Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 3.djvu/404

 98 STAT. 2776

PUBLIC LAW 98-548—OCT. 26, 1984 TITLE III—TO ESTABLISH THE ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSES

16 USC 668dd note.

SEC. 301. (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— (1) thousands of acres of bottomland hardwoods are being cleared each year in the Mississippi River Delta; (2) these forested wetlands represent one of the most valuable and productive wildlife habitat types in the United States and have extremely high recreational value for hunters, fishermen, trappers, birdwatchers, nature photographers, and others, and (3) the Atchafalaya area is a bottomland hardwood swamp which provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including herons, egrets, and other wading birds; mallards, wood ducks, and countless waterfowl; black bears, deer, bobcat, muskrat, and other mammals; a large population of alligators; and the Louisiana crawfish, as well as bass, catfish, and other fish. (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes for which the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge is established are— (1) to provide for the conservation and management of all fish and wildlife within the refuge; (2) to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife; and (3) to provide opportunities for scientific research, environmental education, and fish and wildlife-oriented recreation, including hunting, fishing and trapping, birdwatching, nature photography, and others. DEFINITIONS

SEC. 302. As used in sections 301 through 305 of this Act— (1) The term "Refuge" means Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge. (2) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior. (3) The term "Selection area" means those lands and waters that are depicted on the map dated September 21, 1984, on file with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service which are not owned by the State of Louisiana and which are available from willing sellers. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE

SEC. 303. (a)(1) SELECTION.—Within one hundred and eighty days after the effective date of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) designate with the concurrence of the State of Louisiana land and waters within the selection area as land which the Secretary and the State of Louisiana consider appropriate for the refuge; (B) prepare a detailed map with the concurrence of the State of Louisiana, depicting the boundaries of the land designated under subparagraph (A), which map shall be on file and available for public inspection at offices of the United States Fish, and Wildlife Service, and publish notice in the Federal Register of such availability. (2) The Secretary may make such minor revisions in the boundaries designated under paragraph (I)(B) of this subsection as may be

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