SEA Act of 2017

Summary

Streamlining Environmental Approvals Act of 2017 or the SEA Act of 2017 This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to: (1) limit the scope of the moratorium on taking and importing marine mammals and marine mammal products, and (2) revise the requirements for obtaining an authorization for incidentally taking by harassment marine mammals (incidental harassment authorizations or IHAs). Harassment is an act of pursuit, torment or annoyance which has the potential to either: (1) injure a marine mammal in the wild; or (2) disturb a marine mammal by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, such as migration or breeding. The bill: (1) allows persons who are not U.S. citizens to make requests to obtain IHAs, (2) eliminates the requirement that the taking occur within a specific geographic region, and (3) permits more than a small number of marine mammals to be taken. Monitoring requirements under an IHA must be efficient and practical. Additionally, the bill eliminates a requirement that IHAs prescribe reporting requirements. Any condition imposed by an IHA for minimizing adverse impacts on marine mammals may not result in more than a minor change to the activity and may not alter the activity's basic design, location, scope, duration, or timing. The bill establishes a process and deadlines for approving or denying IHAs, including a process for extending IHAs. Any taking of a marine mammal in compliance with an IHA is exempt from the prohibitions on takings under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

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Timeline

1. 29 June 2017

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 29 June 2017

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 29 June 2017

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 19 July 2017

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

   Source: Committee

5. 10 January 2018

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

   Source: Committee

6. 10 January 2018

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

7. 10 January 2018

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Discharged.

   Source: Committee

8. 16 November 2018

   Calendars

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 804.

   Source: Calendars

9. 16 November 2018

   Reported

   Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-1030.

   Source: Committee

10. 16 November 2018

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-1030.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported in House · 16 November 2018 · Official file
• Introduced in House · 29 June 2017 · Official file

Documents

5 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN · 16 November 2018

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported in House (PDF)

  Reported in House · EN · 16 November 2018

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 29 June 2017

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 29 June 2017

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 29 June 2017

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Mike Johnson · R · Sponsor
• Jeff Duncan · R · Sponsor
• Clay Higgins · R · Sponsor
• Ralph Abraham · R · Sponsor
• Garret Graves · R · Sponsor
• Jody Hice · R · Sponsor
• David Rouzer · R · Cosponsor
• Barry Loudermilk · R · Cosponsor
• Steven Palazzo · R · Cosponsor
• · hsii00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → SEA Act of 2019
• related to ← SECURE American Energy Act