[Senate Report 108-180]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 356
108th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 108-180
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BLACKWATER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE EXPANSION ACT
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October 30, 2003.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Inhofe, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[to accompany H.R. 274]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred a bill (H.R. 274) to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to acquire the property in Cecil County, Maryland,
known as Garrett Island for inclusion in the Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.
General Statement and Background
On June 23, 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive
Order 9185 establishing the Susquehanna National Wildlife
Refuge in Cecil County, Maryland. This area, which was closed
to hunting, contained thousands of acres of submerged aquatic
vegetation providing superb habitat for a large population of
diving ducks.
In 1978, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened the
closed area to hunting because the aquatic vegetation had
largely disappeared and waterfowl use had declined to the point
where Federal protection was no longer necessary. As a result,
the size of the refuge was reduced to the four acres of Battery
Island which had been the site of a U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse
since the 1920's. The Susquehanna Refuge has been further
reduced by erosion and it is managed as a non-staffed satellite
of the larger Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Garrett Island is located at the mouth of the Susquehanna
River and it is the only rocky island in the tidal waters of
the Chesapeake Bay. It is a link between the river and the bay.
The island is about a mile and a half wide, is comprised of
approximately 198 acres, and rises to 115 feet above sea level.
The island is currently owned by a group of private land
conservators who donated 15 percent of the island to the Cecil
Land Trust. It is estimated that the cost to the Federal
Government of purchasing the remaining acreage would be
$300,000.
Garrett Island has been occupied by humans for generations.
It was the site of Maryland's second settlement in the early
1600's. In the mid-1800's, the B&O railroad purchased the
island as a base for a bridge they built across the Susquehanna
River and named it after its Chairman of the Board, John W.
Garrett. Today, the island has no permanent residents and there
is limited public use including bird watching, fishing and
picnicking. The island has a variety of archeological, natural
and wildlife resources. It provides high-quality habitat for 44
different avian populations, including 14 kinds of ducks,
eagles, Canadian geese, common loons and tundra swans, and
dozens of fish species.
Objective of the Legislation
H.R. 274 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
acquire Garrett Island in Cecil County, Maryland. The Secretary
is required to manage the Island as the Garret Island Unit of
the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in order to support the
Delmarva Conservation Corridor Demonstration Program; conserve,
restore, and manage habitats as necessary to contribute to the
migratory bird populations prevalent in the Atlantic Flyway; to
conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic resource
values associated with submerged adjacent land and achieving
the habitat objectives of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement; to
conserve its archeological resources; and to provide public
access that does not adversely impact natural resources.
Section-By-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short Title
This Section cites the bill as the ``Blackwater National
Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act''.
Sec. 2. Findings
This Section finds that Garrett Island is a microcosm of
the geology and geography of the region; the only rocky island
in the tidal waters of the Chesapeake; provides high-quality
habitat for bird and fish species; and contains significant
archaeological sites reflecting human history and prehistory of
the region.
Sec. 3. Authority To Acquire Property for Inclusion in the Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge
This Section authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
acquire Garrett Island, located at the mouth of the Susquehanna
River in Cecil County, Maryland and manage the lands as the
Garrett Island Unit of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
The purposes of the Garrett Island Unit are to support the
Delmarva Conservation Corridor Demonstration Program; conserve,
restore, and manage habitats as necessary to contribute to the
migratory bird populations prevalent in the Atlantic Flyway; to
conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic resource
values associated with submerged adjacent land and achieving
the habitat objectives of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement; to
conserve its archeological resources; and to provide public
access that does not adversely impact natural resources.
Legislative History
The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to
consider H.R. 274 on July 30, 2003. The committee favorably
reported the bill, H.R. 274, by voice vote.
Regulatory Impact Statement
In compliance of section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that H.R. 274 does not
create any additional regulatory burdens, nor will it cause any
adverse impact on the personal privacy of individuals.
Mandates Assessment
In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(Public Law 104B4), the committee finds that H.R. 274 would
impose no Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State,
local, or tribal governments.
Cost of Legislation
Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the
reported bill, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be
included in the report. That statement follows:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, August 6, 2003.
Hon. James M. Inhofe, Chairman,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 274, the
Blackwater National Wildlife REfuge Expansion Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deb Reis who
can be reached at 226-2860.
Sincerely,
Douglas Holtz-Eakin
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H.R. 274, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act, as ordered
reported by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works on July 30, 2003
H.R. 274 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
acquire Garrett Island, a 198-acre island located at the mouth
of the Susquehanna River in Cecil County, Maryland. The
legislation would direct the Secretary to manage the acquired
island as a unit of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Assuming the availability of appropriated funds and based
on information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CBO
estimates that the agency would spend up to $800,000 to acquire
the island in 2004. We also estimate that the agency would
spend less than $200,000 annually to manage the island and to
make payments to Cecil County under the Refuge Revenue Sharing
Act, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts.
H.R. 274 would not affect direct spending or revenues. H.R.
274 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would have no
significant impact on the budgets of State, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Megan Carroll.
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Changes to Existing Law
Section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate
requires the committee to publish changes in existing law made
by the bill as reported. Passage of this bill will make no
changes to existing law.