,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #eead ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bd1 #bjbf,mr4 ,cruz 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,britt7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of the ,interior to promulgate regulations for the development of regional management frameworks for the take of double-crested cormorants1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,responsible ,cormorant ,management and ,control ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,regional management frameworks for take of double-crested cormorants 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,double-crested cormorant ,the term double-crested cormorant means the species ,nannopterum auritum4 7#b7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#c7 ,lake manager ,the term lake manager means a person that is licensed or otherwise authorized by a ,state regulatory agency to manage a private lake4 7#d7 ,migratory birds ,the term migratory birds has the meaning given the term in section #aa of the ,migratory ,bird ,conservation ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gae;j74 7#e7 ,pond manager ,the term pond manager means a person that is licensed or otherwise authorized by a ,state regulatory agency to manage a private pond4 7#f7 ,regional ,flyway ,council ,the term ,regional ,flyway ,council means-- 7,a7 the ,atlantic ,flyway ,council2 7,b7 the ,central ,flyway ,council2 7,c7 the ,mississippi ,flyway ,council2 and 7,d7 the ,pacific ,flyway ,council4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#h7 ,take ,the term take has the meaning given the term in section #aj4ab of title #ej1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section74 7b7 ,regional management frameworks ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,regional ,flyway ,councils and in accordance with section #c of the ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gjd71 shall promulgate regulations for the development of regional management frameworks for the management of double-crested cormorants based on the best available scientific information4 7c7 ,requirements ,each regional management framework developed pursuant to subsection 7b7 shall-- 7#a7 ensure that each breeding population of double-crested cormorants is managed at a level that is sufficient to ensure the conservation of double-crested cormorants1 and that cumulative authorized take of double-crested cormorants does not exceed a biologically sustainable level using the best available scientific information-- 7,a7 consistent with the ,migratory ,bird ,treaty ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gjc et seq47 and compatible with the applicable conventions2 and 7,b7 as informed by the most recent population-level survey of double-crested cormorants2 7#b7 include1 with respect to double-crested cormorants-- 7,a7 allowable methods of take2 7,b7 allowed time periods of take2 7,c7 required annual reporting of total take1 including target and non-target birds1 which shall be made publicly available2 7,d7 measures to avoid the take of non-target birds and other species2 7,e7 documented conflicts at an identified location that authorized take can feasibly resolve2 and 7,f7 non-lethal measures that shall be implemented2 7#c7 identify entities that may conduct authorized take of double-crested cormorants1 which may include-- 7,a7 ,state and ,tribal fish and wildlife agencies2 and 7,b7 entities permitted1 trained1 or otherwise authorized in a manner the ,secretary determines appropriate1 which shall include-- 7i7 lake managers2 and 7ii7 pond managers2 7#d7 provide for-- 7,a7 ,states and ,indian ,tribes to take specific management actions with respect to double-crested cormorants in accordance with the regional management framework2 and 7,b7 the implementation of management actions identified under subsection 7d72 7#e7 consider the documented effects of double-crested cormorants within the applicable region on-- 7,a7 fisheries2 7,b7 sensitive vegetation2 7,c7 populations of other migratory birds2 7,d7 human health and safety2 7,e7 water quality2 and 7,f7 species listed as threatened species or endangered species under section #d of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc72 7#f7 include a long-term plan for identifying and monitoring the effects of the regional management framework on the effects identified under paragraph 7#e72 7#g7 consider the effects of take authorized under the regional management framework on non-target birds1 species that are listed as birds of conservation concern pursuant to the ,fish and ,wildlife ,conservation ,act of #aihj 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bija et seq471 and species listed as threatened species or endangered species under section #d of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc72 and 7#h7 develop best practices for additional measures1 including-- 7,a7 non-lethal deterrents2 7,b7 exclusion and habitat modifications2 7,c7 habitat restoration2 and 7,d7 other non-lethal methods to rebuild or stabilize the populations of fauna and flora that have suffered detrimental effects because of double-crested cormorants4 7d7 ,incorporation of ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system ,in developing each regional management framework pursuant to subsection 7b71 the ,secretary1 in cooperation with the heads of ,state and ,tribal game and fish agencies and the applicable ,regional ,flyway ,council1 shall make recommendations that can be taken within units of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system that are in compliance with the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system ,administration ,act of #aiff 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffh;dd et seq47 and meet the management objectives of ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 the ,regional ,flyway ,councils1 and such units with respect to double-crested cormorants while fulfilling the primary purposes of such units4 7e7 ,population surveys ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,regional ,flyway ,councils1 shall carry out a survey of the population of double-crested cormorants4 7f7 ,updates 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,secretary1 in coordination with the applicable ,regional ,flyway ,council1 shall review and update each regional management framework developed pursuant to subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,incorporation of population surveys ,in reviewing and updating a regional management framework under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall incorporate the results of the most recent survey carried out under subsection 7e74 7g7 ,report ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives a report relating to the feasibility of issuing licenses to hunt double-crested cormorants to meet the requirements of the regional management frameworks developed pursuant to subsection 7b74 7h7 ,sunset ,this ,act shall cease to have force or effect on ,january #a1 #bjcd4 7i7 ,regulations ,the ,secretary may promulgate such regulations to carry out this ,act as the ,secretary determines necessary and appropriate4