Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§2904 Approval of conservation plans and certain nongame fish and wildlife conservation actions

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 49— - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION › § 2904

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A State can apply to the Secretary to have a conservation plan approved. Applications must follow the Secretary’s rules. The Secretary must approve or reject a plan within 180 days after the State sends it (including if the State resends a plan that was earlier rejected). The Secretary must approve a plan if it meets the requirements in section 2903 and is substantial in its design. The Secretary must reject a plan if it does not meet section 2903 or if carrying out the plan as written would threaten the long-term survival or stability of the species covered. If approved, the wildlife part of the plan counts as an approved plan under the Pittman-Robertson Act and the fish part counts under the Dingell-Johnson Act. Approved nongame fish and wildlife actions in the plan can be reimbursed under section 2905. If a State has no approved plan but shows a need, the Secretary may still allow certain actions to be reimbursed if they meet appropriate parts of section 2903 (including paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (7)) and are substantial.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §2904

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Any State may apply to the Secretary for approval of a conservation plan.
(2)Applications for the approval of conservation plans shall be made and reviewed by the Secretary in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe.
(3)As soon as practicable, but not later than 180 days, after the date on which a State submits (or resubmits in the case of prior disapproval) an application for the approval of a conservation plan the Secretary shall—
(A)approve the conservation plan, and designate it as an approved conservation plan, if he determines that the plan—
(i)meets the requirements set forth in section 2903 of this title, and
(ii)is substantial in character and design; or
(B)disapprove the conservation plan if he determines that—
(i)the plan does not meet the requirements set forth in section 2903 of this title, or
(ii)to implement any part of the plan on the basis of the specifications, determinations, identifications, or priorities therein would threaten the natural stability and continued viability of any of the plan species concerned.
(b)If the Secretary approves the conservation plan of any State under subsection (a)—
(1)that portion of such plan that pertains to wildlife conservation shall be deemed to be an approved plan for purposes of section 6(a)(1) of the Act of September 2, 1937 (16 U.S.C. 669e(a)(1)), commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act [16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.]; and
(2)that portion of such plan that pertains to fish conservation shall be deemed to be an approved plan for the purposes of section 6(a)(1) of the Act of August 9, 1950 [16 U.S.C. 777e(a)(1)] commonly referred to as the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act [16 U.S.C. 777 et seq.].
(c)If the Secretary approves the conservation plan of any State under subsection (a), those conservation actions set forth in the plan which pertain to nongame fish and wildlife shall be deemed to be eligible as nongame fish and wildlife projects for which reimbursement is available under section 2905 of this title.
(d)In the absence of an approved conservation plan, and on a showing of need by the State, the Secretary may deem certain conservation actions to be nongame fish and wildlife projects for which reimbursement is available under section 2905(a)(3) of this title if they—
(1)are consistent with such of the requirements set forth in section 2903 of this title as may be appropriate, including, but not limited to, the requirements in paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (7) of such section; and
(2)are substantial in character and design.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is act Sept. 2, 1937, ch. 899, 50 Stat. 917, also known as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, which is classified generally to chapter 5B (§ 669 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 669 of this title and Tables. The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is act Aug. 9, 1950, ch. 658, 64 Stat. 430, also known as the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act and the Fish Restoration and Management Projects Act, which is classified generally to chapter 10B (§ 777 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 777 of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 2904

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73