Amendments to house Joint Resolution No. 18

2nd Reading/2nd House Copy

Requested by Steve Gunderson

For the (H) Committee of the Whole

Prepared by Jason Mohr

03/22/2021, 11:29:31

1. Title, line 7 through line 8.

Strike: "THAT" on line 7 through "CRITERIA" on line 8

2. Page 1.

Following: line 19

Insert: "WHEREAS, in Senate Report 151 of the 96th United States Congress, the Congress instructed that the authority to designate distinct population segments be exercised "sparingly and only when the biological evidence indicates that such action is warranted"; and"

3. Page 1.

Following: line 28

Insert: "WHEREAS, for the purpose of the discrete population segment policy, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service define "discreteness" as being separated from other populations of the same species by physical, physiological, ecological, or behavioral factors, or as being delimited by international governmental boundaries with significant differences in habitat management, conservation regulations, exploitation control, or regulatory mechanisms, and

WHEREAS, because of the genetic interchange between the Northern Continental Divide, Cabinet-Yaak, and Selkirk grizzly bear recovery zones, and because of the genetic interchange that occurs between grizzly bears crossing the border between the United States and Canada, these three recovery zones should be considered one large interbreeding distinct population segment; and

WHEREAS, delisting efforts for the Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone have been ongoing for 13 years, and the grizzly bear population in the Northern Continental Divide Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone has reached recovery goals and should also be in an ongoing delisting process; and"

4. Page 2, line 1 through page 2, line 15

Strike: "WHEREAS" on line 1 through "conservation" on line 15

Insert: "WHEREAS, delays in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service delisting process create a significant loss of social tolerance among Montanans who are adversely impacted by the continued expansion of grizzly bears"

5. Page 2, line 19 through line 22.

Strike: "in" on line 19 through "plans" on line 22

Insert: "from the Endangered Species Act and the return of Montana grizzly bears to state management"

6. Page 2, line 24 through line 26.

Strike: "in" on line 24 through "challenges" on line 26

Insert: "across all ranges"

7. Page 2, line 27 through page 3, line 1.

Following: "Legislature" on line 27

Strike: remainder of line 27 through "Montana" on page 3, line 1

Insert: "requests that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service create a statewide distinct population segment that includes all of Montana's grizzly bear recovery zones for the purpose of delisting the bear and returning its management to state control"

8. Page 3, line 6 through line 8.

Strike: "to" on line 6 through "delisting" on line 8

Insert: ", as part of its efforts to return management of Montana's grizzly bears to the state, to exempt the delisting of grizzly bear populations from judicial review"

9. Page 3, line 9 through line 11.

Strike: line 9 through line 11 in their entirety