[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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