[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7211-S7212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NORTH PLATTE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 461, H.R. 2679.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2679) to revise the boundary of the North 
     Platte National Wildlife Refuge.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.


                           Amendment No. 4385

              (Purpose: To provide a complete substitute)

  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I understand there is a substitute 
amendment at the desk offered by Senator Chafee, and I ask for its 
immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Arizona [Mr. McCain], for Mr. Chafee, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 4385.

  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading 
of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

             TITLE I--NORTH PLATTE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

     SEC. 101. REVISION OF BOUNDARY OF NORTH PLATTE NATIONAL 
                   WILDLIFE REFUGE.

       (a) Termination of Jurisdiction.--The secondary 
     jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     over approximately 2,470 acres of land at the North Platte 
     National Wildlife Refuge in the State of Nebraska, as 
     depicted on a map entitled ``Relinquishment of North Platte 
     National Wildlife Refuge Secondary Jurisdiction'', dated 
     August 1995, and available for inspection at appropriate 
     offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, is 
     terminated.
       (b) Revocation of Executive Order.--Executive Order Number 
     2446, dated August 21, 1916, is revoked with respect to the 
     land described in subsection (a).

         TITLE II--PETTAQUAMSCUTT COVE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

     SEC. 201. 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.
       ``(2) Boundary revision.--The boundaries of the refuge are 
     revised to include the area described in paragraph (1).
       ``(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

[[Page S7212]]

     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. 202. 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. 203. 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''.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to revise the 
     boundary of the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, to 
     expand the Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge, and 
     for other purposes.''.

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I would like to take a few moments to 
express my delight on consideration of legislation to expand the 
Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.
  The Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge was established in 
1988 to protect valuable coastal wetlands that have been identified as 
important habitat for a diversity of species--including the declining 
black duck population. The refuge is located between the towns of 
Narragansett and South Kingstown, RI. Currently, its boundary 
encompasses 460 acres of salt marsh and surrounding forest habitat 
which is home to various species of waterfowl, wading birds, and shore 
birds and numerous small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
  This legislation expands the Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife 
Refuge boundary to include a 100-acre parcel known as Foddering Farms 
Acres. It also allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the 
refuge boundary to include other important habitat if and when suitable 
properties become available in the future.
  Inclusion of the Foddering Farm Acres property within the refuge 
provides a wonderful example of cooperation between the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service and private citizens. The 100-acre Foddering Farm 
property, owned by the Rotelli family, contains valuable wetland 
habitat for waterfowl and other species. The Rotellis have indicated 
their willingness to donate a portion of the value of the property to 
the Service. In fact, they have been working with, and waiting 
patiently for, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for several years. 
Through their partial donation, the National Wildlife Refuge System 
gains valuable habitat at a bargain price.
  In order to assist the Rotellis and ward off threats of development 
to Foddering Farm Acres, it is imperative that we move this bill as 
expeditiously as possible. To that end, I am offering S. 1871, the 
Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge legislation, as an 
amendment to H.R. 2679, the North Wildlife Refuge bill that was passed 
by the House of Representatives on April 23, 1996, and reported out of 
the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on June 20, 1996. I 
would like to make clear that the attached Pettaquamscutt Cove 
provision is exactly the same as S. 1871, as amended, a bill that was 
reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on 
June 20, 1996.
  Once again, I am pleased that the Senate is considering the 
Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge legislation. This bill 
will enable the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to continue their 
efforts to work with Rhode Island Islanders like the Rotellis to 
protect the beautiful and important natural resources along Rhode 
Island's coast.
  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendment be agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 4385) was agreed to.
  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
deemed read the third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table and that any statements relating to the bill be placed 
at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 2679), as amended, was deemed read the third time and 
passed.

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