This bill reforms how species are listed as threatened or endangered under federal law by creating an independent review process. When an established conservation group objects to a proposed listing within 21 days, the bill requires the federal government to pause the listing and empanel a third-party evaluator team of 5 to 9 experts to review whether the listing should proceed, be terminated, or be sent back for further work. The evaluator team must include scientists, economists who assess business impacts, and experts in natural resource industries, but cannot include current or former Fish and Wildlife Service employees, and their decision is final and legally binding. The bill also increases transparency by requiring detailed disclosure of peer reviewers and their backgrounds in species assessments, codifies existing voluntary conservation agreements into law, and gives private landowners the choice of which type of conservation agreement to enter with the government. The legislation affects state and private conservation groups, landowners, and industries like oil, gas, mining, forestry, and agriculture that may be impacted by species listings.
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