Congressional Research Service Reports - 239 Matching Results

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The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 111th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices

Description: The Endangered Species Act has been one of the more contentious environmental laws. This may stem from its strict substantive provisions, which can affect the use of both federal and nonfederal lands and resources. This report discusses oversight issues and legislation introduced in the 11th Congress to address Endangered Species Act implementation and management of endangered and threatened species.
Date: December 11, 2009
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Corn, M. Lynne; Sheikh, Pervaze A.; Meltz, Robert & Alexander, Kristina
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: A Primer

Description: This report reviews the types of air emissions from livestock and poultry operations and their human health and environmental impacts. It then discusses provisions of several federal laws concerned with environmental impacts, beginning with the Clean Water Act, because protecting water resources has been the primary regulatory focus regarding livestock and animal operations.
Date: September 8, 2009
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Does the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Listing Provide More Protection of Polar Bear?: A Look at the Special Rules

Description: This report looks at the regulations surrounding the polar bear, which has been protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) since 1972. The report discusses the protections, prohibitions, and special rules for polar bears as well as exceptions to the rules, habitat issues, recovery plans, and other issues regarding polar bear protections.
Date: March 26, 2009
Creator: Alexander, Kristina
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Polar Bears: Listing Under the Endangered Species Act

Description: On May 14, 2008, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced the listing of polar bears as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The listing itself was praised by some environmentalists, other parties, who opposed the listing itself, argued that the science supporting listing was weak, but felt that the regulations mitigated some of the economic impacts of the listing.
Date: March 4, 2009
Creator: Buck, Eugene H.; Corn, M. L. & Alexander, Kristina
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Animal Identification: Overview and Issues

Description: This report provides information about animal identification and proposed solutions. Livestock industry groups, animal health officials, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been working to establish a nationwide identification (ID) system capable of quickly tracking animals from birth to slaughter, to deal with animal diseases and/or to satisfy foreign market specifications. Some consumer groups are among those who believe ID also would be useful for food safety or retail labeli… more
Date: February 19, 2009
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Marine Protected Areas: An Overview

Description: This report identifies a number of issues related to establishing MPAs in the United States. It begins by defining the concept and administrative actions taken to provide spatial protection in marine areas. It then considers some of the key issues and potential benefits and costs of designating additional MPAs.
Date: February 6, 2009
Creator: Upton, Harold F. & Buck, Eugene H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Illegal Trade in Wildlife: Threats and U.S. Policy

Description: This report focuses on the international trade in terrestrial fauna, largely excluding trade in illegal plants, including timber, and fish. Potential issues for Congress include (1) determining funding for trade inspection and investigation; (2) evaluating effectiveness of U.S. foreign aid to combat wildlife trafficking; (3) developing ways to encourage regulation of the wildlife trade; (4) trade sanctions to penalize weak enforcement of wildlife laws; (5) incorporating wildlife trade provision… more
Date: February 2, 2009
Creator: Wyler, Liana S. & Sheikh, Pervaze A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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International Illegal Trade in Wildlife: Threats and U.S. Policy

Description: This report focuses on the international trade in terrestrial fauna, largely excluding trade in illegal plants, including timber, and fish.
Date: February 2, 2009
Creator: Wyler, L. S. & Sheikh, Pervaze A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Issues Regarding Columbia Basin Salmon and Steelhead

Description: The construction and operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) have reduced salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia Basin. This report discusses the federal regulation of this system under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Date: January 26, 2009
Creator: Alexander, Kristina & Buck, Eugene H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Brief Summaries of Federal Animal Protection Statutes

Description: This report contains summaries of federal animal protection statutes, listed alphabetically. It does not include treaties, although it does include statutes enacted to implement treaties. It includes statutes concerning animals that are not entirely, or not at all, animal protection statutes. For example, it includes a statute authorizing the eradication of predators, because one of the statute's purposes is to protect domestic and "game" animals; and it includes statutes to conserve fish, alth… more
Date: December 18, 2008
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: A Primer

Description: This report reviews the types of air emissions from livestock and poultry operations and their human health and environmental impacts. It then discusses provisions of several federal laws concerned with environmental impacts, beginning with the Clean Water Act, because protecting water resources has been the primary regulatory focus regarding livestock and animal operations.
Date: November 24, 2008
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Humane Treatment of Farm Animals: Overview and Issues

Description: Congressional report regarding humane treatment of farm animals, including the background of the issues.
Date: November 18, 2008
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Marine Protected Areas: An Overview

Description: This report identifies a number of issues related to establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) in the United States. It begins by defining the concept and administrative actions taken to provide spatial protection in marine areas. It then considers some of the key issues and potential benefits and costs of designating additional MPAs. It concludes by summarizing current congressional interest in the topic and legislation proposed during the 110th Congress.
Date: November 14, 2008
Creator: Upton, Harold F. & Buck, Eugene H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Proposed Changes to Regulations Governing Consultation Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Description: This report discusses the purpose of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which is threefold: to provide a means to conserve ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend; to provide a program to protect those species; and to take steps to achieve the purposes of related treaties and conventions.
Date: September 23, 2008
Creator: Alexander, Kristina & Corn, M. Lynne
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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