Signed on December 1973 and provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or significant portion of their range, and the conservation of their habitats Allows: 1. Find and list species as endangered or threatened 2. Prohibits unauthorized taking, possession, sale and transport of the species 3. Allowed to secure land to conserve endangered species 4. Allowed to use water and land conservation funds, and allows establishment of agreements and grants-in-aids to States that establishes and maintains programs to help endangered/threatened wildlife 5. Authorizes assessment of civil and criminal penalties for violating act and regulations
1978: established a cabinet-level committee authorized to exempt federal agencies from section 7 regulations under specific circumstances where the species is jeopardized. (section 7 directs all Federal agencies to use their existing authorities to conserve threatened and endangered species and, in consultation with the Service, to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize listed species or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat) 1982: established that the status of species decided solely on the basis of biological/trade information, without consideration to any possible economic effects. The final rule to determine the status of a species was required to follow within 1 year of its proposal. Also listed plants prohibited from being removed on land under federal jurisdiction 1988: now required endangered species to be monitored and recovered, and an emergency list was implemented, and also forced recovery plans to be subject to public review and allow for federal protection for endangered plants only when destruction takes place on federal land or violates state law.