    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    117 STAT. 1372

    Public Law 108-131
    108th Congress

    An Act

    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. [NOTE: Nov. 22, 2003 -  [H.R.
    274]]

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress [NOTE: Blackwater National
    Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act. 16 USC 668dd note.] 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 archaeological 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.

    [[Page 1373]]
    117 STAT. 1373

    (4) To conserve the archaeological 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.

    Approved November 22, 2003.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 274:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SENATE REPORTS: No. 108-180 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 149 (2003):
    Apr. 29, considered and passed House.
    Nov. 7, considered and passed Senate.