7 U.S.C. § 8351: Predatory and other wild animals

The Secretary of Agriculture may conduct a program of wildlife services with respect to injurious animal species and take any action the Secretary considers necessary in conducting the program. The Secretary shall administer the program in a manner consistent with all of the wildlife services authorities in effect on the day before October 28, 2000 . a depredating eagle under the Act of June 8, 1940 (commonly known as the “Bald Eagle Protection Act”) ( 54 Stat. 250 , chapter 278; 16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.), or sections 22.11 through 22.32 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations) (including depredation of livestock, wildlife, and species protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or any other Federal management program); or a migratory bird included on the list under section 10.13 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations) that is posing a conflict. The Secretary [of Agriculture] shall establish a feral swine eradication and control pilot program to respond to the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human and animal health. study and assess the nature and extent of damage to the pilot areas caused by feral swine; develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine in the pilot areas; develop methods to restore damage caused by feral swine; and provide financial assistance to agricultural producers in pilot areas. eradicate or control feral swine in the pilot areas; and restore damage caused by feral swine. The Secretary shall ensure that the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service coordinate for purposes of this section through State technical committees established under section 1261(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3861(a) ). The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program in areas of States in which feral swine have been identified as a threat to agriculture, native ecosystems, or human or animal health, as determined by the Secretary. The Federal share of the costs of activities under the pilot program may not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of such activities. The non-Federal share of the costs of activities under the pilot program may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions of materials or services. Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $75,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, and $105,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2031. 50 percent shall be allocated to the Natural Resources Conservation Service to carry out the pilot program, including the provision of financial assistance to producers for on-farm trapping and technology related to capturing and confining feral swine; and 50 percent shall be allocated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to carry out the pilot program, including the use of established, and testing of innovative, population reduction methods. Not more than 10 percent of funds made available under this section may be used for administrative expenses of the pilot program.” The term ‘Indian tribe’ has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450b ) [now 25 U.S.C. 5304 ]. The term ‘livestock’ means cattle, swine, horses, mules, sheep, goats, livestock guard animals, and other domestic animals, as determined by the Secretary. The term ‘program’ means the demonstration program established under section 6202(a). The term ‘Secretaries’ means the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting jointly. to assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, non-lethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves; and to compensate livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation. establish criteria and requirements to implement the program; and livestock producers to undertake proactive activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves; or provide compensation to livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation. designate an appropriate agency of the State or Indian tribe to administer the 1 or more programs funded by the grant; establish 1 or more accounts to receive grant funds; maintain files of all claims received under programs funded by the grant, including supporting documentation; a summary of claims and expenditures under the program during the year; and a description of any action taken on the claims; and such other reports as the Secretary may require to assist the Secretary in determining the effectiveness of activities provided assistance under this section; and promulgate rules for reimbursing livestock producers under the program. equally between the uses identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a); and the level of livestock predation in the State or on the land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, the Indian tribe; whether the State or Indian tribe is located in a geographical area that is at high risk for livestock predation; or any other factors that the Secretaries determine are appropriate. Activities and losses described in subsection (a) may occur on Federal, State, or private land, or land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, an Indian tribe. The Federal share of the cost of any activity provided assistance made available under this subtitle shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the activity. “There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter.”