Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act
PL 106-369 (H.R.3292), enacted 10/27/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-369—OCT. 27, 2000 
114 STAT. 1417 
Public Law 106-369 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the establishment of the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge in 
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Cat Island National Wildlife 
Refuge Establishment Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) as the southernmost unleveed portion of the Mississippi 
River, Cat Island, Louisiana, is one of the last remaining tracts 
in the lower Mississippi Valley that is still influenced by the 
natural dynamics of the river; 
(2) Cat Island supports one of the highest densities of 
virgin bald c3T)ress trees in the entire Mississippi River Valley, 
including the Nation's champion cypress tree which is 17 feet 
wide and has a circumference of 53 feet; 
(3) Cat Island is important habitat for several declining 
species of forest songbirds and supports thousands of wintering 
waterfowl; 
(4) Cat Island supports high populations of deer, turkey, 
and furbearers, such as mink and bobcats; 
(5) conservation and enhancement of this area through 
inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System would help 
meet the habitat conservation goals of the North American 
Waterfowl Management Plan; 
(6) these forested wetlands represent one of the most valu-
able and productive wildlife habitat types in the United States, 
and have extremely high recreational value for hunters, anglers, 
birdwatchers, nature photographers, and others; and 
(7) the Cat Island area is deserving of inclusion in the 
National Wildlife Refuge System. 
SEC. 3. DEFmrnONS. 
For purposes of this Act— 
(1) the term "Refuge" means the Cat Island National Wild-
life Refuge; and 
(2) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the 
Interior. 
SEC. 4. PURPOSES. 
The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall 
be managed are— 
Oct. 27, 2000 
[H.R. 3292] 
Cat Island 
National Wildlife 
Refuge 
Establishment 
Act. 
Conservation. 
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note. 
16 u s e 668dd 
note. 
16 u s e 668dd 
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114 STAT. 1418 
PUBLIC LAW 106-369—OCT. 27, 2000 
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Federal Register, 
publication. 
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(1) to conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary 
to contribute to the migratory bird population goals and habitat 
objective as established through the Lower Mississippi Valley 
Joint Venture; 
(2) to conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic 
resource values associated with the area's forested wetlands 
and to achieve the habitat objectives of the "Mississippi River 
Aquatic Resources Management Plan"; 
(3) to conserve, enhance, and restore the historic native 
bottomland community characteristics of the lower Mississippi 
alluvial valley and its associated fish, wildlife, gind plant spe-
cies; 
(4) to conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain 
and assist in the recovery of endangered, and threatened plants 
and animals; and 
(5) to encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate partner-
ships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, local 
communities, conservation organizations, and other non-Federal 
entities to promote public awareness of the resources of the 
Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System and public 
participation in the conservation of those resources. 
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE. 
(a) ACQUISITION BOUNDARY.—The Secretary is authorized to 
establish the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of 
approximately 36,500 acres of land and water, as depicted upon 
a map entitled "Cat Island National WildUfe Refuge-Proposed", 
dated Februsinr 8, 2000, and available for ingjection in appropriate 
offices of the tfnited States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
(b) BOUNDARY REVISIONS.—The Secretary may make such 
minor revisions of the boundary designated under this section as 
may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Refuge or 
to mcilitate the acquisition of property within the Refuge. 
(c) ACQUISITION.—^The Secretary is authorized to acquire the 
lands and waters, or interests therein, within the acquisition 
boimdary described in subsection (a) of this section. 
(d) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estabKsh the Refuge 
by pulalication of a notice to that effect in the Federal Register 
and publications of local circulation whenever sufficient property 
has been acquired to constitute an area that can be efficiently 
managed as a National Wildlife Refuge. 
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary shall administer all lands, 
waters, and interests therein acquired under this Act in accordance 
with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16 
U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). The Secretary may use such additional statu-
tory authority as may be available for the conservation of fish 
and wildlife, and the provision of fish- and wildlife-oriented rec-
reational opportunities as the Secretary considers appropriate to 
carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(b) PRIORITY USES.—In providing opportunities for compatible 
fish- and wildlife-oriented recreation, the Secretary, in accordance 
with paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), 
shall ensure that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photog-
raphy, and environmental education and interpretation are the 
priority public uses of the Refuge. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-369—OCT. 27, 2000 
114 STAT. 1419 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS, 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department 
of the Interior— 
(1) such funds as may be necessary for the acquisition 
of lEinds and waters designated in section 5(c); and 
(2) such funds as may be necessary for the development, 
operation, and maintenance of the Refuge. 
SEC. 8. DESIGNATION OF HERBERT H. BATEMAN EDUCATION AND 
ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^A building proposed to be located within 
the boundaries of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, on 
Assateague Island, Virginia, shall be known and designated as 
the "Herbert H. Bateman Education £ind Administrative Center". 
(b) REFERENCES.—^Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the building 
referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference 
to the Herbert H. Bateman Education and Administrative Center. 
SEC. 9. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of 
the Act entitled, "An Act to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp 
Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994" (106th Congress), 
section 6 of the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Pro-
gram Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; Public Law 103-340), 
relating to an environmental education center and refuge, is redesig-
nated as section 7. 
(b) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of 
the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act 
(106th Congress), section 6 of that Act is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking "the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.)" and inserting "the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)"; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking "section 4(a)(3) and (4) 
of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act 
of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4))" and inserting "paragraphs 
(3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a))". 
(c) Effective on the day after the date of the enactment of 
the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act (106th Congress), sec-
tion 4(b)(2)(D) of that Act is amended by striking "section 4(a)(3) 
£ind (4) of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration 
Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668ee(a)(3), (4))" and inserting "paragraphs 
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Virginia. 
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Effective dates. 
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Ante, p. 1056. 
114 STAT. 1420 
PUBLIC LAW 106-369—OCT. 27, 2000 
(3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a))". 
Approved October 27, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3292: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-659 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-459 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
June 19, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 5, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Oct. 12, House concurred in Senate amendments.