A bill to establish the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge.
PL 96-288 (H.R.6169), enacted 06/28/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-288—JUNE 28, 1980 
94 STAT. 603 
Public Law 96-288 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To establish the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSE 
SECTION 1. (a) The Congress finds that— 
(1) thousands of acres of bottomland hardwoods are being 
cleared each year in the Mississippi River Delta; 
(2) these forested wetlands represent one of the most valuable 
and productive wildlife habitat types in the United States and 
have extremely high recreational value for hunters, fishermen, 
birdwatchers, nature photographers, and others; and 
(3) the Bogue Chitto area is a bottomland hardwood swamp 
which harbors over one hundred fifty species of birds and many 
types of other wildlife, including several species imperiled with 
extinction. 
(b) The purpose of this Act is to establish the Bogue Chitto National 
Wildlife Refuge. 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 2. For purposes of 
this Act— 
(1) the term "refuge" means the Bogue Chitto National Wild-
life Refuge; 
(2) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior; 
and 
(3) the term "selection area" means those lands and waters 
near the juncture of the Pearl River and its tributary, the Bogue 
Chitto, in Saint Tammany and Washington Parishes, Louisiana, 
and Pearl River County, Mississippi, depicted on the map enti-
tled "Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, Selection Area", 
dated and on file at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE 
SEC. 3. (a)(1) Within one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act the Secretary shall— 
(A) designate approximately forty thousand acres of land and 
water within the selection area as land which the Secretary 
considers appropriate for the refuge; and 
(B) publish in the Federal Register a detailed map depicting 
the boundaries of the land designated under subparagraph (A), 
which map shall be on file and available for public inspection at 
offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
(2) The Secretary may make such minor revisions in the boundaries 
designated under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection as may be 
June 28, 1980 
[H.R. 6169] 
Bogue Chitto 
National 
Wildlife Refuge, 
establishment. 
16 use 668dd 
note. 
Publication in 
Federal 
Register. 
94 STAT. 604 
PUBLIC LAW 96-288—JUNE 28, 1980 
appropriate to carry out the purpose of this Act or to facilitate the 
acquisition of property within the refuge, 
(b) The Secretary is authorized to acquire (by donation, purchase 
with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange) lands, waters, or 
interests therein, within the boundaries designated under subsection 
(a)(1)(B). 
Establishment, 
(c) The Secretary shall establish the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife 
Federal"'' ''^ 
Refuge, by publication of a notice to that effect in the Federal 
Regis'ter. 
Register, whenever sufficient property has been acquired under this 
section to constitute an area that can be effectively managed as a 
refuge. 
ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 4. The Secretary shall administer all lands, waters, and 
interests therein, acquired under this Act in accordance with the 
provisions of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration 
Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee). The Secretary may utilize such 
additional statutory authority as may be available to him for the 
conservation and development of wildlife and natural resources, the 
development of outdoor recreation opportunities, and interpretive 
education as he deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this 
Act. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 5. There are authorized to be appropriated beginning October 
1,1980— 
(a) $13,000,000 for the acquisition of lands and interests 
therein, to remain available until September 30,1985. 
(b) $1,000,000 for construction of the refuge headquarters and 
boat launching facilities and the accomplishment of boundary 
surveys, to remain available until September 30,1985. 
Approved June 28, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-892 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-674 accompanying S. 2115 (Comm. on Environment and 
Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
May 5, considered and passed House. 
May 13, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2115. 
June 16, House concurred in Senate amendment.