[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4318 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4318

          To establish the Red River National Wildlife Refuge.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 2000

 Mr. McCrery introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
          To establish the Red River National Wildlife Refuge.

    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 ``Red River National Wildlife Refuge 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The area of Louisiana known as the Red River Valley, 
        located along the Red River Waterway in Caddo, Bossier, Red 
        River, Natchitoches, and DeSoto Parishes, is of critical 
        importance to over 350 species of birds (including migratory 
        and resident waterfowl, shore birds, and neotropical migratory 
        birds), aquatic life, and a wide array of other species 
        associated with river basin ecosystems.
            (2) The bottomland hardwood forests of the Red River Valley 
        have been almost totally cleared. Reforestation and restoration 
        of native habitat will benefit a host of species.
            (3) The Red River Valley is part of a major continental 
        migration corridor for migratory birds funneling through the 
        mid continent from as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far 
        south as South America.
            (4) There are no significant public sanctuaries for over 
        300 river miles on this important migration corridor, and no 
        significant Federal, State, or private wildlife sanctuaries 
        along the Red River north of Alexandria, Louisiana.
            (5) Completion of the lock and dam system associated with 
        the Red River Waterway project up to Shreveport, Louisiana, has 
        enhanced opportunities for management of fish and wildlife.
            (6) The Red River Valley offers extraordinary recreational, 
        research, and educational opportunities for students, 
        scientists, bird watchers, wildlife observers, hunters, 
        anglers, trappers, hikers, and nature photographers.
            (7) The Red River Valley is an internationally significant 
        environmental resource that has been neglected and requires 
        active restoration and management to protect and enhance the 
        value of the region as a habitat for fish and wildlife.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES OF REFUGE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish as a national 
wildlife refuge the lands, waters, and interests therein acquired under 
section 5, at such time as the Secretary determines that sufficient 
property has been acquired under that section to constitute an area 
that can be effectively managed as a national wildlife refuge for the 
purposes set forth in subsection (b) of this section. The national 
wildlife refuge so established shall be known as the ``Red River 
National Wildlife Refuge''.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Refuge are the following:
            (1) To restore and preserve native Red River ecosystems.
            (2) To provide habitat for migratory birds.
            (3) To maximize fisheries on the Red River and its 
        tributaries, natural lakes, and man-made reservoirs.
            (4) To provide habitat for and population management of 
        native plants and resident animals (including restoration of 
        extirpated species).
            (5) To provide technical assistance to private land owners 
        in the restoration of their lands for the benefit of fish and 
        wildlife.
            (6) To provide the public with opportunities for hunting, 
        angling, trapping, photographing wildlife, hiking, bird 
        watching, and other outdoor recreational and educational 
        activities.
            (7) To achieve the purposes under this subsection without 
        violating section 6.
    (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 in accordance with--
            (1) the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act 
        of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) and the Act of September 28, 
        1962 (76 Stat. 653; 16 U.S.C. 460k et seq.; commonly known as 
        the Refuge Recreation Act);
            (2) the purposes of the Refuge set forth in section 3(b); 
        and
            (3) the management plan issued under subsection (b).
    (b) Management Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a 
        management plan for the Refuge.
            (2) Contents.--The management plan shall include provisions 
        that provide for the following:
                    (A) Planning and design of trails and access 
                points.
                    (B) Planning of wildlife and habitat restoration, 
                including reforestation.
                    (C) Permanent exhibits and facilities and regular 
                educational programs throughout the Refuge.
            (3) Public participation.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide an 
                opportunity for public participation in developing the 
                management plan.
                    (B) Local views.--The Secretary shall give special 
                consideration to views by local public and private 
                entities and individuals in developing the management 
                plan.
    (c) Wildlife Interpretation and Education Center.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall construct, administer, 
        and maintain, at an appropriate site within the Refuge, a 
        wildlife interpretation and education center.
            (2) Purposes.--The center shall be designed and operated--
                    (A) to promote environmental education; and
                    (B) to provide an opportunity for the study and 
                enjoyment of wildlife in its natural habitat.

SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS, WATERS, AND INTERESTS THEREIN.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall seek to acquire up to 50,000 
acres of land, water, or interests therein (including permanent 
conservation easements or servitudes) within the boundaries designated 
under subsection (c). All lands, waters, and interests acquired under 
this subsection shall be part of the Refuge.
    (b) Method of Acquisition.--The Secretary may acquire an interest 
in land or water for inclusion in the Refuge only by donation, 
exchange, or purchase from a willing seller.
    (c) Designation of Boundaries.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) consult with appropriate State and local 
                officials, private conservation organizations, and 
                other interested parties (including the Louisiana 
                Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana 
                Department of Transportation and Development, the Red 
                River Waterway Commission, and the Northwest Louisiana 
                Council of Governments), regarding the designation of 
                appropriate boundaries for the Refuge within the 
                selection area;
                    (B) designate boundaries of the Refuge that are 
                within the selection area and adequate for fulfilling 
                the purposes of the Refuge set forth in section 3(b); 
                and
                    (C) prepare a detailed map entitled ``Red River 
                National Wildlife Refuge'' depicting the boundaries of 
                the Refuge designated under subparagraph (B).
            (2) Selection area.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        selection area consists of Caddo, Bossier, Red River, DeSoto, 
        and Natchitoches Parishes, Louisiana.
            (3) Availability of map; notice.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) keep the map prepared under paragraph (1) on 
                file and available for public inspection at offices of 
                the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the 
                District of Columbia and Louisiana; and
                    (B) publish in the Federal Register a notice of 
                that availability.
    (d) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make such minor 
revisions in the boundaries designated under subsection (c) as may be 
appropriate to achieve the purposes of the Refuge under section 3(b) or 
to facilitate the acquisition of property for the Refuge.

SEC. 6. CONTINUED PUBLIC SERVICES.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting or 
preventing, and the Secretary shall not for purposes of the Refuge 
prohibit or prevent--
            (1) the continuation or development of commercial or 
        recreational navigation on the Red River Waterway;
            (2) necessary construction, operation, or maintenance 
        activities associated with the Red River Waterway project;
            (3) the construction, improvement, or expansion of public 
        port or recreational facilities on the Red River Waterway; or
            (4) the construction, improvement, or replacement of 
        railroads or interstate highways within the selection area 
        (designated in section 5(c)(2)), or bridges that cross the Red 
        River.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Red River 
        National Wildlife Refuge established under section 3.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
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