[Senate Report 106-459]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 906
106th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 106-459
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CAT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ESTABLISHMENT ACT
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October 2 (legislative day, September 22), 2000.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, from the Committee on Environment and
Public Works, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[to accompany H.R. 3292]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred a bill to provide for the establishment of the Cat
Island National Wildlife Refuge in West Feliciana Parish,
Louisiana, having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon with amendments and recommends that the bill, as
amended, do pass.
Background and Need for Legislation
On March 14, 1903, by Executive Order, President Theodore
Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge on
Pelican Island. Pelican Island is a small island in Florida's
Indian River; the refuge was established specifically to
protect the brown pelican. At the turn of the century, brown
pelicans were being hunted for their feathers for hats and
quills, causing a significant decline in the population.
Today, the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System)
has evolved into the most comprehensive system of lands devoted
to wildlife protection and management in the world. Currently,
there are 526 refuges in the United States and its territories,
providing important habitat for 700 bird species, 220 mammal
species, 250 species of amphibians and reptiles, and over 200
fish species. The refuges range in size from less than one acre
at the Mille Lac National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota, to 19.2
million in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Each
year, the Refuge System attracts more than 34 million visitors
who participate in a variety of recreational activities
including observing and photographing wildlife, fishing,
hunting and taking part in system-sponsored educational
programs.
The operation and management of the Refuge System is
governed by numerous laws, treaties and executive orders
pertaining to the conservation and protection of natural and
cultural resources. The most important orders and laws
affecting the Refuge System are the Fish and Wildlife Act of
1956, the Refuge Recreation Act of 1962, the National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, and the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997. The management of individual refuges
is determined by the legislation, executive order or
legislative action that creates the refuge.
H.R. 3292 would authorize the establishment of an
approximately 36,500-acre National Wildlife Refuge in West
Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. Cat Island is a peninsula
consisting of bottomland forest bordered on the west by the
Mississippi River and on the east by the Tunica Hills. The
yearly pattern of backwater flooding provided nourishment for
the hardwood forests, diverse plant species, and numerous
wildlife along the lower Mississippi River. Cat Island, unique
for being unleveed, is one of the last remaining tracts in the
lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley that is still
influenced by the natural dynamics of the river.
Numerous lakes formed by the Mississippi River provide
excellent habitat for several types of waterfowl, songbirds,
and neotropical migratory birds. Cat Island is also home to
alligators, otter, mink, deer, and the threatened Louisiana
black bear. In addition, the world's largest bald cypress tree
and one of the densest stands of virgin bald cypress in the
State are found in Cat Island.
Although the bill authorizes such sums as are necessary for
the purchase of the refuge land, the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service has indicated that the estimated cost is $20
million.
Regulatory Impact Statement
In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact of the reported bill. The
reported bill will have no regulatory impact. This bill will
not have any adverse impact on the personal privacy of
individuals.
Mandates Assessment
In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(Public Law 104-4), the committee finds that H.R. 3292 would
impose no Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State,
local, or tribal governments. All of the bills directives are
imposed on Federal agencies. The bill does not directly impose
any private sector mandates.
Legislative History
On June 20, 2000, H.R. 3292 was referred to the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works. No hearings were
held on this bill. The Committee on Environment and Public
Works held a business meeting to consider this bill on
September 21; the business meeting was continued on Septemvber
28, 2000. The committee adopted by voice vote an amendment
offered by Chairman Smith to make the bill consistent with the
National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997. On September
28, 2000, H.R. 3292 was favorably reported by the committee on
a voice vote.
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, September 29, 2000.
Hon. Robert C. Smith, 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. 3292, the Cat Island
National Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis,
who can be reached at 226-2860.
Sincerely,
Dan L. Crippen.
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
H.R. 3292, Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act, as
ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Environment and
Public Works on September 28, 2000
H.R. 3292 would direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) to establish the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge on
about 36,500 acres in Louisiana. The Act would authorize the
agency to acquire this acreage and manage the new refuge as a
unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. For the purposes
of acquiring, developing, and operating the refuge, the Act
would authorize the appropriation of whatever sums are
necessary.
Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, and based
on information provided by the USFWS, CBO estimates that
implementing H.R. 3292 would cost about $30 million over the
next 5 to 7 years to acquire and manage all of the acreage for
the new refuge. ($500,000 has already been appropriated for
this purpose.) After the refuge has been established, we
estimate that the agency would spend about $500,000 annually on
operations, and to make payments to local governments under the
Refuge Revenue Sharing Act, assuming availability of the
necessary amounts.
H.R. 3292 would not affect direct spending or receipts,
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The
legislation 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.
On June 7, 2000, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R.
3292, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Resources
on May 24, 2000. The two versions of the legislation are very
similar, and the cost estimates are identical.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis,
who can be reached at 226-2860. The estimate was approved by
Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget
Analysis.
Changes in Existing Law
Section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the
Senate, provides that reports to the Senate should show changes
in existing law made by the bill as reported. Passage of this
bill will make no changes to existing law.