Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act

Summary: Requires the Secretary to issue a management plan for the Refuge which includes provisions for: (1) the planning and design of trails and access points; (2) the planning of wildlife and habitat restoration, including reforestation; (3) permanent exhibits and facilities and regular educational programs throughout the Refuge; and (4) ensuring that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography and environmental education and interpretation are priority general public uses. Requires that the Secretary: (1) provide an opportunity for public participation in developing such plan; and (2) give special consideration to views by local public and private entities and individuals.
Directs the Secretary to construct, administer, and maintain within the Refuge, a wildlife interpretation and education center to promote environmental education and to provide an opportunity for the study and enjoyment of wildlife in its natural habitat.
Requires the Secretary to provide to the Red River Waterway Commission: (1) technical assistance in monitoring water quality, noxious plants, and exotic organisms and in preventing siltation of prime fisheries habitat; and (2) fish for stocking.
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Red River National Wildlife Refuge 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
        (1) The area of Louisiana known as the Red River Valley, 
    located along the Red River Waterway in Caddo, Bossier, Red River, 
    Natchitoches, and De Soto Parishes, is of critical importance to 
    over 350 species of birds (including migratory and resident 
    waterfowl, shore birds, and neotropical migratory birds), aquatic 
    life, and a wide array of other species associated with river basin 
    ecosystems.
        (2) The bottomland hardwood forests of the Red River Valley 
    have been almost totally cleared. Reforestation and restoration of 
    native habitat will benefit a host of species.
        (3) The Red River Valley is part of a major continental 
    migration corridor for migratory birds funneling through the mid 
    continent from as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south 
    as South America.
        (4) There are no significant public sanctuaries for over 300 
    river miles on this important migration corridor, and no 
    significant Federal, State, or private wildlife sanctuaries along 
    the Red River north of Alexandria, Louisiana.
        (5) Completion of the lock and dam system associated with the 
    Red River Waterway project up to Shreveport, Louisiana, has 
    enhanced opportunities for management of fish and wildlife.
        (6) The Red River Valley offers extraordinary recreational, 
    research, and educational opportunities for students, scientists, 
    bird watchers, wildlife observers, hunters, anglers, trappers, 
    hikers, and nature photographers.
        (7) The Red River Valley is an internationally significant 
    environmental resource that has been neglected and requires active 
    restoration and management to protect and enhance the value of the 
    region as a habitat for fish and wildlife.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES OF REFUGE.

    (a) Establishment.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish the Red River 
    National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of approximately 50,000 acres 
    of Federal lands, waters, and interests therein within the 
    boundaries depicted upon the map entitled ``Red River National 
    Wildlife Refuge--Selection Area'', dated September 5, 2000.
        (2) Boundary revisions.--The Secretary shall make such minor 
    revisions of the boundaries of the Refuge as may be appropriate to 
    carry out the purposes of the Refuge or to facilitate the 
    acquisition of property within the Refuge.
        (3) Availability of map.--The Secretary shall keep the map 
    referred to in paragraph (1) available for inspection in 
    appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Refuge are the following:
        (1) To provide for the restoration and conservation of native 
    plants and animal communities on suitable sites in the Red River 
    basin, including restoration of extirpated species.
        (2) To provide habitat for migratory birds.
        (3) To provide technical assistance to private land owners in 
    the restoration of their lands for the benefit of fish and 
    wildlife.
    (c) Effective Date.--The establishment of the Refuge under 
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall take effect on the date the 
Secretary publishes, in the Federal Register and publications of local 
circulation in the vicinity of the area within the boundaries referred 
to in that paragraph, a notice that sufficient property has been 
acquired by the United States within those boundaries to constitute an 
area that can be efficiently managed as a National Wildlife Refuge.

SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF REFUGE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer all lands, waters, 
and interests therein acquired under section 5 in accordance with--
        (1) the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 
    1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) and the Act of September 28, 1962 
    (76 Stat. 653; 16 U.S.C. 460k et seq.; commonly known as the Refuge 
    Recreation Act);
        (2) the purposes of the Refuge set forth in section 3(b); and
        (3) the management plan issued under subsection (b).
    (b) Management Plan.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
    establishment of the Refuge, the Secretary shall issue a management 
    plan for the Refuge.
        (2) Contents.--The management plan shall include provisions 
    that provide for the following:
            (A) Planning and design of trails and access points.
            (B) Planning of wildlife and habitat restoration, including 
        reforestation.
            (C) Permanent exhibits and facilities and regular 
        educational programs throughout the Refuge.
            (D) Ensuring that compatible hunting, fishing, wildlife 
        observation and photography, and environmental education and 
        interpretation are the priority general public uses of the 
        Refuge, in accordance with section 4(a)(3) and (4) of the 
        National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
        U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4)).
        (3) Public participation.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide an opportunity 
        for public participation in developing the management plan.
            (B) Local views.--The Secretary shall give special 
        consideration to views by local public and private entities and 
        individuals in developing the management plan.
    (c) Wildlife Interpretation and Education Center.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall construct, administer, and 
    maintain, at an appropriate site within the Refuge, a wildlife 
    interpretation and education center.
        (2) Purposes.--The center shall be designed and operated--
            (A) to promote environmental education; and
            (B) to provide an opportunity for the study and enjoyment 
        of wildlife in its natural habitat.
    (d) Assistance to Red River Waterway Commission.--The Secretary 
shall provide to the Red River Waterway Commission--
        (1) technical assistance in monitoring water quality, noxious 
    plants, and exotic organisms, and in preventing siltation of prime 
    fisheries habitat; and
        (2) where appropriate and available, fish for stocking.

SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS, WATERS, AND INTERESTS THEREIN.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary may acquire up to 50,000 acres of 
lands, waters, or interests therein within the boundaries of the Refuge 
described in section 3(a)(1).
    (b) Inclusion in Refuge.--Any lands, waters, or interests acquired 
by the Secretary under this section shall be part of the Refuge.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
        (1) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Red River National 
    Wildlife Refuge established under section 3.
        (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    the Interior.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.