[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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