[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3292 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3292
To provide for the establishment of the Cat Island National Wildlife
Refuge in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 10, 1999
Mr. Baker introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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. 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 critical 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) protection and enhancement of this area through
inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System would help
meet the habitat protection 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,
fishermen, birdwatchers, nature photographers, and others; and
(7) the Cat Island area is deserving of inclusion in the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS:
For purposes of this Act--
(1) the term ``Refuge'' means the Cat Island National
Wildlife Refuge authorized to be established under section 3;
and
(2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior, acting through the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES OF REFUGE.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established as a National
Wildlife Refuge the ``Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge''. The Refuge
shall consist of the lands, waters, and interests therein acquired by
the Secretary for the Refuge, including those acquired under section
5(a).
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Refuge are--
(1) conservation and enhancement of wetlands;
(2) general wildlife management as a unit of the National
Wildlife Refuge System, including management of bottomland
hardwood wetland habitat for migratory waterfowl, neotropical
songbirds, and bald eagles;
(3) protection and enhancement of endangered species;
(4) promotion of fish and wildlife-oriented recreational
activities that are compatible with the purposes described in
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3); and
(5) promotion of increased stewardship of the natural
resources through environmental education, interpretation, and
other outreach methods.
(c) Notice of Establishment.--The Secretary shall publish a notice
of the establishment of the Refuge--
(1) in the Federal Register; and
(2) in publications of local circulation in the vicinity of
the Refuge.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF REFUGE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer all lands, waters,
and interests therein acquired under section 5(a) in accordance--
(1) with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration
Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) and the Refuge Recreation
Act (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4); and
(2) the purposes of the Refuge set forth in section 3(b).
(b) Use of Other Authority.--The Secretary may use such additional
statutory authority as may be available to the Secretary for
conservation and development of wildlife and natural resources, water
supplies, and water control structures, outdoor recreational
activities, and interpretive education as the Secretary deems
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS, WATERS, AND INTERESTS THEREIN.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall seek to acquire for inclusion
in the Refuge, by purchase or donation, approximately 9,477 acres of
lands and interests therein on Cat Island, Louisiana, and water areas
adjacent to such lands. All lands, waters, and interests acquired under
this subsection shall be part of the Refuge.
(b) Availability of Map; Notice.--After making the acquisitions
authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
(1) produce a map depicting the boundaries of the
designated area of the refuge;
(2) keep the map of the Refuge on file and available for
public inspection at offices of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service; and
(3) publish in the Federal Register a notice of that
availability.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the
Interior--
(1) such sums as are necessary for the acquisition of lands
and waters designated pursuant to section 5(a); and
(2) such sums as are necessary for the development,
operation, and maintenance of the Refuge.
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