To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct and operate an interpretive center for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Clark County, Washington.
PL 102-570 (H.R.5809), enacted 10/29/1992

PUBLIC LAW 102-570—OCT. 29, 1992 
106 STAT. 4489 
Public Law 102-570 
102d Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct and operate an interpretive 
Oct. 29,1992 
center for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Clark County, Washington. 
[H.R. 5809] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
Conservation. 
SECTION 1. INTERPRETIVE CENTER FOR THE RIDGEFIELD NATIONAL 
16 USC 668d 
WILDLIFE REFUGE. 
^°^-
(a) FINDINGS.—^The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refiige (in this Act 
referred to as the 'Hefuge"), located on the Columbia River 
in southwest Washington, provides unique opportunities for 
observing and interpreting the biological richness of the lower 
Columbia River wetlands. 
(2) The Refiige is also rich in the cultural history of the 
Pacific Northwest, including being the site of a large Native 
American settlement which was visited by the 1804 Lewis 
and Clark Expedition and other early explorers. 
(3) The Refiige is located in close proximity to the Portland/ 
Vancouver metropolitan area and to the Interstate 5 freeway, 
which carries millions of visitors past the Refiige to Mount 
St. Helens, Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, wilderness 
areas, and other natural attractions. 
(4) Tlie Refuge is ideally suited to be a regional center 
for interpretation, research, and education related to wetland 
ecology, wildlife, the environmental sciences, and Northwest 
cultural history. 
(5) There are unique opportunities for the Federal Govern-
ment to engage in cost-sharing with local. State, and private 
partners to construct, operate, and maintain a regional interpre-
tive center at the Refuge. 
(b) AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE INTERPRETIVE 
CENTER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary of the Interior may, Subject 
to the availability of appropriations, construct and operate an 
interpretive center at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge 
in Clark County, Washington, for the following purposes: 
(A) Providing public opportimities, facilities, and 
resources to study natural history. Native American cul-
ture, and the history of Northwest settlers in the region 
of the Refiige. 
(B) Offering a variety of environmental educational 
programs and interpretive exhibits. 
(C) Fostering an awareness and understanding of the 
interactions among wildlife, wetland ecosystems, and 
human activities. 
(D) Providing ofiEice space and facilities for Refuge 
administration, research, education, and related activities 
106 STAT. 4490 
PUBLIC LAW 102-570—OCT. 29, 1992 
(2) DESIGN.—^The Secretary of the Interior shall ensure 
that the design, size, and location of any facilities for an 
interpretive center constructed under this section are consistent 
with the cultural and natural history of the area with which 
the interpretive center will be concerned. 
(c) COST SHARING.—^The Secretary of the Interior may accept 
contributions of funds from non-Federal sources to pay the costs 
of constructing, operating, and maintaining an interpretive center 
under this section, and shall take appropriate steps to seek to 
obtain such contributions. 
(d) PuBUC PROCESS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service shall engage in a pubUc process to 
determine— 
(1) the design of an interpretive center to be constructed 
under this section; 
(2) opportunities for obtaining contributions of funds for 
the interpretive center; 
(3) the costs of constructing, operating, and maintaining, 
the interpretive center and associated facilities; and 
(4) the fimctions of the interpretive center, with an empha-
sis on educational functions. 
(e) REPORT.—^Not later than 1 year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit a 
report to the Congress on progress made in designing and construct-
ing an interpretive center under this section, on including steps 
taken under subsection (c) to obtain contributions and any such 
contributions that have been pledged to or received by the United 
States. 
SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF TASK FORCE. 
Section 4 of the Klamath River Basin Fishery Resources Res-
toration Act (16 U.S.C. 460ss-3) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
"(j) At such time as the program is expanded to include portions 
of the Klamath River upstream from the Iron Gate dam, member-
ship on the Task Force shall be increased to include the following— 
"(1) One individual who shall be appointed by the Commis-
sioners of Klamath Coimty, Oregon. 
**(2) A representative of the Klamath Tribe, who shall be 
appointed by the governing body of the Tribe.". 
Approved October 29, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5809: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-928 (Coram, on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
Sept. 29, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 7, considered and passed Senate.