[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2623 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2623

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 26, 2003

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for the expansion 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 Expansion Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Cahaba River is recognized nationally for its 
        unique biological diversity, which includes habitat for more 
        than 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 aquatic animal species 
        (fish, mussels, and snails) listed as endangered species or 
        threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
        U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).
            (4) The Cahaba River harbors the largest population in the 
        world of the imperiled shoals lily, known locally as the Cahaba 
        Lily.
            (5) The Cahaba River watershed contains extremely rare 
        plant communities, including mountain longleaf pine woodlands, 
        and dolomite glades that are home to 8 plant species recently 
        discovered as new to science, and known to exist nowhere else 
        in the world, as well as more than 70 other rare and imperiled 
        species of plants.
            (6) The Cahaba River is home to at least a dozen endemic 
        aquatic animals that are found nowhere else in the world.
            (7) The Cahaba River is the longest remaining free-flowing 
        river in Alabama, flowing through five counties in central 
        Alabama.
            (8) The Cahaba River is recognized as an Outstanding 
        Alabama Water by the Alabama Department of Environmental 
        Management.
            (9) The Cahaba River has high recreational value for 
        hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, canoeists, nature 
        photographers, and others.
            (10) The Cahaba River watershed supports large populations 
        of game species, including deer, turkey, quail, and various 
        species of ducks.
            (11) The Cahaba River was recognized by the 106th Congress 
        as deserving of inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge 
        System by the establishment of the Cahaba River National 
        Wildlife Refuge.
            (12) Significant additional recreational, natural resource 
        conservation and management, and other public benefits would be 
        realized by the expansion of the existing Cahaba River National 
        Wildlife Refuge.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

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

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF REFUGE.

    (a) Expansion.--
            (1) In general.--The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, 
        located in Bibb County, Alabama, is expanded to include 
        approximately 30,000 acres of lands and waters, and interests 
        in lands and waters, within the boundaries depicted upon the 
        map entitled ``Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Proposed 
        Expansion'', and dated June 2, 2003.
            (2) Boundary revisions.--The Secretary may make such minor 
        revisions to 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) on file for inspection in 
        appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
        Service.
    (b) Effective Date.--The expansion of the Refuge under paragraph 
(1) of subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS AND WATERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, may acquire up to 30,000 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 a 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 as 
        endangered species or threatened species under the Endangered 
        Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.);
            (3) in providing opportunities for compatible use (as that 
        term is defined in section 5 of the National Wildlife Refuge 
        System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668ee)), ensure 
        that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, 
        and environmental education interpretation are the priority 
        general public uses of the Refuge, in accordance with 
        paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) 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 facilitate 
        partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 
        local communities, conservation organizations, and other non-
        Federal entities, to--
                    (A) promote public awareness of the resources of 
                the Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System; and
                    (B) public participation in the conservation of 
                those resources.
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