IB
Union Calendar No. 398
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4286
[Report No. 106–713]
To provide for the establishment of the Cahaba River National Wildlife
Refuge in Bibb County, Alabama.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 13, 2000
Mr. BACHUS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
JULY 10, 2000
Additional sponsor: Mr. RILEY
JULY 10, 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 provide for the establishment of the Cahaba River
National Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County, Alabama.
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 ‘‘Cahaba River National
Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Cahaba River in Alabama is recognized
nationally for its unique biological diversity which
includes providing habitat for 131 species of fish
(more than any other river its size in North Amer-
ica).
(2) The Cahaba River is home to 64 rare and
imperiled species of aquatic plants and animals, in-
cluding fishes, freshwater turtles, mussels, and snails.
(3) The Cahaba River is home to 12 species of
fish, mussels, and snails listed as endangered or
threatened species.
(4) The Cahaba River is home to 6 terrestrial
species of plants and animals listed as endangered or
threatened species.
(5) The Cahaba River harbors the largest popu-
lation in the world of the imperiled shoals lily, known
locally as the Cahaba Lily.
(6) The Cahaba River watershed contains ex-
tremely rare plant communities that are home to 8
species of plants previously unknown to science and
a total of 69 rare and imperiled species of plants.
(7) The Cahaba River is home to at least a dozen
endemic aquatic animals that are found nowhere else
in the world.
(8) The Cahaba River is the longest remaining
free-flowing river in Alabama, flowing through 5
counties in central Alabama.
(9) The Cahaba River is recognized as an Out-
standing Alabama Water by the Alabama Department
of Environmental Management.
(10) The Cahaba River has high recreational
value for hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, canoeists, na-
ture photographers, and others.
(11) The Cahaba River Watershed supports large
populations of certain game species, including deer,
turkey, and various species of ducks.
(12) The Cahaba River area is deserving of in-
clusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) REFUGE.—The term ‘‘Refuge’’ means the
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge established by
section 4(a).
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in Bibb
County, Alabama, the Cahaba National Wildlife Ref-
uge, consisting of approximately 3,500 acres of Fed-
eral lands and waters, and interests in lands and wa-
ters, within the boundaries depicted upon the map en-
titled ‘‘Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge–Pro-
posed’’, dated April 10, 2000.
(2) BOUNDARY REVISIONS.—The Secretary may
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) 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. 5. ACQUISITION OF LANDS AND WATERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, may acquire up to 3,500 acres
of lands and waters, or interests therein, within the bound-
aries of the Refuge described in section 4(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. ADMINISTRATION.
In administering the Refuge, the Secretary shall—
(1) conserve, enhance, and restore the native
aquatic and terrestrial community characteristics of
the Cahaba River (including associated fish, wildlife,
and plant species);
(2) conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to
maintain and assist in the recovery of animals and
plants that are listed under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.);
(3) in providing opportunities for compatible
fish- and wildlife-oriented recreation, ensure that
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photog-
raphy, and environmental education and interpreta-
tion are the priority general public uses of the Refuge,
in accordance with section 4(a)(3) and (4) of the Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of
1966 (16 U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4)); and
(4) encourage the use of volunteers and to facili-
tate partnerships among the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, local communities, conservation or-
ganizations, and other non-Federal entities to pro-
mote public awareness of the resources of the Cahaba
River National Wildlife Refuge and the National
Wildlife Refuge System and public participation in
the conservation of those resources.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary—
(1) such funds as may be necessary for the acqui-
sition of lands and waters within the boundaries of
the Refuge; and
(2) such funds as may be necessary for the devel-
opment, operation, and maintenance of the Refuge.
Union Calendar No. 398
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4286
[Report No. 106–713]
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of the Cahaba
River National Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County,
Alabama.
JULY 10, 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