I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4318
To establish the Red River National Wildlife Refuge.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 13, 2000
Mr. MCCRERY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To establish the Red River National Wildlife Refuge.
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 ‘‘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
DeSoto Parishes, is of critical importance to over
350 species of birds (including migratory and resi-
dent waterfowl, shore birds, and neotropical migra-
tory 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 pri-
vate wildlife sanctuaries along the Red River north
of Alexandria, Louisiana.
(5) Completion of the lock and dam system as-
sociated 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 ob-
servers, hunters, anglers, trappers, hikers, and na-
ture photographers.
(7) The Red River Valley is an internationally
significant environmental resource that has been ne-
glected and requires active restoration and manage-
ment 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.—The Secretary shall establish
as a national wildlife refuge the lands, waters, and inter-
ests therein acquired under section 5, at such time as the
Secretary determines that sufficient property has been ac-
quired under that section to constitute an area that can
be effectively managed as a national wildlife refuge for the
purposes set forth in subsection (b) of this section. The
national wildlife refuge so established shall be known as
the ‘‘Red River National Wildlife Refuge’’.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Refuge are the
following:
(1) To restore and preserve native Red River
ecosystems.
(2) To provide habitat for migratory birds.
(3) To maximize fisheries on the Red River and
its tributaries, natural lakes, and man-made res-
ervoirs.
(4) To provide habitat for and population man-
agement of native plants and resident animals (in-
cluding restoration of extirpated species).
(5) To provide technical assistance to private
land owners in the restoration of their lands for the
benefit of fish and wildlife.
(6) To provide the public with opportunities for
hunting, angling, trapping, photographing wildlife,
hiking, bird watching, and other outdoor recreational
and educational activities.
(7) To achieve the purposes under this sub-
section without violating section 6.
(c) NOTICE
OF ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary
shall publish a notice of the establishment of the Refuge—
(1) in the Federal Register; and
(2) in publications of local circulation in the vi-
cinity of the 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 Ad-
ministration 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 sec-
tion 3(b); and
(3) the management plan issued under sub-
section (b).
(b) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall issue a management plan for the Ref-
uge.
(2) CONTENTS.—The management plan shall
include provisions that provide for the following:
(A) Planning and design of trails and ac-
cess points.
(B) Planning of wildlife and habitat res-
toration, including reforestation.
(C) Permanent exhibits and facilities and
regular educational programs throughout the
Refuge.
(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 pub-
lic and private entities and individuals in devel-
oping the management plan.
(c) WILDLIFE INTERPRETATION
AND EDUCATION
CENTER.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall con-
struct, 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.
SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS, WATERS, AND INTERESTS
THEREIN.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall seek to ac-
quire up to 50,000 acres of land, water, or interests there-
in (including permanent conservation easements or ser-
vitudes) within the boundaries designated under sub-
section (c). All lands, waters, and interests acquired under
this subsection shall be part of the Refuge.
(b) METHOD OF ACQUISITION.—The Secretary may
acquire an interest in land or water for inclusion in the
Refuge only by donation, exchange, or purchase from a
willing seller.
(c) DESIGNATION OF BOUNDARIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall—
(A) consult with appropriate State and
local officials, private conservation organiza-
tions, and other interested parties (including
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fish-
eries, the Louisiana Department of Transpor-
tation and Development, the Red River Water-
way Commission, and the Northwest Louisiana
Council of Governments), regarding the des-
ignation of appropriate boundaries for the Ref-
uge within the selection area;
(B) designate boundaries of the Refuge
that are within the selection area and adequate
for fulfilling the purposes of the Refuge set
forth in section 3(b); and
(C) prepare a detailed map entitled ‘‘Red
River National Wildlife Refuge’’ depicting the
boundaries of the Refuge designated under sub-
paragraph (B).
(2) SELECTION
AREA.—For purposes of this
subsection, the selection area consists of Caddo,
Bossier, Red River, DeSoto, and Natchitoches Par-
ishes, Louisiana.
(3) AVAILABILITY OF MAP; NOTICE.—The Sec-
retary shall—
(A) keep the map prepared under para-
graph (1) on file and available for public in-
spection at offices of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service of the District of Columbia
and Louisiana; and
(B) publish in the Federal Register a no-
tice of that availability.
(d) BOUNDARY
REVISIONS.—The Secretary may
make such minor revisions in the boundaries designated
under subsection (c) as may be appropriate to achieve the
purposes of the Refuge under section 3(b) or to facilitate
the acquisition of property for the Refuge.
SEC. 6. CONTINUED PUBLIC SERVICES.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting
or preventing, and the Secretary shall not for purposes
of the Refuge prohibit or prevent—
(1) the continuation or development of commer-
cial or recreational navigation on the Red River Wa-
terway;
(2) necessary construction, operation, or main-
tenance activities associated with the Red River Wa-
terway project;
(3) the construction, improvement, or expansion
of public port or recreational facilities on the Red
River Waterway; or
(4) the construction, improvement, or replace-
ment of railroads or interstate highways within the
selection area (designated in section 5(c)(2)), or
bridges that cross the Red River.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
Act.
SEC. 8. 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.
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