Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act in plain language
1: Short title
This section would let the Act be called the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act .
2: Maintenance of horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
This section would amend section 5 of the Act of April 25, 1947 (61 Stat. 54, chapter 41; 16 U.S.C. 245), the law under which Theodore Roosevelt National Park is administered. It would rename that section 'Administration, protection, and development' and would place the section's existing administration text under a new subsection heading, '(a) In general,' without changing the wording of that existing text. It would then add a new subsection (b), 'Maintenance of horses,' with several requirements. The Secretary of the Interior would have to maintain a genetically diverse herd of horses in the South Unit of the park, with a population of not fewer than 150 horses. Not later than 120 days after this provision becomes law, the Secretary would have to develop a plan for managing the horses in the park; that plan would have to provide for cost-effective management of the horses while also making sure the park's natural resources are not adversely impacted. The Secretary would be barred from removing, or helping with or allowing anyone else to remove, any horses from federal land within the park's boundaries, unless the removal is carried out as part of a plan to maintain a genetically diverse herd of horses, or unless it happens in an emergency, or unless it is needed to protect public health and safety. The Secretary would also have to monitor and assess the horses in the park every year and make the findings on their population, structure, and health available to the public.
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2. Maintenance of horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park Section 5 of the Act of April 25, 1947 (61 Stat. 54, chapter 41; 16 U.S.C. 245 ), is amended— (1) by striking the section designation and all that follows through The Administration and inserting the following: 5. Administration, protection, and development (a) In general The administration ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (b) Maintenance of horses (1) In general The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this subsection as the Secretary ) shall maintain a genetically diverse herd of horses in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park (referred to in this subsection as the Park ), with a population of not fewer than 150 horses. (2) Management plan (A) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall develop a plan to provide for the management of horses in the Park. (B) Requirements The plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall provide for the cost-effective management of the horses in the Park while ensuring that natural resources within the Park are not adversely impacted. (3) Removal The Secretary shall not remove, or assist in or permit the removal of, any horses from Federal land within the boundaries of the Park— (A) unless the removal is carried out as part of a plan to maintain a genetically diverse herd of horses; or (B) except— (i) in the case of emergency; or (ii) to protect public health and safety. (4) Monitoring and assessment The Secretary shall annually monitor, assess, and make available to the public findings regarding the population, structure, and health of the horses in the Park. .