[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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