This bill has more "teeth" than the Lacey Act did. Sec. 6 is devoted to Emergency Temporary Designation. This section provides the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) with emergency authority in the event an unregulated non-native wildlife species poses an imminent threat of harm. It also allows for state governors to request action.
How are all these species going to be monitored you ask? Well Section 7 (Information on Imported Animals) sets up an online system for animal imports and will require accurate species identification in order to monitor the trade.
Section 8 is the Injurious Wildlife Determinations Section. In the Lacey Act, the average listing time of a new import species is 4 years! This is WAY TOO SLOW. In that time, animals can already establish reproductively viable populations. This section directs USFWS to make the injurious species determinations more rapidly (180 days vs. 1460 days!). Additionally it provides for mechanisms to reduce the costly bureaucratic processes.
Now some of you might be wondering about conflicts with the Lacey Act. Section 9 is the Effects on Injurious Wildlife Provision. This provides regulations under this updated Act that would supersede conflicting regulations under the Lacey Act injurious species section. however, the new Act does NOT repeal or amend any portion of the Lacey Act.
Section 9 marks the halfway point in the breakdown of HR 5864.
Again, we need to be PROACTIVE and PREVENTIVE!
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