92 HR 9826 IH: San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2024
U.S. House of Representatives
2024-09-25
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I
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9826
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 25, 2024
Mr. Garamendi (for himself, Mr. Huffman, and Mr. Thompson of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To modify the boundaries of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2024”.
2.

Boundary modification, acquisition, and administration
(a)

In general
There shall be included within the boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge the approximately 5,658 acres of lands, marshes, tidal flats, salt ponds, submerged lands, and open waters generally depicted on the Map as “Proposed Boundary Expansion Area”.
(b)

Map
(1)

Corrections
The Secretary may make clerical and typographical corrections to the Map.
(2)

Public availability; effect
The Map and any corrections made to the Map under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
be publicly available on the website of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
(B)
be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, including the office located at 2100 Sears Point Road, Sonoma, California 95476; and
(C)
have the same force and effect as if included in this Act.
(c)

Acquisition
(1)

In general
The Secretary may acquire land, water, or interests therein, including conservation easements, within the boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge, as modified by this Act, by donation, purchase from willing sellers with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
(2)

No use of condemnation or eminent domain
The Secretary may not acquire any of the land, water, or interests therein under this section or for the purposes of this Act by condemnation or eminent domain.
(d)

Administration
Subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary shall administer the lands, waters, and interests therein acquired under this section—
(1)
as part of the National Wildlife Refuge; and
(2)
in accordance with—
(A)
the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.); and
(B)
this Act.
(e)

Cooperative agreements regarding non-Federal lands
The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State of California or any agency or political subdivision thereof and with any other person for the voluntary co-management of lands owned by such State, agency, subdivision, or person and located within or adjoining the boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge, as modified by this Act.
(f)

Transfer from other Federal agencies
Any Federal property located within or adjoining the boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge, as modified by this Act, that is under the administrative jurisdiction of a department or agency of the Federal Government other than the Department of the Interior may, with the mutual concurrence of the head of the administering department or agency and the Secretary, be transferred without consideration to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for the purposes of this Act.
(g)

Priority uses
In providing opportunities for compatible fish and wildlife dependent recreation, the Secretary, in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), shall ensure that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education and interpretation are priority public uses of the National Wildlife Refuge.
(h)

Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should acquire land, water, or interests therein, including conservation easements, from willing sellers within or adjoining the boundaries of the National Wildlife Refuge, as modified by this Act, including by—
(1)
including in each annual budget submission of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, a request for funding for Federal purposes from the Land and Water Conservation Fund established under section 200302 of title 54, United States Code, for such acquisition purposes; and
(2)
prioritizing using such funding made available each fiscal year for such acquisition purposes.
(i)

Public participation
The Secretary shall provide an opportunity for public participation in developing the land protection plan for the area generally depicted on the Map as “Proposed Boundary Expansion Area”, giving special consideration to public and private entities, individuals, and residential communities located within Napa, Marin, Sonoma, and Solano Counties, California.
(j)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Map
The term Map means the map titled “San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act” and dated July 26, 2024.
(2)

National Wildlife Refuge
The term National Wildlife Refuge means the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge located in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano Counties, California.
(3)

Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
3.

Technical amendments
Section 3 of Public Law 92–330 (86 Stat. 399) is amended—
(1)
by striking “he” each place it appears and inserting “the Secretary”;
(2)
in subsection (a), by striking “Secertary” and inserting “Secretary”; and
(3)
in subsection (b), by striking “him” and inserting “the Secretary”.