Text of the Endangered Species Act

Endangered Species Act (ESA)*
(16 USC 1531-1544)

• Full Text of the ESA [pdf]

Sections of the ESA
» including programs related to each section

• Sec. 1 - Table of Contents
• Sec. 2 - Findings, purposes, and policy
• Sec. 3 - Definitions
• Sec. 4 - Determination of endangered and threatened species
  » Related Programs
  • » Species listed under the ESA
  • » Process for listing species
  • » Recovery of listed species
  • » Critical habitat designations for listed species
• Sec. 5 - Land Acquisition
• Sec. 6 - Cooperation with States
  » Related Programs
  • » Agreements and grant program with states
• Sec. 7 - Interagency cooperation
  » Related Programs
  • » Interagency consultations
  • » Biological opinions
• Sec. 8 - International cooperation
  » Related Programs
  • » Indian Ocean-SouthEast Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (IOSEA)
  • » Shrimp Import Prohibition Legislation for Marine Turtle Conservation
  • » International Affairs
• Sec. 8A - Convention implementation
• Sec. 9 - Prohibited acts
• Sec. 10 - Exceptions
  » Related Programs
  • » Permits and Authorizations
• Sec. 11 - Penalties and enforcement
  » Related Programs
  • » Law Enforcement
• Sec. 12 - Endangered plants
• Sec. 13 - Conforming amendments
• Sec. 14 - Repealer
• Sec. 15 - Authorization of appropriations
• Sec. 16 - Effective date [signed December 28, 1973]
• Sec. 17 - Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
• Sec. 18 - Annual cost analysis by the Fish and Wildlife Service

*As amended by (P.L.- Public Law):

• P.L. 94-325, June 30, 1976
• P.L. 94-359, July 12, 1976
• P.L. 95-212, December 19, 1977
• P.L. 95-632, November 10, 1978
• P.L. 96-159, December 28, 1979
• P.L. 97-304, October 13, 1982
• P.L. 98-327, June 25, 1984
• P.L. 100-478, October 7, 1988
• P.L. 107-171, May 13, 2002
• P.L. 108-136, November 24, 2003