Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201-4245, 102 Stat. 2318-2323) -- Title II of P.L. 100-478 includes the following provisions:

A special fund is authorized to provide assistance to African governments for elephant research and conservation.

The Secretary is directed to review existing elephant conservation programs in Africa. Criteria are established for declaring and removing moratoria on ivory imports from source countries and from intermediary countries based upon the results of these reviews.

Import of sport-hunted African elephant trophies is exempted from any moratoria imposed by the Secretary, but export of raw ivory is prohibited.

Extensive investigation into elephant conservation and ivory trade is required, with a report to be submitted to Congress by January 31 of each year.

Within 8 months of completion of the 8th Conference of the Parties to CITES (by November 1992), a comprehensive report to Congress is required concerning the effectiveness of the Act.

Criminal and civil penalties and enforcement procedures are defined. Circumstances for permitting the import and export of ivory are outlined, and rewards may be provided for information.

Appropriations are authorized at $5,000,000 annually for five years, through 1993, to carry out provisions of the Act.

Amendments approved on August 5, 1998, P.L. 105-217 (112 Stat. 911), reauthorized the Act through 2002.

Amendments approved on January 8, 2002, P.L. 107-111, reauthorized the Act through 2007 and made the following amendments:

Limits the amount that the Secretary of the Interior may expend each fiscal year to pay administrative expenses to 3% or $80,000, which ever is greater.
Directs the Secretary to convene an advisory group of individuals representing public and private organizations actively involved in the conservation of African elephants to assist in carrying out the Act.
Authorizes the Secretary, to the maximum extent practical, in determining whether to approve project proposals under the Act, to give consideration to projects that will enhance sustainable conservation programs to ensure long-term conservation of such elephants.