Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 5.djvu/851

 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) The 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 Government to engage in cost-sharing with local. State, and private partners to construct, operate, and maintain a regional interpretive 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 opportunities, facilities, and resources to study natural history. Native American culture, 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

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