§661. Declaration of purpose; cooperation of agencies; surveys and investigations; donations

For the purpose of recognizing the vital contribution of our wildlife resources to the Nation, the increasing public interest and significance thereof due to expansion of our national economy and other factors, and to provide that wildlife conservation shall receive equal consideration and be coordinated with other features of water-resource development programs through the effectual and harmonious planning, development, maintenance, and coordination of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation for the purposes of sections 661 to 666c of this title in the United States, its Territories and possessions, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized (1) to provide assistance to, and cooperate with, Federal, State, and public or private agencies and organizations in the development, protection, rearing, and stocking of all species of wildlife, resources thereof, and their habitat, in controlling losses of the same from disease or other causes, in minimizing damages from overabundant species, in providing public shooting and fishing areas, including easements across public lands for access thereto, and in carrying out other measures necessary to effectuate the purposes of said sections; (2) to make surveys and investigations of the wildlife of the public domain, including lands and waters or interests therein acquired or controlled by any agency of the United States; and (3) to accept donations of land and contributions of funds in furtherance of the purposes of said sections.

(Mar. 10, 1934, ch. 55, §1, 48 Stat. 401 ; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, §4(e), (f), eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1433; Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 965, 60 Stat. 1080 ; Pub. L. 85–624, §2, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 563 .)

Amendments

1958-Pub. L. 85–624 inserted provisions which relate to recognition of the vital contribution of wildlife resources to the Nation, the increasing public interest and significance thereof, and to equal consideration and coordination of wildlife conservation with other water-resources development programs, and which authorize the Secretary to provide public fishing areas, and to accept donations of lands and contributions of funds.

1946-Act Aug. 14, 1946, amended section generally in order to promote more effectual planning and cooperation between Federal, State, public, and private agencies for the conservation and rehabilitation of wildlife.

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 85–624 provided: "That the Act of March 10, 1934, as amended, and as further amended by this Act [sections 661 to 666c of this title] may be cited as the 'Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act'."

Transfer of Functions

Enforcement functions of Secretary or other official in Department of the Interior related to compliance with wildlife consultation in sections 661 to 666c of this title and such functions of Secretary or other official in Department of Agriculture, insofar as they involve lands and programs under jurisdiction of that Department, related to compliance with sections 661 to 666c of this title with respect to pre-construction, construction, and initial operation of transportation system for Canadian and Alaskan natural gas transferred to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, until first anniversary of date of initial operation of Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, see Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1979, §§102(e), (f), 203(a), 44 F.R. 33663, 33666, 93 Stat. 1373, 1376, effective July 1, 1979, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Office of Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System abolished and functions and authority vested in Inspector transferred to Secretary of Energy by section 3012(b) of Pub. L. 102–486, set out as an Abolition of Office of Federal Inspector note under section 719e of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Functions, appropriations, records, and property of Secretary of the Interior and Fish and Wildlife Service of Department of the Interior which affect or relate to breeding, raising, producing, marketing, or any other phase of production or distribution of domestically raised fur-bearing animals, or the products thereof transferred to Secretary of Agriculture by section 434 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Reorg. Plan No. III of 1940, §3, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, consolidated Bureau of Fisheries and Bureau of Biological Survey with their respective functions into one agency in Department of the Interior to be known as the Fish and Wildlife Service, and abolished the office of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries and transferred their functions to the consolidated agency.

Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, transferred Bureau of Fisheries in Department of Commerce, and its functions, to Department of the Interior; transferred functions of Secretary of Commerce relating to protection of fur seals and other fur-bearing animals to Secretary of the Interior; and transferred functions of Secretary of Agriculture relating to conservation of wildlife, game, and migratory birds to Secretary of the Interior.

Appropriations

Section 4 of Pub. L. 85–624 provided that: "There is hereby authorized to be appropriated and expended such funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act [amending this section and sections 662 to 664 of this title and enacting section 1008 of this title]."

Study of Soft- and Hard-Shell Clams

Act May 26, 1948, ch. 348, 62 Stat. 274 , directed the Fish and Wildlife Service to undertake, in cooperation with appropriate State and interstate agencies in accordance with the provisions of the Act of August 14, 1946 (60 Stat. 1080), comprehensive studies of the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria, and the hard-shell clam, Venus mercenaria, with particular respect to the biology, propagation, and methods of cultivation of such clams, required the Service to recommend appropriate measures for (1) arresting depletion in existing productive beds; (2) restoring to production beds formerly productive but now barren or unusable; (3) developing new areas which may be found suitable; (4) improving methods and techniques of digging, transplanting, and handling; and (5) otherwise increasing production and improving the quality of such clams for the benefit of both producers and consumers, and authorized for the five-year period beginning July 1, 1948, the sum of $250,000 to carry out the studies of the soft-shell clam and the sum of $250,000 to carry out the studies of the hard-shell clam.

Act Referred to in Other Sections

The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661 to 666c] is referred to in 666e, 666g, 803, 823a, 1534, 2705, 4411 of this title; title 30 section 1292; title 33 sections 1416, 2283; title 43 sections 421h, 422h, 2223.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 662, 663, 664, 666, 666a, 666c, 666e, 666g of this title.