16 U.S.C. § 1331 — Congressional findings and declaration of

Page 1758 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 1310 1 So in original. The word ‘‘and’’ probably should not appear. 2 So in original. The period probably should be ‘‘; and’’. pursuant to this chapter is in harmony with wetlands programs administered by the Sec- retary of the Interior. He shall also, insofar as practicable, consult with and utilize the tech- nical and related services of appropriate local, State, Federal, and private conservation agen- cies to assure coordination of the program with programs of such agencies and a solid technical foundation for the program. (Pub. L. 91–559, § 10, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1471.) § 1310. Authorization of appropriations; max- imum amount of payments pursuant to agreements There are hereby authorized to be appro- priated without fiscal year limitation, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the pro- gram authorized by this chapter. In carrying out the program, in each fiscal year through the fis- cal year ending September 30, 1980, the Sec- retary shall not enter into agreements with owners and operators which would require pay- ments to owners or operators in any calendar year under such agreements in excess of $10,000,000. In carrying out the program, in each fiscal year after the fiscal year ending Sep- tember 30, 1980, the Secretary shall not enter into agreements with owners and operators which would require payments to owners or op- erators in any calendar year under such agree- ments in excess of $30,000,000. Not more than 15 percent of the funds authorized to be appro- priated in any fiscal year after the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, may be used for agreements entered into with owners or opera- tors in any one State. (Pub. L. 91–559, § 11, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1471; Pub. L. 96–182, § 4, Jan. 2, 1980, 93 Stat. 1317.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1980—Pub. L. 96–182 limited restrictions on Sec- retary’s authority to enter into agreements in excess of $10,000,000 to each fiscal year through fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1980, and inserted restrictions relating to agreements in excess of $30,000,000 for each fiscal year after fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1980, and that not more than 15 percent of the funds authorized to be ap- propriated in any fiscal year after fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1980, may be used for agreements entered into with owners or operators in any one State. § 1311. Rules and regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as he determines necessary and desirable to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (Pub. L. 91–559, § 12, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1471.) CHAPTER 30—WILD HORSES AND BURROS: PROTECTION, MANAGEMENT, AND CONTROL Sec. 1331. Congressional findings and declaration of pol- icy. 1332. Definitions. 1333. Powers and duties of Secretary. 1334. Private maintenance; numerical approxima- tion; strays on private lands: removal; de- struction by agents. 1335. Recovery rights. 1336. Cooperative agreements; regulations. Sec. 1337. Joint advisory board; appointment; member- ship; functions; qualifications; reimburse- ment limitation. 1338. Criminal provisions. 1338a. Transportation of captured animals; proce- dures and prohibitions applicable. 1339. Limitation of authority. 1340. Joint report to Congress; consultation and co- ordination of implementation, enforcement, and departmental activities; studies. § 1331. Congressional findings and declaration of policy Congress finds and declares that wild free- roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and bur- ros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free- roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands. (Pub. L. 92–195, § 1, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 649.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 92–195, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 649, which en- acted this chapter, is popularly known as the ‘‘Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act’’. § 1332. Definitions As used in this chapter— (a) ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior when used in connection with public lands administered by him through the Bureau of Land Management and the Secretary of Ag- riculture in connection with public lands ad- ministered by him through the Forest Service; (b) ‘‘wild free-roaming horses and burros’’ means all unbranded and unclaimed horses and burros on public lands of the United States; (c) ‘‘range’’ means the amount of land nec- essary to sustain an existing herd or herds of wild free-roaming horses and burros, which does not exceed their known territorial limits, and which is devoted principally but not nec- essarily exclusively to their welfare in keeping with the multiple-use management concept for the public lands; (d) ‘‘herd’’ means one or more stallions and his mares; and 1 (e) ‘‘public lands’’ means any lands adminis- tered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management or by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Forest Service.2 (f) ‘‘excess animals’’ means wild free-roam- ing horses or burros (1) which have been re- moved from an area by the Secretary pursuant to applicable law or, (2) which must be re- moved from an area in order to preserve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship in that area.