IB
Union Calendar No. 470
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4318
[Report No. 106–809]
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
SEPTEMBER 6, 2000
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 13, 2000]
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 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. Refor-
estation and restoration of native habitat will benefit
a host of species.
(3) The Red River Valley is part of a major con-
tinental migration corridor for migratory birds fun-
neling through the mid continent from as far north
as the Arctic Circle and as far south as South Amer-
ica.
(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 Al-
exandria, Louisiana.
(5) Completion of the lock and dam system asso-
ciated 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 observ-
ers, hunters, anglers, trappers, hikers, and nature
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.—
(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—Proposed’’, dated July 20, 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 pur-
poses 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 fol-
lowing:
(1) To restore and preserve native Red River eco-
systems.
(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.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The establishment of the Ref-
uge 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 Ref-
uge.
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 Admin-
istration 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 enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall issue a management plan for the Refuge.
(2) CONTENTS.—The management plan shall in-
clude 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.
(D) Provision of opportunities for compat-
ible fish- and wildlife-oriented recreation, to en-
sure that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation
and photography, and environmental education
and interpretation are the priority general pub-
lic 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 pro-
vide 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 CEN-
TER.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall construct,
administer, and maintain, at an appropriate site
within the Refuge, a wildlife interpretation and edu-
cation 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 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 in-
terests 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 Sec-
retary 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 sec-
tion 3.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
Union Calendar No. 470
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4318
[Report No. 106–809]
A BILL
To establish the Red River National Wildlife
Refuge.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2000
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed