[106th Congress Public Law 369]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
<DOC>
[DOCID: f:publ369.106]
[[Page 114 STAT. 1417]]
Public Law 106-369
106th Congress
An Act
To provide for the establishment of the Cat Island National Wildlife
Refuge in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. <<NOTE: Oct. 27,
2000 - [H.R. 3292]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Cat Island
National Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act. Conservation.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. <<NOTE: 16 USC 668dd note.>>
This Act may be cited as the ``Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge
Establishment Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. <<NOTE: 16 USC 668dd note.>>
The Congress finds that--
(1) as the southernmost unleveed portion of the Mississippi
River, Cat Island, Louisiana, is one of the last remaining
tracts in the lower Mississippi Valley that is still influenced
by the natural dynamics of the river;
(2) Cat Island supports one of the highest densities of
virgin bald cypress trees in the entire Mississippi River
Valley, including the Nation's champion cypress tree which is 17
feet wide and has a circumference of 53 feet;
(3) Cat Island is important habitat for several declining
species of forest songbirds and supports thousands of wintering
waterfowl;
(4) Cat Island supports high populations of deer, turkey,
and furbearers, such as mink and bobcats;
(5) conservation and enhancement of this area through
inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System would help meet
the habitat conservation goals of the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan;
(6) these forested wetlands represent one of the most
valuable and productive wildlife habitat types in the United
States, and have extremely high recreational value for hunters,
anglers, birdwatchers, nature photographers, and others; and
(7) the Cat Island area is deserving of inclusion in the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. <<NOTE: 16 USC 668dd note.>>
For purposes of this Act--
(1) the term ``Refuge'' means the Cat Island National
Wildlife Refuge; and
(2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior.
SEC. 4. PURPOSES. <<NOTE: 16 USC 668dd note.>>
The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall be
managed are--
[[Page 114 STAT. 1418]]
(1) to conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary to
contribute to the migratory bird population goals and habitat
objective as established through the Lower Mississippi Valley
Joint Venture;
(2) to conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic
resource values associated with the area's forested wetlands and
to achieve the habitat objectives of the ``Mississippi River
Aquatic Resources Management Plan'';
(3) to conserve, enhance, and restore the historic native
bottomland community characteristics of the lower Mississippi
alluvial valley and its associated fish, wildlife, and plant
species;
(4) to conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain
and assist in the recovery of endangered, and threatened plants
and animals; and
(5) to encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate
partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
local communities, conservation organizations, and other non-
Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources of
the Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System and public
participation in the conservation of those resources.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE. <<NOTE: 16 USC 668dd note.>>
(a) Acquisition Boundary.--The Secretary is authorized to establish
the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of approximately
36,500 acres of land and water, as depicted upon a map entitled ``Cat
Island National Wildlife Refuge-Proposed'', dated February 8, 2000, and
available for inspection in appropriate offices of the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service.
(b) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make such minor revisions
of the boundary designated under this section as may be appropriate to
carry out the purposes of the Refuge or to facilitate the acquisition of
property within the Refuge.
(c) Acquisition.--The Secretary is authorized to acquire the lands
and waters, or interests therein, within the acquisition boundary
described in subsection (a) of this section.
(d) <<NOTE: Federal Register, publication.>> Establishment.--The
Secretary shall establish the Refuge by publication of a notice to that
effect in the Federal Register and publications of local circulation
whenever sufficient property has been acquired to constitute an area
that can be efficiently managed as a National Wildlife Refuge.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION. <<NOTE: 16 USC 668dd note.>>
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer all lands, waters,
and interests therein acquired under this Act in accordance with the
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et
seq.). The Secretary may use such additional statutory authority as may
be available for the conservation of fish and wildlife, and the
provision of fish- and wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities as
the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this
Act.
(b) Priority Uses.--In providing opportunities for compatible fish-
and wildlife-oriented recreation, the Secretary, in accordance with
paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), shall ensure
that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and
environmental education and interpretation are the priority public uses
of the Refuge.
[[Page 114 STAT. 1419]]
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. <<NOTE: 16 USC 668dd note.>>
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the
Interior--
(1) such funds as may be necessary for the acquisition of
lands and waters designated in section 5(c); and
(2) such funds as may be necessary for the development,
operation, and maintenance of the Refuge.
SEC. 8. <<NOTE: Virginia. 16 USC 459f-5 note.>> DESIGNATION OF HERBERT
H. BATEMAN EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER.
(a) In General.--A building proposed to be located within the
boundaries of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, on Assateague
Island, Virginia, shall be known and designated as the ``Herbert H.
Bateman Education and Administrative Center''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document,
paper, or other record of the United States to the building referred to
in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Herbert H.
Bateman Education and Administrative Center.
SEC. 9. <<NOTE: Effective dates. 16 USC 668dd note.>> TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS.
(a) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of the Act
entitled, ``An Act to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and
Design Program Act of 1994'' (106th Congress), section 6 of the Junior
Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 668dd
note; Public Law 103-340), relating to an environmental education center
and refuge, is redesignated as section 7.
(b) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of the
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act (106th
Congress), section 6 of that Act is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.)'' and inserting ``the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``section 4(a)(3) and (4)
of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of
1966 (16 U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4))'' and inserting ``paragraphs
(3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a))''.
(c) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of the Red
River National Wildlife Refuge Act (106th Congress), section 4(b)(2)(D)
of that Act <<NOTE: Ante, p. 1056.>> is amended by striking ``section
4(a)(3) and (4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration
Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4))'' and inserting ``paragraphs
[[Page 114 STAT. 1420]]
(3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a))''.
Approved October 27, 2000.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3292:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-659 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-459 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000):
June 19, considered and passed House.
Oct. 5, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Oct. 12, House concurred in Senate amendments.
<all>