109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5232
AN ACT 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to initiate and com-
plete an evaluation of lands and waters located in North-
eastern Pennsylvania for their potential acquisition and 
inclusion in a future Cherry Valley National Wildlife 
Refuge, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cherry Valley National 
Wildlife Refuge Study Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The scenic Cherry Valley area of North-
eastern Pennsylvania is blessed with more than 80 
special-concern animal and plant species and natural 
habitats. 
(2) In a preliminary assessment of Cherry Val-
ley, United States Fish and Wildlife Service biolo-
gists ranked Cherry Valley very high as a potential 
national wildlife refuge. 
(3) Six species that are listed as endangered 
species or threatened species under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) have 
been documented within or near Cherry Valley: The 
bog turtle (possibly the most significant population 
of the listed subspecies), the dwarf wedge mussel, 
the northeastern bulrush, the small whorled pogonia, 
the bald eagle, and the Indiana bat (a historic resi-
dent, with efforts under way to re-establish favorable 
conditions). 
(4) Cherry Valley provides habitat for at least 
79 species of national or regional concern, which ei-
ther nest in Cherry Valley or migrate through the
area during critical times in their life cycle, includ-
ing—
(A) neo-tropical migratory birds such as 
the Cerulean Warbler, the Worm-eating War-
bler, and the Wood Thrush, all of which nest in 
Cherry Valley; 
(B) waterfowl such as the American Black 
Duck; 
(C) several globally rare plants, such as 
the spreading globeflower; and 
(D) anadromous fish species. 
(5) The Cherry Valley watershed encompasses a 
large segment of the Kittatinny Ridge, an important 
migration route for birds of prey throughout the 
Northeastern United States. Every migratory raptor 
species in the Northeast is regularly observed along 
the Kittatinny Ridge during the autumnal migra-
tion, including the bald eagle, the golden eagle, and 
the broad-winged hawk. 
(6) The Kittatinny Ridge also includes a long 
segment of the Appalachian Trail, a nationally sig-
nificant natural-cultural-recreational feature. 
(7) Many of the significant wildlife habitats 
found in the Cherry Valley, especially the rare cal-
careous wetlands, have disappeared from other local-
ities in their range. 
(8) Ongoing studies have documented the high 
water quality of Cherry Creek. 
(9) Public meetings over several years have 
demonstrated strong, deep, and growing local sup-
port for a Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 
as demonstrated by the following: 
(A) Area landowners, business and commu-
nity leaders, media, and elected officials have 
consistently voiced their enthusiasm for a Cher-
ry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. 
(B) Numerous local communities and pub-
lic and private conservation entities share com-
plementary goals for protecting Cherry Valley 
and are energetically conserving wildlife habitat 
and farmland. Along with State land-manage-
ment agencies and the National Park Service, 
these local entities represent potential strong 
partners for the United States Fish and Wild-
life Service, and view a Cherry Valley National 
Wildlife Refuge as a complement to existing 
private, county, municipal, and State efforts.