Overview
Title
An Act To prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 615 is a rule that says people can keep using lead bullets and fishing gear on certain public lands, but if there are fewer animals because of the lead, some places might have special rules, as long as they also follow state rules.
Summary AI
H. R. 615, also known as the "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023," aims to stop the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from banning lead ammunition or tackle on certain federal lands and waters. However, the bill does allow for specific exceptions if a particular area of federal land or water shows a noticeable decline in wildlife populations due to lead use, and these exceptions align with state laws and policies. In such cases, the relevant Secretary must explain these regulations in the Federal Register. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on April 30, 2024.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023," aims to limit the authority of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture in prohibiting or regulating the use of lead ammunition and tackle on certain federal lands or waters designated for hunting and fishing. The bill includes provisions for exceptions where lead use demonstrably harms wildlife populations, provided these actions are consistent with state laws or policies. It also mandates detailed explanation for any such prohibition or regulation in a Federal Register notice.
Summary of Significant Issues
A primary concern with the bill is the potential ambiguity surrounding what constitutes a "decline in wildlife population" due to lead use. This determination lacks a standardized set of criteria or specific field data requirements, which may result in inconsistent application of the exceptions across different federal lands and waters. Moreover, the term "applicable Secretary" could lead to confusion, as it refers to different officials depending on the context, potentially complicating enforcement responsibilities. Additionally, the requirement to align prohibitions or regulations with state laws or policies might create conflicts between federal and state regulations, leading to legal and bureaucratic complexities.
Impact on the Public
The bill could impact the public by maintaining wide access to federal lands and waters for hunting and fishing using lead ammunition or tackle, which is sometimes favored for its cost-effectiveness and availability. By limiting federal regulation, the bill seeks to protect traditional practices while also emphasizing states' rights to manage wildlife resources within their jurisdiction. However, it may also lead to environmental and health concerns if lead use accumulates harmful effects on local ecosystems or water supplies.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For hunting and fishing communities, this bill could be viewed positively as it preserves the traditional and cost-effective use of lead ammunition and tackle, which are integral to their practices. It also supports the autonomy of state wildlife agencies by allowing them to take precedence in managing local issues and adapting regulations based on their unique ecological contexts.
Conversely, environmental groups and public health advocates might perceive the bill negatively due to potential ecological harm associated with lead accumulation. These stakeholders may argue for stricter regulations on lead use to protect wildlife populations and prevent environmental contamination. Additionally, federal agencies tasked with managing public lands may face challenges in enforcing varied regulations across state lines, which could complicate conservation efforts and disrupt attempts at nationwide ecological management. The potential for bureaucratic conflict between state and federal regulations may further strain resources and effectiveness in safeguarding public lands.
Issues
The determination of what constitutes a 'decline in wildlife population' due to lead use could be subjective and vary between different units of Federal land or water, leading to inconsistent application of the exception clause as mentioned in Section 2(b).
The lack of clarity on what specific field data is required to determine a decline in wildlife population due to lead use may cause inconsistencies in applying the exception clause, thereby affecting the enforcement and understanding of the law across different regions, as found in Section 2(b).
The term 'applicable Secretary' might cause confusion as it refers to multiple different individuals (either the Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Agriculture), potentially leading to ambiguity in enforcement responsibility, especially in Section 2(a) and throughout Section 2.
Requiring compliance with State law or policy, as outlined in Section 2(b)(2), could create conflicts between federal and state regulations, complicating enforcement and understanding of the law across different regions.
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
This section is titled "Short title" and states that the Act can be officially called the “Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023.”
2. Protecting access for hunters and anglers on Federal land and water Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section of the bill prevents the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from banning or regulating lead ammunition or tackle used for hunting or fishing on federal land or water, except when lead use is shown to harm wildlife populations in specific areas. In such cases, any prohibition or regulation must align with state laws or policies and be clearly explained in a Federal Register notice.