[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4286 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4286
To provide for the establishment of the Cahaba River National Wildlife
Refuge in Bibb County, Alabama.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 13, 2000
Mr. Bachus introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Cahaba River 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 6 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 8 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 5 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, fishermen, birdwatchers, canoeists, nature
photographers, and others.
(11) The Cahaba River area is deserving of inclusion in the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Cahaba River
National Wildlife Refuge established under section 4(a).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES OF REFUGE.
The purposes of the Refuge are--
(1) to conserve, enhance, and restore the native aquatic
and terrestrial community characteristics of the Cahaba River
(including associated fish, wildlife, and plant species);
(2) to conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain
and assist in the recovery of animals and plants that are
listed as endangered species or threatened species under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.);
(3) to direct the Secretary, through consultation with
Federal, State, and local agencies and adjacent landowners, to
assist in the restoration of forest habitat linkages between
Refuge land and other land to reverse past impacts associated
with habitat fragmentation on wildlife and plant species;
(4) to provide compatible opportunities for hunting,
fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and
environmental education and interpretation; and
(5) to 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, including public participation in the
conservation of those resources.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT AND ACQUISITION OF CAHABA RIVER LAND AND WATERS.
(a) 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.
(b) Acquisition.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall seek to acquire for
inclusion in the Refuge, by purchase or donation, approximately
3,500 acres of land and adjacent waters (including interests in
the land or adjacent waters) of the Cahaba River, Alabama, as
depicted on the map entitled ``Cahaba River National Wildlife
Refuge, Proposed'', dated April 10, 2000.
(2) Availability of map.--The map described in paragraph
(1) shall be available for inspection in the appropriate
offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(3) Addition to refuge.--The Secretary may add additional
land, waters, and interests acquired under this subsection to
the Refuge.
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer all land and waters
(including any interest in land or waters) acquired under section 4(b)
in accordance with--
(1) the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.);
(2) Public Law 87-714, commonly known as the ``Refuge
Recreation Act'' (16 U.S.C. 406k et seq.); and
(3) the purposes of the Refuge described in section 3.
(b) Use of Other Authority.--The Secretary may use such additional
statutory authority as is available to the Secretary to conduct
projects and activities at the Refuge in accordance with this Act,
including projects or activities to conserve or develop--
(1) wildlife, fish, and other aquatic natural resources;
(2) outdoor recreational activity programs; and
(3) interpretive education programs.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums
as are necessary for--
(1) the acquisition of land and waters described under
section 4(b)(1); and
(2) the development, operation, and maintenance of the
Refuge.
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