[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6234-S6235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CHAFEE:
  S. 1871. A bill to expand the Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife 
Refuge, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works.


 the pettaquamscutt cove national wildlife refuge expansion act of 1996

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce a bill to 
enhance legislation I authored in 1988 that established the 
Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.
  Pettaquamscutt Cove--a cove which divides the towns of Narragansett 
and South Kingstown, RI--is one of the State's natural jewels. The 
tidal marshes and mudflats in Pettaquamscutt Cove are home to a diverse 
species of waterfowl, wading birds and shore birds, and numerous small 
mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
  Pettaquamscutt Cove has been identified as the most important 
migration and wintering habitat in Rhode Island for the black duck 
population under the North American waterfowl management plan. I might 
mention that this plan has been a tremendous success, capitalizing on 
the cooperative efforts of the Federal Government working with 
nonprofit groups and local governments. These efforts to protect 
wetlands--through establishment of national wildlife refuges such as 
Pettaquamscutt, through conservation efforts to implement the North 
American Wetlands Conservation Act, and through other statutes like the 
Wetlands Reserve Program that was recently expanded in the farm bill 
that protect our Nation's wetlands--have been a great success. Add to 
this some decent rainfall, and the waterfowl populations have rebounded 
tremendously. Not since 1955 have we witnessed such a spectacular 
migration of waterfowl as this past year.
  Rhode Island has lost almost 40 percent of its original wetlands. It 
is essential that we do all we can to hold the line on continued losses 
of wetlands through preservation of ecosystems such as Pettaquamscutt 
Cove. By expanding Pettaquamscutt Cove Refuge, this bill will protect 
the fertile marsh habitat that supports a multitude of fish and 
wildlife and plants along Rhode Island's coast and provide more 
recreational opportunities for Rhode Islanders and other visitors.
  Currently, the Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge boundary 
encompasses 460 acres of salt marsh and surrounding forest habitat. One 
hundred seventy-five acres of habitat have already been acquired by the 
Service. This bill expands the Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife 
Refuge boundary to include a 100-acre parcel, known as foddering farm 
acres and; allows the Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the refuge 
boundary to include other important habitat if and when suitable 
properties become available in the future.
  Mr. President, the expansion of Pettaquamscutt Cove Refuge to include 
the foddering farm acres property provides a wonderful example of 
cooperation between the Fish and Wildlife Service and private citizens. 
The 100-acre foddering farm property--adjacent to long pond--contains 
valuable wetland habitat for waterfowl and other species. The Rotelli 
family who owns the property has been working with, and waiting 
patiently for, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for several years. 
The Rotellis have indicated their willingness to donate a portion of 
the value of the property to the Service. Through their partial 
donation, the National Wildlife Refuge System gains valuable habitat at 
a bargain price. Three cheers for the Rotellis. It is just this kind of 
private conservation effort and public spiritedness that has enabled us 
to preserve important open space throughout Rhode Island.
  This bill will enable the Fish and Wildlife Service to continue their 
efforts to work with Rhode Islanders like the Rotellis to protect the 
beautiful and important natural resources along Rhode Island's coast.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and 
ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1871

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

     SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF PETTAQUAMSCUTT COVE NATIONAL WILDLIFE 
                   REFUGE.

       Section 204 of Public Law 100-610 (16 U.S.C. 668dd note) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Expansion of Refuge.--
       ``(1) Acquisition.--The Secretary may acquire for addition 
     to the refuge the area in Rhode Island known as `Foddering 
     Farm Acres', consisting of approximately 100 acres, adjacent 
     to Long Cove and bordering on Foddering Farm Road to the 
     south and Point Judith Road to the east, as depicted on a map 
     entitled `Pettaquamscutt Cove NWR Expansion Area,' dated May 
     13, 1996, and available for inspection in appropriate offices 
     of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

[[Page S6235]]

       ``(2) Boundary adjustment.--After making the acquisition 
     described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall revise the 
     boundaries of the refuge to reflect the acquisition.
       ``(f) Future Expansion.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire for addition 
     to the refuge such lands, waters, and interests in land and 
     water as the Secretary considers appropriate and shall adjust 
     the boundaries of the refuge accordingly.
       ``(2) Applicable laws.--Any acquisition described in 
     paragraph (1) shall be carried out in accordance with all 
     applicable laws.''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 206(a) of Public Law 100-610 (16 U.S.C. 668dd note) 
     is amended by striking ``designated in section 4(a)(1)'' and 
     inserting ``designated or identified under section 204''.

     SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

       Public Law 100-610 (16 U.S.C. 668dd note) is amended--
       (1) in section 201(1)--
       (A) by striking ``and the associated'' and inserting 
     ``including the associated''; and
       (B) by striking ``and dividing'' and inserting 
     ``dividing'';
       (2) in section 203, by striking ``of this Act'' and 
     inserting ``of this title'';
       (3) in section 204--
       (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``of this Act'' and 
     inserting ``of this title''; and
       (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``purpose of this Act'' 
     and inserting ``purposes of this title'';
       (4) in the second sentence of section 205, by striking ``of 
     this Act'' and inserting ``of this title''; and
       (5) in section 207, by striking ``Act'' and inserting 
     ``title''.
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