7 U.S.C. § 8356 — Depredation permits for black vultures and common ravens; black vulture livestock protection program

(a) Depredation permits for black vultures and common ravens. (1) In general. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Fish and Wildlife Service Director and called the “Secretary” in this section, may issue livestock producers permits to take black vultures or common ravens when Federal law would otherwise prohibit the taking. The purpose is to prevent those birds from taking livestock during calving or lambing season. (2) Limited areas. The Secretary may issue these permits only to producers in States or regions where producers are affected, or were affected during the prior year, by black vultures or common ravens, as the Secretary determines. (3) Reporting. As a permit condition, the Secretary must require the holder to report permitted takings of black vultures or common ravens to the appropriate enforcement agencies. (b) Black-vulture livestock-protection program. (1) Through fiscal year 2030, the Secretary, coordinating with States, must operate a program allowing one public entity or Farm Bureau organization per State to hold a statewide depredation permit protecting commercial-agriculture livestock from black-vulture predation. (2) Requirements. Each permit holder: (A) must (i) show enough experience and ability to provide government-regulated public services, as the Secretary determines; (ii) submit a complete application for review and approval under Fish and Wildlife Service procedures; (iii) comply with, and ensure applicable subpermittee compliance with, all permit conditions; and (iv) collect, manage, and report required information; and (B) may issue subpermits to livestock producers to take black vultures for livestock protection. (3) Study. In consultation with the Agriculture Secretary acting through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrator, the Secretary must study whether prescribed black-vulture take levels can increase for subpermittees while staying within a biologically sustainable population level. (4) Report. Within one year after December 23, 2024, the Secretary, with that consultation, must report the program’s status to the chair and ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, including the study results.