[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H2606-H2607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     JAMES CAMPBELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE EXPANSION ACT OF 2005

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the Senate bill (S. 1165) to provide for the expansion of the James 
Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, Honolulu County, Hawaii.
  The Clerk read 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'' dated 
     October 20, 2005, and on file in the office of the Director.
       (b) Boundary Revisions.--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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members be given 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to urge the adoption of S. 1165, 
introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye. This bill is virtually identical 
to H.R. 2866, sponsored by our distinguished Resources Committee 
colleague, Congressman Neil Abercrombie.
  This bill would increase the size of the James Campbell National 
Wildlife Refuge on the Island of Oahu by up to 800 acres of land. This 
refuge, which

[[Page H2607]]

was created in 1976, provides essential wetland habitat for some 75 
endangered plants and animals including four species of highly 
imperiled waterbirds. The birds depend on the protection of the James 
Campbell Refuge for their survival.
  The sole owner of the property is the James Campbell Estate, and 
their legal representative testified that the estate is a willing 
seller of this property for inclusion within the refuge. The timing of 
this transaction is critical because the James Campbell Trust, which 
was created over 100 years ago, terminates on January 20, 2007. By 
acquiring this property, the two noncontiguous existing parts of the 
refuge will be connected. Historical wetland habitat will be restored 
and a new protected flyway will be created, and the Army Corps of 
Engineers will have the opportunity to provide some badly needed flood 
protection for a neighboring community. This refuge expansion will also 
conserve the last remaining large coastal dune ecosystem on Oahu, 
preserve native strand plants and protect threatened coastal wildlife 
including sea turtles, migratory shorebirds, and Hawaiian monk seals.
  I urge an ``aye'' on S. 1165.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, as described by my good friend from 
California, this noncontroversial legislation would authorize the 
expansion of the existing James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, 
located on the north shore of the Island of Oahu in the State of 
Hawaii.
  Members should also be aware that this legislation would accomplish 
other important conservation objectives such as wetland restoration, 
local flood protection, and the preservation of beach habitat for 
threatened and endangered species, especially green sea turtles and 
monk seals.
  S. 1165 is virtually identical to H.R. 2866, companion legislation 
introduced in the House by my colleague from Hawaii, Congressman Neil 
Abercrombie.
  In order to allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to proceed with 
these acquisitions at the earliest possible date, Mr. Abercrombie has 
agreed to move this bill, passed by the other body, in order to 
expedite its passage by the Congress and the signing by the President.

                              {time}  1430

  I commend the gentleman from Hawaii for his vision and foresight in 
developing this thoughtful conservation legislation, and I urge Members 
to support this noncontroversial bill.
  Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of passage of 
S. 1165, the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 
2005. I cointroduced the House version of this bill (H.R. 2866) with my 
colleague, Congressman Neil Abercrombie.
  S. 1165 expands the authorized boundary of the James Campbell 
National Wildlife Refuge in Honolulu, Hawaii, to include approximately 
1,100 acres of land. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USFWS, has 
managed the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Kahuku, Hawaii, 
for the past 30 years to protect four endangered Hawaiian water birds--
the Hawaiian stilt (ae`o), the Hawaiian moorhen (`alae `ula), the 
Hawaiian coot (`alae ke`oke`o), and the Hawaiian duck (koloa maoli)--
and at least 25 different North American migratory birds. In 2005, 
USFWS acquired fee title to the 240-acre refuge located in two separate 
parcels. The expansion area will allow for acquisition of adjacent land 
to create a single, large, manageable, and ecologically intact unit 
that includes sufficient buffer land to reduce impacts on the Refuge. 
The acquisition will also facilitate a solution to area flooding 
problems.
  The expanded acreage would allow for restoration of critical wetland 
habitat, which would form the largest managed freshwater wetland on 
Oahu. It would connect the two existing units and create a protected 
corridor between them to provide essential habitat for four endangered 
waterbird species and migratory waterbirds. It would also protect the 
last remaining large-scale and intact 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 
interpretation programs, visitor services, and habitat management 
programs. All land proposed for purchase 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 floodplain, the land acquisition also serves 
as the crucial component for the proposed Kahuku flood control project 
by preserving the floodwater retention of these wetlands and providing 
an area where flood control design can be made more efficient.
  This habitat restoration proposal represents the most significant 
wetland enhancement project ever undertaken in Hawaii. By combining 
effective wetland restoration, endangered species conservation, 
environmental education, visitor opportunities, and flood control, 
benefits provided will serve not only the local communities, but also 
Hawai`i residents and visitors for generations to come.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, thank you for considering S. 1165 on 
the floor today. By authorizing the expansion of the James Campbell 
National Wildlife Refuge, NWR, we are protecting endangered and 
migratory birds from the effects of an increasingly urban island.
  Located on the northern end of the island of Oahu, the Campbell NWR 
is the premier recovery area on the island for all four endangered 
Hawaiian waterbirds. The refuge consists of approximately 241 acres of 
naturally occurring, spring-fed marsh and manmade ponds in two separate 
parcels. Although the refuge was established specifically to benefit 
the endangered Hawaiian stilt (ae`o), coot (`alae ke`oke`o), moorhen 
(`alae `ula), and duck (koloa maoli), it also provides essential 
habitat for at least 25 species of wintering migratory birds coming 
from as far away as Alaska, New Zealand, and Asia.
  The expansion proposed by S. 1165 would connect these two parcels, 
providing a protected flyway and essential habitat. The expansion would 
also incorporate significant coastal property and preserve the last 
remaining large scale sand dune ecosystem. This boundary enlargement 
will preserve native strand species as well as coastal wildlife such as 
threatened green sea turtles, seabirds, migratory shorebirds and 
possibly the threatened Hawaiian monk seal.
  As a dual benefit, this expansion would also help protect the 
neighboring town of Kahuku from devastating floods. The refuge 
expansion serves as an important component of the Kahuku flood control 
project by increasing drainage capacity and preserving the floodwater 
retention of these protected wetlands. In turn, the flood mitigation 
project could potentially enhance the wetland area to ensure maximum 
production and survival of endangered Hawaiian waterbird populations. 
The importance of this added benefit has been made clear as recent 
rains in Hawaii have flooded the town of Kahuku along with its schools 
and homes.
  The Campbell NWR is a haven to endangered and migratory birds. Its 
expansion would further the goals of the refuge and the Refuge System 
while helping to protect an adjacent town from intermittent flooding.
  I would also like to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall 
for their support and efforts in addressing this issue. I respectfully 
request my colleagues to support this measure and its intent to protect 
the wildlife on the north shore of Oahu.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1165.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________