the paragraph heading, by

inserting

“partnerships and” after “habitat”;

(B)

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”; and

(C)

inserting

“Partnership operations under section 204 and” after “to provide funds for”;

(2)

in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”; and

(3)

in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by

striking

“2025” and

inserting

“2030”.

SEC. 207.

TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

Section 211 of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 8211)

is amended

, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by

striking

“The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)” and

inserting

“Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ‘Federal Advisory Committee Act’),”.

Approved December 23, 2024.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3791 (H.R. 8811):

HOUSE REPORTS: ┐No. 118–753, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Natural Resources) accompanying H.R. 8811.

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):

May 8, considered and passed Senate.

Dec. 3, considered and passed House, amended.

Dec. 18, Senate concurred in House amendment.

○

Public Law 118–198: To reauthorize the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, and for other purposes.

SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Short Title.—

Table of Contents.—

WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, DISEASE, AND PREDATION

LOSSES OF LIVESTOCK DUE TO DEPREDATION BY FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPECIES.

BLACK VULTURE LIVESTOCK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

Depredation Permits for Black Vultures and Common Ravens.—

Black Vulture Livestock Protection Program.—

Time period.In general.—

Requirements.—

Study.—

Report.—

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TASK FORCE.

PROTECTION OF WATER, OCEANS, COASTS, AND WILDLIFE FROM INVASIVE SPECIES.

NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT.

NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT ACT.

Time period.Funding agreements.—

MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF SPORT FISHING EQUIPMENT UNDER TSCA.

CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM.

CHESAPEAKE BAY INITIATIVE ACT OF 1998.

CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED INVESTMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE DEFENSE.

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD.

FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS.

Reports.Limitation.—

Designation or Modification of Partnership.—

In general.—

Recommenda-tions.Deadline.Designation or modification process.—

FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS.

In general.—

TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANCE.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING.

In General.—

FUNDING.

TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3791 (H.R. 8811):

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):

Poursuivez vos recherches dans ChatGPT ou Claude

Time period.
In general.—

Time period.
Funding agreements.—

Reports.
Limitation.—

Recommenda-
tions.
Deadline.
Designation or modification process.—