Number: 93-346 Title: The Endangered Species Act and Private Property: A Legal Primer Authors: Robert Meltz, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division Abstract: If the 103rd Congress embarks upon an effort to reauthorize the Endangered Species Act (ESA), it will run into an old acquaintance: the property rights issue. As now written, the ESA has at least the potential to curtail property rights (whatever its actual impact as implemented may be). This report explores the legal repercussions of those impacts, especially whether they constitute takings of property under the fifth amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Date: March 7, 1993