PUBLIC LAW 106–369—OCT. 27, 2000 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.

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 ‘‘Cat Island National Wildlife

Refuge Establishment Act’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

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.

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.

The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall

be managed are—

16 USC 668dd

note.

16 USC 668dd

note.

16 USC 668dd

note.

16 USC 668dd

note.

Cat Island

National Wildlife

Refuge

Establishment

Act.

Conservation.

Oct. 27, 2000

[H.R. 3292]

114 STAT. 1418 PUBLIC LAW 106–369—OCT. 27, 2000

(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.

(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) 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.

(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.

16 USC 668dd

note.

Federal Register,

publication.

16 USC 668dd

note.

PUBLIC LAW 106–369—OCT. 27, 2000 114 STAT. 1419

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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. 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. 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 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

Ante, p. 1056.

Effective dates.

16 USC 668dd

note.

Virginia.

16 USC 459f–5

note.

16 USC 668dd

note.

114 STAT. 1420 PUBLIC LAW 106–369—OCT. 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.

Æ

(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.