This bill, called "Canyon's Law," would prohibit preparing, placing, installing, setting, deploying, or otherwise using M-44 devices on public land. It requires any Federal, State, or county agency that has placed M-44 devices on public land to remove them within 30 days after the law takes effect. The bill defines an "M-44 device" as a device designed to propel sodium cyanide when triggered by an animal and lists public land management agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Forest Service. The bill also includes findings that sodium cyanide is a highly toxic pesticide, that M-44s have caused injuries and deaths to people, pets, and nontarget wildlife, and that M-44s have been used in multiple States and can kill endangered species.
No publicly available information in the bill text about estimated costs, funding, or appropriations. The bill requires removal of devices within 30 days but does not specify who will pay for removal or related expenses.
The bill text states that proponents view sodium cyanide (the M-44 active ingredient) as a highly toxic, restricted-use pesticide that can cause severe health effects in people and animals. The findings in the bill say M-44s have caused accidental human exposures, deaths and injuries to pets and many nontarget wildlife species, and have killed endangered species in some cases. Proponents argue these risks justify banning M-44 use on public land and removing existing devices.
No publicly available information in the bill text about opponents' views or arguments against the bill.