Understanding the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances [Agriculture]
Definition & meaning
A Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) is a voluntary agreement between non-Federal landowners and federal agencies, specifically the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This agreement is established under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The purpose of a CCAA is to encourage landowners to implement conservation measures that benefit endangered or threatened species while providing them with certain assurances regarding future regulatory requirements. Essentially, if landowners follow the agreed-upon conservation actions, they are assured that they will not face additional restrictions or liabilities related to the species covered by the agreement.
Legal use & context
CCAA is primarily used in environmental law and conservation efforts. It allows landowners to engage in proactive conservation while ensuring that their land use will not be negatively impacted by future regulations concerning endangered species. This agreement is particularly relevant in agricultural contexts where landowners may wish to implement conservation practices that support wildlife without risking their agricultural operations. Users can manage these agreements through legal forms and templates provided by services like US Legal Forms, which offer resources drafted by legal professionals.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
Example 1: A farmer in Texas enters into a CCAA to protect a local endangered bird species. By creating designated habitats on their land, the farmer ensures that they will not face new restrictions on land use as long as they adhere to the terms of the agreement.
Example 2: A rancher in California signs a CCAA to support the conservation of a threatened plant species. The rancher agrees to manage grazing practices in a way that benefits the plant, receiving assurances that future land-use regulations will not change as long as they comply with the CCAA. (hypothetical example)
Relevant laws & statutes
The primary law governing CCAAs is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, specifically section 10(a)(1). Additional regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, including:
- 50 CFR 17.22(d) for endangered species.
- 50 CFR 17.32(d) for threatened species.