2006 Utah Code - 63-34-14 — Species Protection Account.

     63-34-14.   Species Protection Account.
     (1) As used in this section, "species protection" means an action to protect any plant or animal species identified as sensitive by the state or as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.
     (2) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the Species Protection Account.
     (3) The account shall consist of:
     (a) revenue generated by the brine shrimp tax provided for in Title 59, Chapter 23, Brine Shrimp Royalty Act; and
     (b) interest earned on monies in the account.
     (4) Monies in the account may be appropriated by the Legislature for the following purposes:
     (a) to develop and implement species status assessments and species protection measures;
     (b) to obtain biological opinions of proposed species protection measures;
     (c) to conduct studies, investigations, and research into the effects of proposed species protection measures;
     (d) to verify species protection proposals that are not based on valid biological data;
     (e) for Great Salt Lake wetlands mitigation projects in connection with the western transportation corridor;
     (f) to pay for the state's voluntary contributions to the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Account under the Central Utah Project Completion Act, Pub. L. No. 102-575, Titles II-VI, 106 Stat. 4605-4655; and
     (g) to pay for expenses of the State Tax Commission under Title 59, Chapter 23, Brine Shrimp Royalty Act.
     (5) The purposes specified in Subsections (4)(a) through (4)(d) may be accomplished by the state or, in an appropriation act, the Legislature may authorize the Department of Natural Resources to award grants to political subdivisions of the state to accomplish those purposes.
     (6) Monies in the account may not be used to develop or implement a habitat conservation plan required under federal law unless the federal government pays for at least 1/3 of the habitat conservation plan costs.

Amended by Chapter 71, 2005 General Session