[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5361 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5361

 To require the Secretary of the Interior to provide public access to 
Navassa National Wildlife Refuge and Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 16, 2004

 Mr. Rahall (for himself and Mr. Pombo) introduced the following bill; 
            which was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of the Interior to provide public access to 
Navassa National Wildlife Refuge and Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ACCESS TO NAVASSA AND DESECHEO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES.

    (a) Access, Generally.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (in 
this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), shall provide public 
access to, use of, and recreational opportunities at the Navassa 
National Wildlife Refuge and Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge under 
special use permits issued under the first section of Public Law 87-714 
(16 U.S.C. 460k), popularly known as the Refuge Recreation Act, section 
4 of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd), and regulations issued under this section.
    (b) Time Limitations.--The Secretary--
            (1) subject to paragraph (2), may limit access to such 
        refuges to specific time periods in any year; and
            (2) shall provide access to each refuge during at least one 
        period each year.
    (c) Priority.--In issuing special use permits under this section, 
the Secretary shall give priority to consideration of permit 
applications that do not negatively impact opportunities for wildlife-
dependent recreation.
    (d) Conditions.--The Secretary may include in any permit issued 
under this section conditions that the Secretary determines are 
necessary to protect fish and wildlife populations and their habitat or 
public health and safety.
    (e) Regulations.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
        regulations governing the issuance of special use permits under 
        this section.
            (2) Contents.--Regulations under this subsection shall 
        establish for each of the Navassa National Wildlife Refuge and 
        Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge--
                    (A) the dates for which access may be provided;
                    (B) the process for submitting an application for a 
                special use permit; and
                    (C) the minimum information required to be included 
                in a permit application.
                                 <all>