Rep. Calvert Supports Improvements to ESA and Looks to Encourage More Habitat Conservation Plans Like Those in Southern California

REP. CALVERT SUPPORTS IMPROVEMENTS TO ESA AND LOOKS TO ENCOURAGE MORE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS LIKE THOSE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ken Calvert voted along with a bipartisan majority (vote on passage: 26-12) of the House Resources Committee to pass H.R. 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA). This bipartisan legislation updates and modernizes the historic Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.

"The ESA has been in effect for more than three decades, however, most people agree that the law needs to be updated," said Rep. Calvert. "Today's markup and passage of TESRA is an important first step towards improving this law. TESRA is an appropriate fix that has drawn bipartisan support because it places a greater emphasis on recovering endangered species, which is the ultimate goal of the original ESA."

TESRA updates and improves the ESA by:

* Replacing the critical habitat program with a more integrated recovery planning process that includes the identification of specific areas that are of special value to the conservation of the species which are then given priority in recovery efforts
* Codifying the No Surprises/Assurances policy for persons developing habitat conservation plans
* Compensating private property owners for the fair market value of loss of use for foregone use of their property

During the Resources Committee markup, Rep. Calvert offered an amendment to strengthen habitat conservation plans (HCP), such as the Western Riverside County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP). The inclusion of this provision would allow landowners to move forward with previously authorized activities without having to endure a second, duplicative consultation process. This amendment was withdrawn at the request of the Committee Chairman, who pledged to work with Rep. Calvert to address this issue as the legislation moves forward.

"Removing this costly and time consuming consultation process, which these activities have already undergone, will encourage more landowners to create HCPs," said Rep. Calvert. "There is broad consensus that developing a comprehensive regional HCP is the best way to preserve habitat necessary for species recovery. My amendment, if included in the final legislation, combined with the provision to codify the No Surprises assurance policy will improve the conservation of species habitat by encouraging landowners to develop HCPs."

http://calvert.house.gov/pressreleases.asp?ARTICLE4024=9998