[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H3431-H3432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BLACKWATER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE EXPANSION ACT
Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 274) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the
property in Cecil County, Maryland, known as Garrett Island for
inclusion in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 274
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 ``Blackwater National
Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Garrett Island, located at the mouth of the Susquehanna
River in Cecil County, Maryland, is a microcosm of the
geology and geography of the region, including hard rock
piedmont, coastal plain, and volcanic formations.
(2) Garrett Island is the only rocky island in the tidal
waters of the Chesapeake.
(3) Garrett Island and adjacent waters provide high-quality
habitat for bird and fish species.
(4) Garrett Island contains significant archeological sites
reflecting human history and prehistory of the region.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR INCLUSION IN THE
BLACKWATER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.
(a) Acquisition.--The Secretary of the Interior may use
otherwise available amounts to acquire the area known as
Garrett Island, consisting of approximately 198 acres located
at the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Cecil County,
Maryland.
(b) Administration.--Lands and interests acquired by the
United States under this section shall be managed by the
Secretary as the Garrett Island Unit of the Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge.
(c) Purposes.--The purposes for which the Garrett Island
Unit is established and shall be managed are the following:
(1) To support the Delmarva Conservation Corridor
Demonstration Program.
(2) To conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary
to contribute to the migratory bird populations prevalent in
the Atlantic Flyway.
(3) To conserve, restore, and manage the significant
aquatic resource values associated with submerged land
adjacent to the unit and to achieve the habitat objectives of
the agreement known as the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.
(4) To conserve the archeological resources on the unit.
(5) To provide public access to the unit in a manner that
does not adversely impact natural resources on and around the
unit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr.
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi).
Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 274 has been introduced by the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest). It has been the subject of two
congressional hearings and extensive site visits by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to Garrett Island, Maryland.
While there is a dispute over who should hold title to the 180 acres
that comprise Garrett Island, there is no debate over the fact the
island contains valuable resources that should be protected in the
future and that the cost of acquiring the property is less than one-
half million dollars. I have been assured the two private landowners
who currently hold title to about 120 acres of Garrett Island, which is
uninhabited, are willing to sell their property to the Federal
Government in a voluntary manner.
The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) has made a compelling
case for incorporating this land within the existing Blackwater
National Wildlife
[[Page H3432]]
Refuge and I urge a yea vote on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, again I thank my good friend from
Arizona for his management of this legislation. I thank also the
chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and
Oceans, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest), who is the chief
sponsor of this proposed legislation.
Mr. Speaker, this bill passed in committee last year and we are just
going through the process and refining it even better. As stated by my
good friend from Arizona, this noncontroversial legislation would
authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the existing
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge through the acquisition of Garrett
Island.
Mr. Speaker, wildlife habitats such as that found on Garrett Island
is in short supply in the lower reach of the Susquehanna River. In
fact, it is my understanding that Garrett Island is the only bedrock
island in the tidal portion of the Chesapeake Bay System.
The Fish and Wildlife Service should be encouraged to pursue the
addition of this valuable property to enhance the existing Blackwater
Refuge Complex and also to ensure the long-term protection of important
open space and fish and wildlife habitat.
Again, in closing, I want to express my full support of this proposed
legislation. And I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, as the author of H.R. 274, I am pleased
the House is considering this legislation to expand the boundaries of
the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which is located in my
congressional district.
Garrett Island, which consists of approximately 180 acres, was the
site of Maryland's second settlement in the 1600's. It is the only
rocky island in the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay system, and it
is a vital link between the Susquehanna River and the Bay. It also
provides habitat to 44 different bird species, including eagles, Common
Loons, Tundra Swans and 14 species of ducks.
I have visited Garrett Island and there is no question that its rich
history, geographic location and wildlife resource values make it an
excellent candidate for inclusion within the National Wildlife Refuge
system. As a nation, we can ill afford to allow unique places, like
Garrett Island, to be lost forever.
While I am disappointed that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has
not endorsed this idea, I was pleased to hear the agency testify that,
``Given the Island's historic and archaeological values, its
recreational opportunities, and its environmental education and
interpretation potential, a concerted effort should be put forth to
provide long-term protection and management of the island.'' This is
the goal of H.R. 274.
The Cecil Land Trust has done everything it can to protect this
important property, contributing $150,000 toward the purchase of the
island. Based on our hearing, Federal acquisition costs will be less
than $400,000, and little, if any, maintenance or personnel will be
required in the future. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation had it right when
it wrote that steps must be taken to ``ensure protection of this
largely unspoiled, historical and ecological gem.''
I would urge my Colleagues to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 274! This is an
important and necessary inclusion in our National Wildlife Refuge
system, which celebrated its 100th birthday last month. This is exactly
the type of place that Theodore Roosevelt had in mind when this unique
system of public lands was created.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 274.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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