Matter for Congressional Consideration

1. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: No serious consideration has been given to amending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act since the issuance of the report in April 1991, and there are no plans to do so in the future. Congress has had ample opportunity to make any revisions to the act.

   Matter: Congress may wish to consider amending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to provide warrantless search and seizure authority. As FWS suggests, Congress may wish to use language similar to that in the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981.

Recommendations for Executive Action

1. Status: Closed - Implemented

   Comments: FWS collected information on all reported violations for 1 year, but discontinued this practice, claiming it did not produce the results expected. FWS did, however, redesign and install its investigative subsystem. While this system would not contain information on all reported violations, it was expected to provide more current data on investigations conducted and the outcome of those investigations. However, FWS staff has had difficulty connecting to and transmitting data using the new subsystem. FWS is preparing to sign a contract to convert its DOS-based system to a Windows environment, which it believes will solve the problems the staff has experienced. No completion date for the project is available.

   Recommendation: To provide current and reliable information on the extent of crimes against wildlife, thus enabling FWS to better justify its funding needs and ensure that FWS law enforcement agents are able to perform their basic responsibilities, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Director, FWS, to require FWS law enforcement management and agents to record: (1) all instances of suspected violations coming to their attention, including those that may not be investigated; (2) FWS handling of the suspected violations; and (3) the outcome of the investigations.

   Agency Affected: Department of the Interior

2. Status: Closed - Implemented

   Comments: FWS' redesigned computer system, scheduled to be online by November 30, 1995, was expected to generate more current and reliable information about investigations conducted of crimes against wildlife and the staffing and resources needed by the Division of Law Enforcement. However, the system will not contain information on all reported violations. Although the redesigned system has been installed, FWS staff have experienced problems connecting to and transmitting data using the redesigned system. FWS officials plan to have the current DOS-based system converted to a Windows environment, which they believe will solve the problems experienced. Plans and a contact for the project are almost finalized, but a completion date for the project is not yet available.

   Recommendation: FWS should use those records to: (1) periodically assess the extent of the suspected crimes against wildlife; (2) provide realistic estimates of staff and funds needed to adequately address the problem, and (3) include the estimates in annual budget requests.

   Agency Affected: Department of the Interior: United States Fish and Wildlife Service

3. Status: Closed - Implemented

   Comments: FWS collected information on all reported violations for 1 year, but discontinued this practice, claiming it did not produce the results expected. FWS did, however, redesign and install its investigative subsystem. While this system would not contain information on all reported violations, it was expected to provide more current data on investigations conducted and the outcome of those investigations. However, the FWS staff has had difficulty connecting to and transmitting data using the new subsystem. FWS is preparing to sign a contract to convert its DOS-based system to a Windows environment, which it believes will solve the problems its staff has experienced. No completion date for the project is available.

   Recommendation: To provide current and reliable information on joint federal-state efforts to protect wildlife and to better justify the resources needed to continue the reciprocal relationship with the states, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Director, FWS, to document: (1) all state requests for assistance in investigating suspected violations of wildlife protection laws; (2) FWS responses to the requests; and (3) the outcome of any investigations.

   Agency Affected: Department of the Interior

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