[Senate Report 109-258]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 450
109th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2nd Session                                                    109-258

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  ELIZABETH HARTWELL MASON NECK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE RENAMING ACT

                                _______
                                

                  May 25, 2006.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Mr. Inhofe, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [to accompany S. 2127]


      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 
referred a bill (S. 2127) to redesignate the Mason Neck 
National Wildlife Refuge in the State of Virginia as the 
``Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge'', 
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon and 
recommends that the bill do pass.

                    General Statement and Background

    The Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is located in 
Fairfax County, approximately 18 miles from Washington, DC. The 
refuge headquarters is located in Woodbridge, Virginia, and the 
area is managed as part of the Potomac River National Wildlife 
Refuge complex which also includes Occoquan Bay and 
Featherstone refuges in Prince William County. Established in 
1969, the refuge includes 2,277 acres of mature oak-hickory 
forest, freshwater marshes, and almost 4.5 miles of shoreline 
along the Potomac River and Occoquan Bay. The refuge was the 
first Federal refuge established specifically for the 
protection of nesting, feeding, and roosting habitat for the 
then-endangered bald eagle. The Mason Neck peninsula currently 
has seven eagle nest sites (including 3 on the refuge), an 
eagle roost site, and a wintering population of 50-60 eagles. 
One of the largest blue heron rookeries in the Mid-Atlantic 
area, averaging 1,500 nests, is on the refuge along with the 
largest freshwater marsh in northern Virginia.
    Almost 4 miles of hiking trails provide visitors the 
opportunity to view and enjoy the refuge's wildlife which 
includes over 200 species of birds, 31 species of mammals, and 
44 species of reptiles and amphibians. One of the trails is 
fully handicapped accessible. The refuge is listed as one of 
the 10 best eagle viewing areas in the Nation. Annual 
visitation is between twenty-five and thirty thousand people.

                     Objectives of the Legislation

    S. 2127 would rename the Mason Neck National Wildlife 
Refuge as the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife 
Refuge. The late Elizabeth Hartwell's contributions to the 
conservation of the Mason Neck peninsula are substantial. Ms. 
Hartwell, a resident of Mason Neck and a conservation activist, 
spearheaded the movement to protect habitat on the Mason Neck 
peninsula. Through her efforts, the Nature Conservancy 
ultimately purchased the land for later resale to the local, 
State, and Federal Governments. Ms. Hartwell also petitioned 
Congress for the initial $3 million appropriation to purchase 
land for the refuge. While part of the broader preservation 
movement, she is often given virtually sole credit for the 
creation of the refuge and the Mason Neck State Park.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1. Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge.
    This section provides that the Mason Neck National Wildlife 
Refuge in the State of Virginia shall be known and designated 
as the ``Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife 
Refuge''.

                          Legislative History

    On December 16, 2005, Senator Allen introduced S. 2127, 
which was cosponsored by Senator Warner. The bill was received, 
read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment 
and Public Works. The committee met on May 23, 2006 to consider 
the bill. S. 2127 was ordered favorably reported without 
amendment by voice vote.

                                Hearings

    No committee hearings were held on S. 2127.

                             Rollcall Votes

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to 
consider S. 2127 on May 23, 2006. The bill was ordered 
favorably reported by voice vote. No roll call votes were 
taken.

                      Regulatory Impact Statement

    In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that S. 2127 
does not create any additional regulatory burdens, nor will it 
cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of 
individuals.

                          Mandates Assessment

    In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(Public Law 104-4), the committee finds that S. 2127 would not 
impose Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State, 
local, or tribal governments.

                          Cost of Legislation

    Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the 
reported bill, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be 
included in the report. That statement follows:
                              ----------                              

                                                      May 24, 2006.
Hon. James M. Inhofe,
Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
reviewed the following legislation, as ordered reported by the 
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on May 23, 
2006:
       S. 2127, a bill to redesignate the Mason Neck 
Wildlife Refuge in the State of Virginia as the ``Elizabeth 
Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge''; and
    CBO estimates that enactment of [this bill] would have no 
significant impact on the Federal budget and would not affect 
direct spending or revenues. [This bill] contain[s] no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on 
State, local, or tribal governments. If you wish further 
details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them.
            Sincerely,
                                          Donald B. Marron,
                                                   Acting Director.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    Section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate 
requires the committee to publish changes in existing law made 
by the bill as reported. Passage of this bill will make no 
changes to existing law.

                                 
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