H. R. 3292
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
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 valu-
able 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 Wild-
life 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—
H. R. 3292—2
(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 spe-
cies;
(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 partner-
ships 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 statu-
tory authority as may be available for the conservation of fish
and wildlife, and the provision of fish- and wildlife-oriented rec-
reational 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 photog-
raphy, and environmental education and interpretation are the
priority public uses of the Refuge.
H. R. 3292—3
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 Pro-
gram Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; Public Law 103–340),
relating to an environmental education center and refuge, is redesig-
nated 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 Endan-
gered 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), sec-
tion 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
H. R. 3292—4
(3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a))’’.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.