[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4286 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.4286

                       One Hundred Sixth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
             the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand


                                 An Act


 
 To provide for the establishment of the Cahaba River National Wildlife 
                     Refuge in Bibb County, Alabama.

    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 ``Cahaba River National Wildlife 
Refuge Establishment Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
        (1) The Cahaba River in Alabama is recognized nationally for 
    its unique biological diversity which includes providing habitat 
    for 131 species of fish (more than any other river its size in 
    North America).
        (2) The Cahaba River is home to 64 rare and imperiled species 
    of aquatic plants and animals, including fishes, freshwater 
    turtles, mussels, and snails.
        (3) The Cahaba River is home to 12 species of fish, mussels, 
    and snails listed as endangered or threatened species.
        (4) The Cahaba River is home to six terrestrial species of 
    plants and animals listed as endangered or threatened species.
        (5) The Cahaba River harbors the largest population in the 
    world of the imperiled shoals lily, known locally as the Cahaba 
    Lily.
        (6) The Cahaba River watershed contains extremely rare plant 
    communities that are home to eight species of plants previously 
    unknown to science and a total of 69 rare and imperiled species of 
    plants.
        (7) The Cahaba River is home to at least a dozen endemic 
    aquatic animals that are found nowhere else in the world.
        (8) The Cahaba River is the longest remaining free-flowing 
    river in Alabama, flowing through five counties in central Alabama.
        (9) The Cahaba River is recognized as an Outstanding Alabama 
    Water by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
        (10) The Cahaba River has high recreational value for hunters, 
    anglers, birdwatchers, canoeists, nature photographers, and others.
        (11) The Cahaba River Watershed supports large populations of 
    certain game species, including deer, turkey, and various species 
    of ducks.
        (12) The Cahaba River area is deserving of inclusion in the 
    National Wildlife Refuge System.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
        (1) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Cahaba River 
    National Wildlife Refuge established by section 4(a).
        (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    the Interior.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE.

    (a) Establishment.--
        (1) In general.--There is established in Bibb County, Alabama, 
    the Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of approximately 
    3,500 acres of Federal lands and waters, and interests in lands and 
    waters, within the boundaries depicted upon the map entitled 
    ``Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge-Proposed'', dated April 10, 
    2000.
        (2) Boundary revisions.--The Secretary may make such minor 
    revisions of the boundaries of the Refuge as may be appropriate to 
    carry out the purposes of the Refuge or to facilitate the 
    acquisition of property within the Refuge.
        (3) Availability of map.--The Secretary shall keep the map 
    referred to in paragraph (1) available for inspection in 
    appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
    (b) Effective Date.--The establishment of the Refuge under 
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall take effect on the date the 
Secretary publishes, in the Federal Register and publications of local 
circulation in the vicinity of the area within the boundaries referred 
to in that paragraph, a notice that sufficient property has been 
acquired by the United States within those boundaries to constitute an 
area that can be efficiently managed as a National Wildlife Refuge.

SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS AND WATERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, may acquire up to 3,500 acres of lands and waters, or 
interests therein, within the boundaries of the Refuge described in 
section 4(a)(1).
    (b) Inclusion in Refuge.--Any lands, waters, or interests acquired 
by the Secretary under this section shall be part of the Refuge.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.

    In administering the Refuge, the Secretary shall--
        (1) conserve, enhance, and restore the native aquatic and 
    terrestrial community characteristics of the Cahaba River 
    (including associated fish, wildlife, and plant species);
        (2) conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain and 
    assist in the recovery of animals and plants that are listed under 
    the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.);
        (3) in providing opportunities for compatible fish- and 
    wildlife-oriented recreation, ensure that hunting, fishing, 
    wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education 
    and interpretation are the priority general public uses of the 
    Refuge, in accordance with section 4(a)(3) and (4) of the National 
    Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 
    668ee(a)(3), (4)); and
        (4) encourage the use of volunteers and to 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 Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge and the National Wildlife 
    Refuge System and public participation in the conservation of those 
    resources.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary--
        (1) such funds as may be necessary for the acquisition of lands 
    and waters within the boundaries of the Refuge; and
        (2) such funds as may be necessary for the development, 
    operation, and maintenance of the Refuge.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.