Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 1.djvu/645

 PUBLIC LAW 96-285—JUNE 28, 1980

Public Law 96-285 96th Congress

94 STAT. 595

An Act

To establish the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS SECTION 1. The Congress finds that—

(1) the great forests of hardwoods, which once covered vast acreages along the lower reach of the Mississippi River Valley, are rapidly being destroyed; (2) the remaining forests constitute a unique ecological, commercial, and recreational resource, providing a combination of forest products, habitat for a diversity of fish and wildlife, and opportunities to the public for scientific research and for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, and wildlife observation; (3) the area within which the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge will be located contains one of the largest tracts of such forests in the Mississippi River Valley; and (4) establishment of the refuge represents a significant action by the Federal Government for the preservation and development of the environmental resources in the basins of the Tensas, Bouef, and Red Rivers of the State of Louisiana. DEFINITIONS

SEC. 2. As used in this Act— (1) the term "refuge" means the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge that includes those lands and waters, and interests therein, located along the Tensas River in Franklin, Madison, and Tensas Parishes, Louisiana, that are depicted on the map entitled "Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge", dated February 1980, and on file at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (2) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE

SEC. 3. (a) ACQUISITION.—Within four years after the date of the enactment of this Act— (1) the Secretary shall acquire lands and waters, and interests therein, referred to in section 2(1) through donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, or through any combination of the foregoing; and (2) the Secretary of the Army shall acquire such of those lands and waters, and interests therein, referred to in section 2(1) as are not acquired under paragraph (1).

June 28, 1980 [H.R. 6022] Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge, establishment. 16 USC 668dd note.

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