Overview

Title

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to assist projects that use nonlethal coexistence measures to reduce property damage caused by native beavers, a keystone species, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

This bill is like setting up a special piggy bank with money ($3 million each year) to help people find friendly ways to keep beavers from messing up their stuff without hurting them, because beavers are important animals for nature.

Summary AI

H.R. 10303 seeks to establish a grant program led by the Secretary of the Interior to support projects using nonlethal methods to address property damage caused by native beavers, a key species. The program will prioritize projects that monitor and research the impact of their measures, include educational activities, or have previously received federal funding, among other criteria. Eligible applicants include Indian Tribes, state or local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and partnerships with property owners. The bill authorizes $3 million annually from 2025 to 2029 for this program, with a maximum of 75% of the project's cost covered by federal funding.

Published

2024-12-05
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-12-05
Package ID: BILLS-118hr10303ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
1,595
Pages:
8
Sentences:
18

Language

Nouns: 461
Verbs: 136
Adjectives: 81
Adverbs: 8
Numbers: 47
Entities: 71

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.28
Average Sentence Length:
88.61
Token Entropy:
5.05
Readability (ARI):
46.46

AnalysisAI

The "Developing Alternative Mitigation Systems for Beavers Act," also known as the "DAMS for Beavers Act," seeks to address property damage caused by native beavers through nonlethal methods. Beavers, recognized as a keystone species, play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, but their activities can sometimes lead to property damage. This bill mandates the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to support projects that implement nonlethal coexistence measures. The aim is to both mitigate property damage and preserve the natural habitats essential for beavers and other wildlife.

Overview of the Bill

The bill proposes the creation of a grant program that offers financial support for initiatives designed to minimize beaver-related property damage without resorting to lethal methods. Eligible entities under this program include Indian Tribes, state or tribal agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions. Projects qualifying for grants should prioritize nonlethal measures like fencing and flow management devices. The program emphasizes research, monitoring, and educational outreach to facilitate the development of best practices in nonlethal coexistence measures. It also outlines the conditions under which nonlethal measures can be bypassed, such as threats to human health or safety. The federal government will cover up to 75% of a project’s costs, with a budget of $3 million annually for five years starting in 2025.

Significant Issues

Several key issues arise from the proposed legislation. First, there is a concern about potential favoritism or conflicts of interest due to the lack of specific criteria for forming partnerships with federal agencies. Additionally, while the bill advocates for projects that cover diverse geographic areas, it lacks a clear mechanism to ensure an equitable distribution of resources. Another issue is administrative costs, which are capped at 10% of total funding but may require more rigorous monitoring to prevent overruns. The program’s enforcement mechanisms for terminating funding when nonlethal measures are ignored are vague, risking inconsistent application. Lastly, the bill does not adjust for inflation or possible increases in the program’s financial needs, potentially hindering its long-term feasibility.

Public Impact

If passed, the bill could broadly impact efforts to harmonize human and wildlife coexistence by providing a framework for nonlethal intervention in cases of property damage caused by beavers. By focusing on habitat preservation and damage mitigation, the bill could lead to more environmentally sustainable practices. The secondary benefits include contributing to greater biodiversity and improved water quality in ecosystems where beavers are active.

Impact on Stakeholders

Positive Impact: Specific stakeholders, such as conservationists and environmental organizations, may view this legislation positively. It promotes sustainable wildlife management practices by supporting projects that combine property protection with habitat enhancement. Entities interested in promoting ecological balance might benefit from the research and data gathered through these projects, which could influence policy and conservation strategies.

Negative Impact: On the other hand, property owners or sectors heavily impacted by beaver activities might find the nonlethal restrictions challenging if immediate damage control is required. There is also the possibility of complications arising from the funding and administrative requirements for entities unfamiliar with state or federal grant processes.

In conclusion, while the "DAMS for Beavers Act" promises positive environmental outcomes, careful attention to the highlighted issues and potential challenges for stakeholders will be necessary for its successful implementation and acceptance.

Financial Assessment

The bill titled H.R. 10303 introduces a grant program managed by the Secretary of the Interior. This program aims to provide financial support to projects that employ nonlethal methods to mitigate property damage caused by native beavers. This initiative recognizes the beaver as a keystone species and endeavors to balance property protection with habitat conservation.

