[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

117 STAT. 1372

Public Law 108-131
108th Congress

An Act


 
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. [NOTE: Nov. 22, 2003 -  [H.R.
274]]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress [NOTE: Blackwater National
Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act. 16 USC 668dd note.] assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Expansion Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) Garrett Island, located at the mouth of the Susquehanna
River in Cecil County, Maryland, is a microcosm of the geology
and geography of the region, including hard rock piedmont,
coastal plain, and volcanic formations.
(2) Garrett Island is the only rocky island in the tidal
waters of the Chesapeake.
(3) Garrett Island and adjacent waters provide high-quality
habitat for bird and fish species.
(4) Garrett Island 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.

(a) Acquisition.--The Secretary of the Interior may use otherwise
available amounts to acquire the area known as Garrett Island,
consisting of approximately 198 acres located at the mouth of the
Susquehanna River in Cecil County, Maryland.
(b) Administration.--Lands and interests acquired by the United
States under this section shall be managed by the Secretary as the
Garrett Island Unit of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
(c) Purposes.--The purposes for which the Garrett Island Unit is
established and shall be managed are the following:
(1) To support the Delmarva Conservation Corridor
Demonstration Program.
(2) To conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary
to contribute to the migratory bird populations prevalent in the
Atlantic Flyway.
(3) To conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic
resource values associated with submerged land adjacent to the
unit and to achieve the habitat objectives of the agreement
known as the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.

[[Page 1373]]
117 STAT. 1373

(4) To conserve the archaeological resources on the unit.
(5) To provide public access to the unit in a manner that
does not adversely impact natural resources on and around the
unit.

Approved November 22, 2003.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 274:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 108-180 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 149 (2003):
Apr. 29, considered and passed House.
Nov. 7, considered and passed Senate.