[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2894 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2894

 To establish the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge and the 
       Holt Collier Wildlife Interpretation and Education Center.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2003

 Mr. Thompson of Mississippi introduced the following bill; which was 
                 referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge and the 
       Holt Collier Wildlife Interpretation and Education Center.

    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 ``Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife 
Refuge Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, located in Holmes, 
        Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Warren, Washington, and 
        Yazoo Counties, Mississippi, popularly known as the Lower 
        Delta, is of critical importance to the Louisiana Black Bear, 
        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 Lower Delta have 
        been significantly cleared. Reforestation and restoration of 
        native habitat will benefit a host of species.
            (3) The Lower Delta is part of a major continental 
        migration corridor for migratory birds funneling through the 
        midcontinent from as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far 
        south as South America.
            (4) The Lower Delta offers extraordinary recreational, 
        research, and educational opportunities for students, 
        scientists, bird watchers, wildlife observers, hunters, 
        anglers, trappers, hikers, and nature photographers.
            (5) The Lower Delta 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.
            (6) The Lower Delta's existing natural, historical, and 
        cultural assets and environmental restoration potential may 
        provide for a large component of the economic revitalization of 
        this area.
            (7) The Lower Delta has the Nation's highest potential 
        carbon sequestration storage capacity.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE 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 ``Theodore 
Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge''.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Refuge are the following:
            (1) To restore and preserve native Mississippi River 
        ecosystems.
            (2) To provide habitat for migratory birds and the 
        Louisiana Black Bear.
            (3) To maximize fisheries on the Mississippi River and its 
        tributaries, natural lakes, and manmade 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 landowners 
        in the protection, restoration, and enhancement 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 celebrate President Theodore Roosevelt and his 1902 
        bear hunt in Mississippi, which gave birth to the ``teddy 
        bear''.
            (8) To increase natural, cultural, and historical resource 
        education and business.
            (9) 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.; popularly 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 
        multiagency wildlife interpretation and education center, which 
        shall be known as the Holt Collier Wildlife Interpretation and 
        Education Center.
            (2) Purposes.--The center shall be designed and operated--
                    (A) to provide continuing, natural, cultural and 
                historical resource conservation and restoration 
                educational programs to the public and business 
                development education and assistance for natural 
                resource-based tourism activities;
                    (B) to promote environmental education;
                    (C) to provide an opportunity for the study and 
                enjoyment of wildlife in its natural habitat; and
                    (D) to honor the legendary African American hunting 
                guide Holt Collier.

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

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall seek to acquire up to 25,000 
acres of land, water, or interests therein (including permanent 
conservation easements or servitudes) within the boundaries designated 
under subsection (c). All lands, waters, an 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, 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 ``Theodore 
                Roosevelt 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 Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, 
        Leflore, Sharkey, Warren, Washington, and Yazoo Counties, 
        Mississippi.
            (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 in the 
                District of Columbia and Mississippi; 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 Mississippi River or Yazoo 
        River;
            (2) necessary construction, operation, or maintenance 
        activities associated with the proposed Yazoo Backwater Pump 
        Project;
            (3) the construction, improvement, or expansion of public 
        port or recreational facilities on the Mississippi River or 
        Yazoo River; or
            (4) the construction, improvement, or replacement of 
        railroads or interstate highways within the selection area 
        described in section 5(c)(2), or bridges that cross the 
        Mississippi River, Sunflower River, or Yazoo River.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

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