Bill Summary
This bill aims to ensure that the Secretary of the Interior works closely with state and local authorities, as well as nonprofit organizations, in managing the population of wild horses on Federal land, specifically in and around the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. The bill requires the Secretary to consult with relevant parties in order to maintain genetic diversity in the wild horse population, and allows for the introduction of a small number of horses from a nearby national seashore if necessary. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund to effectively manage the horses while also protecting the natural resources within the refuge. The agreement outlines specific requirements for the Fund, including conducting periodic censuses, maintaining records, and implementing a population control plan through methods such as auctions, adoptions, and contraceptive measures.
Possible Impacts
1) Local residents near the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge may be affected by the introduction of new wild horses from the Cape Lookout National Seashore. This could impact their daily lives and potentially their property if the wild horses encroach on their land.
2) The Corolla Wild Horse Fund may be affected by the requirement to pay for the costs associated with managing the wild horse population in the area. This could impact their budget and resources.
3) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources may be affected by the need to collaborate with local authorities and nonprofit organizations to manage the wild horse population. This could impact their current processes and resources.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 248 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 248
To ensure that the Secretary of the Interior collaborates fully with
State and local authorities and certain nonprofit entities in managing
the Corolla Wild Horse population on Federal land.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 28, 2019
Mr. Tillis introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure that the Secretary of the Interior collaborates fully with
State and local authorities and certain nonprofit entities in managing
the Corolla Wild Horse population on Federal land.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. WILD HORSES IN AND AROUND THE CURRITUCK NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGE.
(a) Genetic Diversity.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to
in this section as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with the North
Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Currituck
County, North Carolina, and the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, shall allow
for the introduction of a small number of free-roaming wild horses from
the Cape Lookout National Seashore as necessary to ensure the genetic
diversity of the wild horse population in and around the Currituck
National Wildlife Refuge, consistent with--
(1) the laws (including regulations) applicable to the
Currituck National Wildlife Refuge and the Cape Lookout
National Seashore; and
(2) the December 2014 Wild Horse Management Agreement
approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Currituck County, North Carolina, and the Corolla Wild Horse
Fund.
(b) Agreement.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into an agreement
with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund to provide for the cost-
effective management of the horses in and around the Currituck
National Wildlife Refuge while ensuring that natural resources
within the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge are not adversely
impacted.
(2) Requirements.--The agreement entered into under
paragraph (1) shall specify that the Corolla Wild Horse Fund
shall pay the costs associated with, with respect to the horses
in and around the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge--
(A) coordinating and conducting a periodic census,
and inspecting the health, of the horses;
(B) maintaining records of the horses living in the
wild and in confinement;
(C) coordinating and conducting the removal and
placement of horses and monitoring of any horses
removed from the Currituck County Outer Banks; and
(D) administering a viable population control plan
for the horses, including auctions, adoptions,
contraceptive fertility methods, and other viable
options.
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