[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3292 Engrossed in House (EH)]
2d Session
H. R. 3292
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for the establishment of the Cat Island National Wildlife
Refuge in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3292
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for the establishment of the Cat Island National Wildlife
Refuge in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge
Establishment Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) as the southernmost unleveed portion of the Mississippi
River, Cat Island, Louisiana, is one of the last remaining
tracts in the lower Mississippi Valley that is still influenced
by the natural dynamics of the river;
(2) Cat Island supports one of the highest densities of
virgin bald cypress trees in the entire Mississippi River
Valley, including the Nation's champion cypress tree which is
17 feet wide and has a circumference of 53 feet;
(3) Cat Island is important habitat for several declining
species of forest songbirds and supports thousands of wintering
waterfowl;
(4) Cat Island supports high populations of deer, turkey,
and furbearers, such as mink and bobcats;
(5) conservation and enhancement of this area through
inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System would help
meet the habitat conservation goals of the North American
Waterfowl Management Plan;
(6) these forested wetlands represent one of the most
valuable and productive wildlife habitat types in the United
States, and have extremely high recreational value for hunters,
anglers, birdwatchers, nature photographers, and others; and
(7) the Cat Island area is deserving of inclusion in the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act--
(1) the term ``Refuge'' means the Cat Island National
Wildlife Refuge; and
(2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior.
SEC. 4. PURPOSES.
The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall be
managed are--
(1) to conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary
to contribute to the migratory bird population goals and
habitat objective as established through the Lower Mississippi
Valley Joint Venture;
(2) to conserve, restore, and manage the significant
aquatic resource values associated with the area's forested
wetlands and to achieve the habitat objectives of the
``Mississippi River Aquatic Resources Management Plan'';
(3) to conserve, enhance, and restore the historic native
bottomland community characteristics of the lower Mississippi
alluvial valley and its associated fish, wildlife, and plant
species;
(4) to conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain
and assist in the recovery of endangered, and threatened plants
and animals;
(5) to provide opportunities for priority public wildlife
dependent uses for compatible hunting, fishing, trapping,
wildlife observation and photography, and environmental
education and interpretation; and
(6) to encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate
partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
local communities, conservation organizations, and other non-
Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources
of the Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System and
public participation in the conservation of those resources.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE.
(a) Acquisition Boundary.--The Secretary is authorized to establish
the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of approximately
36,500 acres of land and water, as depicted upon a map entitled ``Cat
Island National Wildlife Refuge-Proposed'', dated February 8, 2000, and
available for inspection in appropriate offices of the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service.
(b) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make such minor
revisions of the boundary designated under this section as may be
appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Refuge or to facilitate
the acquisition of property within the Refuge.
(c) Acquisition.--The Secretary is authorized to acquire the lands
and waters, or interests therein, within the acquisition boundary
described in subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish the Refuge by
publication of a notice to that effect in the Federal Register and
publications of local circulation whenever sufficient property has been
acquired to constitute an area that can be efficiently managed as a
National Wildlife Refuge.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.
The Secretary shall administer all lands, waters, and interests
therein acquired under this Act in accordance with the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.).
The Secretary may use such additional statutory authority as may be
available for the conservation of fish and wildlife, and the provision
of fish- and wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities as the
Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the
Interior--
(1) such funds as may be necessary for the acquisition of
lands and waters designated in section 5(c); and
(2) such funds as may be necessary for the development,
operation, and maintenance of the Refuge.
Passed the House of Representatives June 19, 2000.
Attest:
Clerk.