Canyon’s Law
- Bill Number
- S. 2179
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T11:03:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled "Canyon's Law," aims to ban the use of M-44 devices—spring-loaded traps that release sodium cyanide to kill predators like coyotes—on public lands. It addresses the devices' risks to humans, pets, non-target wildlife (including endangered species), and the environment, based on documented incidents of accidental poisoning and low effectiveness.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition: Bans all activities related to M-44 devices on public land, including preparing, placing, installing, setting, deploying, or using them.
- Removal Requirement: Federal, state, or county agencies must remove any existing M-44 devices from public land within 30 days of the bill's enactment.
- Definitions:
- M-44 Device: A tool designed to eject sodium cyanide when triggered by an animal; includes common names like "M-44 ejector device" or "M-44 predator control device."
- Public Land: Federal land managed by specific agencies (see below).
- Public Land Management Agency: Includes the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Forest Service.
The bill's findings highlight sodium cyanide's extreme toxicity (classified as the most hazardous pesticide by the Environmental Protection Agency), its history of harming people (e.g., children and a man who died from related exposure), pets (over 50 dogs since 1990), and wildlife (e.g., eagles, wolves, bears), with only 53% effectiveness against targets.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, the Environmental Protection Agency authorized M-44 use nationwide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act for predator control, despite known risks and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerns about endangered species.
- This bill introduces a complete federal prohibition on public lands, overriding prior authorizations and requiring immediate removal, which shifts from permissive to restrictive policy without exceptions for ongoing use.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Public land managers (e.g., Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) must enforce the ban and remove devices, potentially increasing administrative workload and costs for compliance monitoring.
- Citizens: Reduces risks to public safety on federal lands, protecting recreation users, nearby residents, and children/pets from accidental cyanide exposure; however, it may limit options for ranchers relying on these devices for livestock protection.
- Wildlife and Environment: Likely decreases non-target deaths of endangered and protected species, promoting biodiversity on public lands.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it aligns with broader U.S. environmental commitments by restricting a highly toxic pesticide.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Land Management Agencies: Directly responsible for implementation and removal (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
- Livestock and Poultry Owners/Ranchers: Lose access to M-44s for predator control on public grazing lands, potentially affecting operations in states like Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
- Environmental and Animal Welfare Groups: Benefit from reduced harm to wildlife and ecosystems.
- General Public and Local Communities: Gain safer access to public lands, especially in rural areas with past incidents.
- State and County Agencies: Involved in removal if they previously deployed devices.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement under existing environmental laws (e.g., Endangered Species Act) by prohibiting a tool linked to protected species deaths; creates new compliance obligations but includes clear definitions to avoid ambiguity in enforcement.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges, as it regulates federal land use and pesticide deployment without infringing on private property rights or free speech; aligns with Congress's authority over public lands.
- Political: May spark debate between agricultural interests (favoring predator control) and conservation advocates; named after a likely victim (implied by "Canyon's Law"), it reflects bipartisan environmental priorities but could face opposition in ranching-heavy states.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2025-06-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Canyon’s Law — issued 2025-06-26 — PDF (5 pages)