Financial Summary and Appropriations

The bill authorizes an annual appropriation of $3,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2025 to 2029. This allocation will fund the grant program, supporting projects that focus on nonlethal coexistence measures with beavers. Furthermore, it establishes that the federal share can cover up to 75% of the total project costs. These financial figures aim to incentivize a variety of eligible entities, including Indian Tribes, state or local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and partnerships with property owners, to participate in the program.

Allocation and Implementation Issues

There are several concerns related to financial implementation:

  1. Administrative Expenses: The bill caps administrative expenses at 10% of the appropriated funds. It is crucial to ensure strict monitoring to prevent administrative costs from exceeding this limitation. An excess in these costs could reduce the available resources for project implementation, thereby affecting the program's overall effectiveness.

  2. Geographical Distribution of Funds: The legislation acknowledges the need for diverse geographical representation among funded projects but does not set clear criteria or mechanisms to guarantee this. Without specific guidelines, there is a risk of unequal resource distribution, whereby some regions might benefit disproportionately, while others are overlooked, potentially diluting the program's nationwide impact.

  3. Evaluation and Best Practices: The allocation of funds should ideally be linked to well-defined 'best practices' for project evaluation. However, the bill currently lacks clear guidelines on what constitutes these best practices. This ambiguity could lead to inconsistent assessments of funded projects, making it challenging to measure efficacy or replicate successful strategies.

  4. Exclusions and Compliance: The bill mentions exclusions where nonlethal measures might not suffice, allowing alternative approaches under certain conditions. However, these conditions are broad and could be interpreted differently, raising concerns about potential misuse of funds. Detailed criteria for these exclusions are necessary to maintain financial accountability and ensure that projects adhere to the intended use of nonlethal measures.

  5. Increased Costs and Inflation: While the bill provides a fixed annual appropriation for five years, it does not account for inflation or potential increases in costs over time. Without adjustments for inflation, the real value of the funding could diminish, potentially undermining the program's sustainability and ability to meet expanding needs.

In summary, H.R. 10303 outlines a financial commitment to a nonlethal approach to managing beaver-induced property damage, with a significant portion of costs covered by federal funds. However, the success of its financial implementation depends on effectively managing administrative costs, ensuring equitable distribution, clearly defining best practices and exemption clauses, and allowing flexibility for future economic changes.

Issues

  • The grant program described in Section 2 lacks specific criteria or limitations for partnerships with Federal agencies, potentially leading to favoritism or conflicts of interest.

  • There is a lack of clear mechanisms to ensure diverse geographical distribution of funded projects, as mentioned in Section 2, which could lead to unequal allocation of resources across different areas.

  • Section 2 outlines that administrative costs should be limited to 10% of the funding, but without strict monitoring, these costs could exceed the limit, impacting the effectiveness of the program.

  • The enforcement procedures for terminating grants if nonlethal coexistence measures are not used, as stated in Section 2, are not detailed, which could lead to inconsistent application and accountability issues.

  • The definition of ‘best practices’ in Section 2 is ambiguous and lacks clear guidelines, hindering the standardization of project evaluation and effectiveness.

  • The exclusion clause under subsection (d)(3)(A) of Section 2 is broad and lacks precise guidelines on circumstances when measures other than nonlethal coexistence can be used, potentially leading to varied interpretations and misuse.

  • Section 2 requires consultations with State or Tribal wildlife agencies, but does not specify the standards or documentation required, risking inconsistent consultation practices.

  • The authorization of appropriations in Section 2 does not account for inflation or potential increases in program requirements over the fiscal years, possibly limiting long-term sustainability of the program.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the bill states that the official short title for the legislation is the "Developing Alternative Mitigation Systems for Beavers Act" or simply the "DAMS for Beavers Act".

2. Beaver damage mitigation grant program Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The Beaver Damage Mitigation Grant Program is a federally established initiative led by the Secretary of the Interior that provides funding to eligible entities for projects using nonlethal methods to reduce beaver-caused property damage and enhance habitats. The program focuses on competitive grants, prioritizing those that offer research, monitoring, educational activities, and partnerships, while maintaining a commitment to using nonlethal techniques unless specific conditions require otherwise, with the federal government covering up to 75% of project costs.

Money References

  • — (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.