The Endangered Species Act (ESA)

1
The Endangered Species Act (ESA)

• Draft Year 1973
• Amendment Years 1982,
• 1985, 1988
• National
• By Christine Auwarter
• Per. 6

2
Description of Function, Environmental Issues
Affected

• The ESA was created in 1973 to prevent the
  extinction of endangered animals and plants
  caused by human development and economic growth.
  The US Fish and Wildlife Service maintains the
  list of threatened and endangered species, all of
  which are protected under the act. The law states
  that federal agencies cannot authorize, fund, or
  carry out actions that may harm any of the
  species on the list or damage their habitat. The
  species on this list cannon be harmed, wounded or
  killed. Also, the import, export, or
  national/international trade of the species on
  the list is banned.
• The penalties for violating the ESA vary
  depending on the severity of the violation and
  range from fines to jail time. The act has been
  effective, and 93 of the listed species have had
  their population sizes increase or remain stable
  after being listed.
• The act affects extinction, habitat loss, and
  species diversity.

3
Agency/Group Responsible for Regulation/Enforcemen
t

• The 93rd US Congress was responsible for creating
  the act. The act is administered by the United
  States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National
  Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The US
  Secretary of State, the Secretary of the
  Treasury, or the Secretary of the Department in
  which the Coast Guard is operating are
  responsible for enforcing the act.