[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 73 (Monday, June 6, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6103-S6104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE (for himself and Mr. Akaka):
  S. 1165. A bill to provide for the expansion of the James Campbell 
National Wildlife Refuge, Honolulu County, Hawaii; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the James 
Campbell National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2005, and ask 
unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  The James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge is the premier endangered 
Hawaiian waterbird recovery area in the northern portion of the Island 
of Oahu. It supports all four endangered Hawaiian waterbirds and a 
variety of migratory shorebirds and waterfowl. The expansion of James 
Campbell National Wildlife Refuge under my bill would provide for 
wildlife and habitat protection, and would also resolve issues 
associated with the hydrology of the Kahuku floodplain.
  The expansion would restore historical wetland habitat and form the 
largest managed freshwater wetland on Oahu. It would connect the two 
existing units of the Refuge and create a protected flyway between them 
to provide essential habitat for four endangered waterbird species and 
migratory waterbirds. It would also protect the last remaining large 
scale coastal dune ecosystem on Oahu and preserve native strand plants 
and protect coastal wildlife such as threatened green sea turtles, 
seabirds, migratory shorebirds, and possibly the endangered Hawaiian 
monk seal. Support facilities could be constructed on upland areas to 
support environmental education and interpetation programs, visitor 
services, and habitat management programs. All land proposed for the 
expansion is owned by the Estate of James Campbell, a willing seller.
  Heavy floods occur frequently in this area, devastating residents who 
live in the adjacent town of Kahuku. Because of the location and 
natural function of this historical floodplain, the land acquisition 
also serves as the crucial component for the proposed Kahuku flood 
control project by increasing the capacity of the area to drain and 
preserving the floodwater retention of these wetlands.
  This habitat restoration proposal represents the most significant 
wetland enhancement project ever undertaken in Hawaii. By combining 
effective flood control, wetland development, endangered species 
conservation,

[[Page S6104]]

environmental education, and visitor opportunities, benefits provided 
will serve not only the local communities, but also Hawaii residents 
and visitors for generations to come.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this non-
controversial legislation.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1165

       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 ``James Campbell National 
     Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service manages the 
     James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge for the purpose of 
     promoting the recovery of 4 species of endangered Hawaiian 
     waterbirds;
       (2) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service leases 
     approximately 240 acres of high-value wetland habitat 
     (including ponds, marshes, freshwater springs, and adjacent 
     land) and manages the habitat in accordance with the National 
     Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; 
     Public Law 105-312);
       (3) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service entered 
     into a contract to purchase in fee title the land described 
     in paragraph (2) from the estate of James Campbell for the 
     purposes of--
       (A) permanently protecting the endangered species habitat; 
     and
       (B) improving the management of the Refuge;
       (4) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has 
     identified for inclusion in the Refuge approximately 800 
     acres of additional high-value wildlife habitat adjacent to 
     the Refuge that are owned by the estate of James Campbell;
       (5) the land of the estate of James Campbell on the Kahuku 
     Coast features coastal dunes, coastal wetlands, and coastal 
     strand that promote biological diversity for threatened and 
     endangered species, including--
       (A) the 4 species of endangered Hawaiian waterbirds 
     described in paragraph (1);
       (B) migratory shorebirds;
       (C) waterfowl;
       (D) seabirds;
       (E) endangered and native plant species;
       (F) endangered monk seals; and
       (G) green sea turtles;
       (6) because of extensive coastal development, habitats of 
     the type within the Refuge are increasingly rare on the 
     Hawaiian islands;
       (7) expanding the Refuge will provide increased 
     opportunities for wildlife-dependent public uses, including 
     wildlife observation, photography, and environmental 
     education and interpretation; and
       (8) acquisition of the land described in paragraph (4)--
       (A) will create a single, large, manageable, and 
     ecologically-intact unit that includes sufficient buffer land 
     to reduce impacts on the Refuge; and
       (B) is necessary to reduce flood damage following heavy 
     rainfall to residences, businesses, and public buildings in 
     the town of Kahuku.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
       (2)  Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the James Campbell 
     National Wildlife Refuge established pursuant to the 
     Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF REFUGE.

       (a) Expansion.--The boundary of the Refuge is expanded to 
     include the approximately 1,100 acres of land (including any 
     water and interest in the land) depicted on the map entitled 
     ``James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge-Expansion'', and on 
     file in the office of the Director.
       (b) Boundary Revisions.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may make such 
     minor modifications to the boundary of the Refuge as the 
     Secretary determines to be appropriate to--
       (1) achieve the goals of the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service relating to the Refuge; or
       (2) facilitate the acquisition of property within the 
     Refuge.
       (c) Availability of Map.--
       (1) In general.--The map described in subsection (a) shall 
     remain available for inspection in an appropriate office of 
     the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, as determined by 
     the Secretary.
       (2) Notice.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the 
     Federal Register and any publication of local circulation in 
     the area of the Refuge notice of the availability of the map.

     SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LAND AND WATER.

       (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriated funds, the Secretary may acquire the land 
     described in section 4(a).
       (b) Inclusion.--Any land, water, or interest acquired by 
     the Secretary pursuant to this section shall--
       (1) become part of the Refuge; and
       (2) be administered in accordance with applicable law.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.
                                 ______