§4405 Conditions Relating to Wetlands Conservation Projects

Summary

The Secretary must help carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approves. This help uses federal funds under this chapter and section 669b(b), and must follow the allocation rules in section 4407(a)(2) and the funding limits in section 4407(b). Land or water bought with these funds is normally added to the National Wildlife Refuge System. With the Commission’s agreement, the Secretary can instead give the federal money or transfer the property without cost to a State, public agency, or other entity if the Secretary finds the land should not join the Refuge System. Any grant recipient must be named in the project description approved by the Council and the Commission. The Secretary must make sure the recipient will manage the property to meet the program’s goals, include a reversion clause in the deed if management fails, and set terms that protect the wetland and its wildlife for the long term. The Secretary may also give federal funds to public agencies and other entities to help projects in Canada or Mexico that the Commission approves, following the allocation rules in section 4407(a)(1) and the limits in section 4407(b). Grant recipients must be named in the approved project description. Funds can be given only if the grant’s terms require long-term conservation of any land bought, improved, or restored. Land acquired under this rule will not become part of the National Wildlife Refuge System and those purchases are not covered by the federal laws used to add land to the Refuge System.